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LORE CITY -- A free town hall to educate Ohioans about wild birds, energy production in Ohio, fracking and climate change will be held from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at the lodge in Salt Fork State Park.
Speakers will include Randi Pokladnik on "The Effects of Fracking on Mesophytic Forest Ecosystems;" Judy Comeau Hart from FaCt, a faith-based Ohio group that educates and organizes communities for a just transition to renewable energy sources, sustainable practices and policies that address climate change; and "Chris Lamb of the Canton Audubon Society on "Purple Martins and a Passenger Pigeon: The Birds in my Ohio Life" and a presentation on climate change.
A 20-minute, animated anti-fracking film called "Stand Up" by Jenny Morgan, which educates parents and children about fracking, will be screened, along with a 20-minute film from Form Energy, which is building in Weirton a plant that will produce iron/air batteries that store up to 100 hours of energy from commercial wind and solar systems.
Environmental groups from across Ohio have tables with informational literature and material. Lunch can be purchased at the Salt Fork lodge or in local restaurants. To attend the meeting, RSVP to jeannineminor59@gmail.com.
"We're very concerned about the need to educate Ohioans on how what we do to the environment manifests itself in dramatic weather and climate changes that include hurricanes, tornadoes, massive floods, wildfires and droughts," said Randi Pokladnik, a Concerned Citizens of Ohio member organizing the event. "We also want to educate people on the effects dangerous and often irrevocable effects fracking has on air and water quality; noise and light pollution; the environment; and plant, insect and animal habitats. We'll discuss how greenhouse gases and methane emissions from fracking accelerate climate change. The more people know, the faster they'll become motivated to take proactive measures to help us keep climate warming to 1.5 degrees Fahrenheit."
Morgan and Pokladnik are steering committee members for Save Ohio Parks, a statewide, all-volunteer organization concerned about fracking under Ohio state parks and public lands.