WTUL News & Views interview with Mike Stagg on Fracking in St. Tammany

Mike Stagg, a Lafayette-based film maker and community activist, gives an update on the recent decision of the Department of Natural Resources to permit Helis Oil & Gas to drill in St. Tammany Parish. Demonstrating the degree of regulatory capture, when an institution or governmental entity whose purpose is to protect the public turns instead to protect the industry it is supposed to regulate, Mike Stagg describes the experience of the citizens of St. Tammany parish as they stand up for their community. Further, he connects their work with a wider movement in this upcoming event "Victory In Denton - Can It Happen Here?" - An Interactive Symposium & Workshop led by Dr Adam Briggle, FRACK FREE DENTON. http://www.frackingabsurd.com/calendar-of-events/workshop-victory-in-denton-can-it-happen-here-register-now/

What does falling oil prices mean for fracking? Mike Stagg describes how fracking is no longer economically feasible as the easier, cheaper ways for extracting oil have already been spent. He says, "tracking is like a Ponzi scheme in that companies must borrow money to drill, as long as they keep drilling they borrow money to pay earlier debt. As they stop operations, now they look at banks that have significant oil portfolios: what will their shakedown look like?" In the 1980s Louisiana experienced the bursting of this gas bubble, will it look like that today? Fracking has a short term profit for long term degradation of the environment and community.

Interested in getting involved? Contact Tammany Together http://www.tammanytogether.org Look around for Louisiana Bucket Brigade, Gulf Restoration Network, Sierra Club, and others!