Broad Coalition in New Mexico Calls on BLM to End to Sacrifice Zones

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Photo: Wild Earth Guardians

We are shocked and dismayed that in spite of a clear scientific, political, and public consensus that action for the climate requires we begin to phase out fossil fuels, the BLM is continuing the legacy of sacrifice zones in New Mexico by moving forward with the auction of additional public and ancestral lands to more oil and gas leasing and drilling.

Las Cruces Rally

Last week, groups rallied at the Bureau of Land Management field offices in Farmington, Carlsbad, Las Cruces, Albuquerque, and Santa Fe calling on the BLM to cancel the May 25 oil and gas lease sale of nearly 10K acres of public lands in New Mexico and Kansas administered by the BLM New Mexico State Office.

On that Thursday, on the lease day, over fifty advocates rallied at the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico state office to deliver a letter signed by over 270 local and national groups, unions, businesses, and institutions urging the agency to cancel its plans to auction off over more acres of public lands for fracking. In spite of a clear scientific, political, and public consensus that action for the climate requires we begin to phase out fossil fuels, the BLM forged ahead with the sale.
It’s not over. We continue to call on the Biden administration to keep its promise to end new oil and gas leasing on public and ancestral lands.

President Biden promised to end new oil and gas leasing on public lands. We would like this promise to be honored. The federal government, including the President himself, has a moral and ethical imperative to confront the climate crisis. The latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) report reveals that our window to address catastrophic impacts is narrowing. Quick action is required to phase out fossil fuels and BLM must play a leadership role in addressing greenhouse gas emissions from extraction in New Mexico’s Permian Basin and
Greater Chaco regions which contribute to worldwide warming.

Santa Fe Rally, including Western Environmental Law Center, WildEarth Guardians, Center for Biological Diversity, Pueblo Action Alliance, New Mexico No False Solutions Coalition, Rio Grande Sierra Club and Diné CARE

Ongoing Campaign

Please join the coalition in amplifying the message to phase out fossil fuels and end the area of Sacrifice Zones using this social media toolkit.
 
We also have a call to action (included in the toolkit) to call the White House comment line (202) 456- 1111) and tell Biden he must phase out oil and gas production on public lands and waters.

SAMPLE FACEBOOK/INSTAGRAM POST:

It’s shocking that in spite of clear scientific, political, and public consensus that action for the climate requires phasing out of fossil fuels immediately, the Bureau of Land Management New Mexico state office auctioned-off more public and ancestral lands to oil and gas drilling —perpetuating the legacy of sacrifice zones. It’s time to end the era of fossil fuels and sacrifice zones. Over 270 groups from across the country added their voice to a letter calling on the agency to cancel the May 25 oil and gas lease sale. <link to a graphic/video/PR>

#EndSacrificeZones  

#EndFossilFuels

#ClimateJusticeNow

Press clips:

Carlsbad Current-Argus: Protests rally ahead of federal oil and gas lease sale in southeast New Mexico

EE News Energywire: Biden’s contentious N.M. oil sale earns almost $80M

KWRG: Local environmental groups speak out against BLM oil and gas lease sale

E&E News Greenwire: Biden urged to cancel N.M. lease sale

Carlsbad Current-Argus: Oil and gas sale nets $79M. New Mexico Environmental groups fear climate impacts.

Thanks to Miya King-Flaherty of WildEarth Guardians for supplying the text for this post.

Organizing Committee

Chaco Coalition, Citizens Caring for the Future, Center for Biological Diversity, Friends of the Earth, Interfaith Power and Light, New Mexico Climate Justice, Permian Basin Climate Justice Coalition, Pueblo Action Alliance Sierra Club, WildEarth Guardians, Western Environmental Law Center.

Webinar to Examine Use of PFAs in Fracking in New Mexico

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Physicians for Social Responsibility is publishing an important report entitled Fracking with “Forever Chemicals.”  The report presents previously unpublicized evidence that major oil and gas companies, including ExxonMobil and Chevron, have used per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), or substances that could degrade into PFAS, in hydraulic fracturing (“fracking”) for oil and gas in more than 1,200 wells in six U.S. states.  One of those states is New Mexico.
Citizens Caring for the Future, an IPL-NM/EP affiliate, invites you to a virtual webinar to examine the the report and present information from local PSR experts.   Read PSR Report

Click here to register for the webinar

 

Coalition to Hold Events in New Mexico Around BLM Lease Auction

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The Bureau of Land Management will have a 3,000 acre lease auction on-line on public land in the Permian Basin on May 25.

A coalition, including IPL NM & EL, is  planning an event to give a letter to BLM regarding No More Sacrifice Zones and concerns for sacred land, water, air, and climate and our communities and their health.

Events at:
May 22 Carlsbad
May 23  Farmington
May 24 Albuquerque
May 25 Las Cruces and Santa Fe
Watch for time, place and more details about events in each of these communities.