NYPIRG Conference

Over the weekend I shared an incredible experience with New York State Public Interest Research Group in attending the Student Leadership Conference. It most certainly helped me to open my eyes to problematic issues that are currently going on in New York state. The workshops  given were extremely well prepared by the NYPIRG staff and scientifically based. One of the workshops that I really enjoyed being a part of was the Climate Change presentation. Climate change has affected people all across the world, but specifically people in New York City.

Many workshops focused solely on the issues with hydro-fracking, oil drilling, and the reinvestment of clean energy. Joe Stelling gave a wonderful presentation on the issue of greenhouse gases that exposes viewers to the reality of just how these climate changes are taking place. Although fracking is an ongoing issue that is to this day being debated in legislation across Binghamton, there are still landowners in the area who support hydrofracking, and would like to bring it to their property. This problematic issue not only may lead to contamination of their water and their land, but it also impacts the community around them. Just across from the hydro-fracked farms (literally) are windmills that are seen right across the horizon. Binghamton like many other small cities in Upstate New York has had a hard time pulling in businesses to promote job growth.

Unfortunately, many people believe in the notion that fracking is acceptable and justifiable because they are receiving money to frack on the lands. The presentation itself helped to identify this issue and bring awareness to the devastating effects of hydrofracking. With the increased awareness of these issues, New York is slowly beginning to shift the way that it obtains energy. Windmills, solar paneling, electric cars, and smart roads will one day be the norm of our everyday lives. These new ways of collecting energy will not only help humanity in the long run by creating jobs, but will also change the way that we build our technology. No longer will we have to exploit resources for our existence.

With organizations such as NYPIRG that teach students about ongoing issues in New York, we as citizens can really take part in this movement and together WE can promote change.  NYPIRG helps  to not only educate students, but also helps to bring awareness to environmental and political issues.

David Buczek

For more information please contact  Buffalo State NYPIRG Coordinator Patty Ceravole  at :pceravole@nypirg.org