Anti-Fracking Activists Win Battle

Last week I reported that I had gotten an email from Lisa Hoyos, who was quite ticked off with Disney, as news had recently broken to the effect that Radio Disney was promoting fracking and pipelines to kids in a music-filled show called “Rocking in Ohio.” Funded through a partnership with the Ohio Oil and Gas Association, the road show is being presented everywhere from schools to county fairs under the guise of teaching kids “science.”

Well, today she’s in much better spirits, since Radio Disney, who was on the receiving end of more than 100,000 parents and concerned citizens, has pulled out of “Rocking in Ohio” completely.

But is Lisa satisfied?  Nope.

She writes, “This is an important victory. But Disney runs science education programs in schools across the country. So it isn’t enough for them to just pull out of “Rocking in Ohio” — they need to commit to not promote fossil fuels in any of their science and energy outreach to schools and kids. Now is a key moment to share the news and to let Radio Disney know they need to publicly promise to support kid-safe, climate-safe energy!”

I feel I should comment on activism aimed at environmental or social justice issues, based on something Henry Kissinger said recently: “If it weren’t for the objection of the common American to the war in Vietnam, we’d still be there.” (emphasis mine) That’s an amazing thing to admit, don’t you think?

What’s even more amazing (and heartening) is that activism works.  We really are changing the world every time we open our mouths and speak the truth.