Colorado Governor John Hickenlooper (D) and the Colorado Oil and Gas Association didn’t expect to have to fight for the stage at their own pro-fracking conference. But thanks to Coloradans and climate activists on Twitter, that’s exactly what happened today.
At the conference, Greenpeace noticed that there was a giant screen set up right next to the stage streaming live tweets. So we spread the word about the opportunity for Coloradans to have their voices heard during Gov. Hickenlooper’s time in front of the Colorado Oil and Gas Association.
Here’s what happened, right up until a tweet about puppies finally caused the Colorado Oil and Gas Association to shut down the live feed.
First, people called out the Governor’s hypocrisy… with good reason.
.@GovofCO you say "none of us want [fracking] in our backyards" but won't let the people vote #COGA2016 https://t.co/Z7r8O48lmn
— Kevin Nelson (@SamTheVampire42) August 25, 2016
#Fracking is linked to premature births, low birth weights, and high-risk pregnancies #COGA2016 @GovofCO https://t.co/AvkQyt3mRu
— Coryn S. Wolk (@CorynWolk) August 25, 2016
Why would Gov. Hickenlooper speak at an oil industry conference? Maybe the $137,000+ per year in campaign contributions he took from the oil and gas industry is part of the answer.
.@GovOfCO You agree nobody wants fracking in backyards. Colorado IS our backyard. When do we phase out? #COGA2016 pic.twitter.com/iZJVxhS1A0
— Mickey (@Msanmiguel16) August 25, 2016
#COGA2016 you spent over $10 mil to keep Colorado from voting on #fracking. #LetUsVote #DemocraticUprising
— Frack Free Co (@FrackFreeCo) August 25, 2016
Onstage, Gov. Hickenlooper answered questions with Karen Harbert from the Chamber of Commerce and Al Walker, Chair and CEO of Texas-based fracking company Anadarko —which operates in Colorado. The Colorado Oil and Gas Association said they were being asked hard questions, but not hard enough:
Hard questions like "why don't we want people to vote on #fracking in CO?" "Why do we ignore science?" #COGA2016 https://t.co/L57IzGzGpy
— Coryn S. Wolk (@CorynWolk) August 25, 2016
Parents should have the right to keep fracking away from their kids' schools and homes .@GovOfCO #coga2016 https://t.co/mrN6Iw4mWK
— 350 Colorado (@350Colorado) August 25, 2016
Soon, the Colorado Oil and Gas Association started using their own feeds to try to cover up the voices of those pointing out how fracking poisons Colorado communities… and everyone noticed.
From the industry:
Make sure to check out all of the amazing Podcasts that CH2M recorded during RMES this year – coming soon! #COGA2016 pic.twitter.com/y9Vb3kuYl7
— Rachel McNerney (@rachmcnern) August 25, 2016
And the response:
LOOK AT THIS PICTURE OF NOTHING, DON'T STARE AT MY FRACKING #coga2016 https://t.co/1Pcx6tugmY
— John Deans (@johndeans) August 25, 2016
.@GovOfCO Hiding facts with random images isn't helping…Have the courage. Someone in leadership…please have the damn courage!! #COGA2016
— Mickey (@Msanmiguel16) August 25, 2016
Even fracking filmmaker Josh Fox joined in the conversation.
.@hickforco support the people's fracking ballot initiatives! Put public health and safety first! #COGA2016 #ClimateRevolution
— Josh Fox (@joshfoxfilm) August 25, 2016
And finally, the puppy tweet from a Gov. Hickenlooper spoof account that caused the live feed to be shut down. I guess there was just too much truth about fracking poisoning Colorado communities for the Colorado Oil and Gas Association to handle.
PAY NO ATTENTION TO THE DANGERS OF FRACKING FOR OUR HEALTH, OUR CLIMATE, AND OUR FUTURE. #puppies #COGA2016 pic.twitter.com/3OTY4JVPjQ
— Johnny Hickenlooper (@Gov_Looper) August 25, 2016
wait, @danhaleyCO you you draw the line at puppies but not at poisoning communities? https://t.co/ipGWRFrrSb
— John Deans (@johndeans) August 25, 2016
