NY Women Plan Peekskill Party to Fight Algonquin Pipeline Expansion [VIDEO]

Resist AIM’s event is meant to be a where attendees will say, “NO to Spectra’s AIM Pipeline and YES to clean, safe, renewable energy and healthy communities.” There?will be food,?comedy, music, movies, children’s events, hula hoopers and more, and maybe even a special guest.

Volz-Bongar said Bernie Sanders’ camp had reached out to her and was planning to attend the festival, however his appearance was complicated by Pope Francis’ invitation to the Vatican.

Volz-Bongar said she is hoping for a miracle and that Sanders, who recently called for an end to fracking in states like New York, will show. Either way, she says the event is not to be missed and will include delicious food; comedy acts; family fun; education and activist musical acts.

Here’s the event’s line-up:

• 10 a.m. – Kids and families join us for the Eco Circus & Variety Show w/ Rock N Roll Mother Goose

• 3 p.m. – ?Film screening of How To Let Go of the World and Love All the Things Climate Can’t Change with Oscar nominated Director?Josh Fox, who made the fracking documentaries?Gasland?and?Gasland II.

Here’s the trailer for his new documentary:

• Fox’s discussion will be followed by panel discussion with his mother Angela Fox of ?The Mother’s Project.

• 7:30 p.m. – Concert with artists from NYC and the Hudson Valley will perform along with comedian Ted Alexandro, Reverend Billy And The Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, Lisa Gutkin, Gabriel R. Mayers, and many others!

For more info on the performers and attractions check out Resist AIM Pipeline’s Facebook page at?facebook.com/resistaim.?Get tickets for the event at?www.brownpapertickets.com/event/2529126.

Volz-Bongar, a Peekskill resident, said she was driven to create a large scale event days before a major?presidential primary after activists, local residents and local and state politicians have failed to persuade the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to stop the project.

The pipeline is owned by Texas-based company Spectra Energy who wants to extend their it?through New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and New Jersey to frack more natural gas north from Pennsylvania’s Marcellus Shale. Environmentalists and citizens across the state’s are trying to stop the expansion citing the negative effects of fracking that can poison local water supplies; the emission of harmful chemicals into the air; and the potential for gas leaks or explosions among other concerns.

“I just can’t believe these people would put this dangerous thing next to a failing nuclear power plant, where there are other place it can go,” said Volz-Bongar. ” It’s not a matter of NIMBY [not in my backyard]. I don’t want it. I don’t think it should be there. I wanted to be active and I didn’t want to just talk about this anymore.”

Volz-Bongar and other pipeline activists?have spent countless hours protesting the expansion and have even been arrested in the process. Activists and politicians like Gov. Andrew Cuomo, Cortlandt Town Supervisor Linda?Puglisi, Peekskill Mayor Frank Catalina, Assemblywoman Sandra Galef, Assemblyman David Buchwald, State Sen. George Latimer, State Sen. Liz Krueger, and State Sen.?Steven Otis have all sent letters to FERC asking for a more thorough and independent study analyzing the potential safety risks of putting a gas pipeline next to a nuclear power plant.