(The Shreveport Times)
South Caddo residents protest Chesapeake drilling
May 14, 2009
Wielding signs decrying Chesapeake Energy Corp, wearing makeshift masks over their faces and displaying photos of cats, dogs and cows, about 15 demonstrators marched in front of the Regions Bank building in downtown Shreveport today, charging that the company is killing animals and causing illnesses.
Carrying signs with slogans like, “Fraud is Fraud I was cheated by Chesapeake and Goodrich”, “We’re at risk, please protect us”, “Toxic chemicals, dead cows, are we next”? the protestors descended on the building where Chesapeake’s local office is located.
“I want them to come out and be good, be honest and have integrity,” said C. C. Canady, president of United Neighbors for Oil and Gas Rights, which claims 23,000 members. Canady started the group about two years ago after several residents of rural Caddo Parish complained that they were unfairly treated when asked to lease their mineral rights.
“We know Chesapeake isn’t going anywhere, but we want them to provide better living conditions for the people and animals in this community,” she said.
Canady and members of the group live in the south Caddo Parish area where 17 head of cattle died last month after, invegastigators say, they likely drank a substance that flowed from a natural gas well site and into a pasture. Analysis of the substance confirmed that it contained elevated chlorides, oil and grease and some organic compounds.
Canady say she witnessed some of the deaths and reported that the cows appeared to have swollen bellies.
She promises many more organized protests.