I’d like to thank the voters of Ferguson Township for realizing how important protecting our environment is, and voting to amend our Home Rule Charter to include a Community Bill of Rights and fracking ban.

Although the Township’s so-called “educational materials,” which our tax dollars paid for, were confusing and biased, filled with disinformation and scare tactics, the citizenry saw the truth. The democratic process has won, and our township is now protected.

Thanks to a small group of thoughtful, concerned citizens, our community is now safe from the negative impacts of gas fracking. We have been guaranteed our right to pure water, clean air, a healthy environment and self governance.

Community rights have triumphed over corporate greed. A sliver of Earth is safer now.

I hope we can now turn our attention to help lead Pennsylvania and America toward a sustainable-energy future. Our health and welfare depend on this.

Fortunately, we have in Barack Obama a president who is also thoughtful and concerned and who, hopefully, will lead us on a path toward rights of nature, for ecosystems to be healthy and flourish and in turn for us to live on a planet that can sustain us and future generations.

Pam Steckler

State College