Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon, Mark Ruffalo Lead Artists Against Fracking
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Celebrities introduced the group Artists Against Fracking Wednesday.
Yoko Ono, Sean Lennon and actor Mark Ruffalo recruited more than 180 artists to the coalition.
They sent a letter to Gov. Andrew Cuomo, asking him not to allow fracking for natural gas upstate.
They say fracking could cause environmental problems like water supply contamination.
Lennon says he got involved because his family farm is upstate.
NY1's Budd Mishkin spoke with him and Ruffalo.
"I didn't have really a desire to become an activist," Lennon said. "I feel like I was compelled to be. It was thrust upon me because they showed up in our county and said 'we're going to drill through your land.'"
"Our artists have been very powerful in guiding the culture, guiding the policies and politics, being a voice for people who generally don't have a voice," Ruffalo said.
Those in favor of the process say fracking is a cleaner alternative to fossil fuels.
Gov. Cuomo is expected to decide soon whether to allow fracking and if so, where.