Environmental advocates and Ohioans converged in Columbus on Monday to call out the environmental havoc that extending lease terms to frack Ohio’s state parks and public lands will cause Ohio’s air, water, soils, biodiversity—and future generations.

Save Ohio Parks; Freshwater Accountability Project; Buckeye Environmental Network; and Third Act Ohio were among environmental groups speaking to Oil and Gas Land Management Commissioners directly for the first time allowed them in three years about the myriad of dangers that await the state as it expands natural gas fracking under Ohio’s state parks and public lands.

They had a lot to say.

Topics included:

There is a widening gap today between global possibilities and global realities.

The possibilities are enormous, for―thanks to a variety of factors, ranging from increases in knowledge to advances in economic productivity―it’s finally feasible for all of humanity to lead decent and fulfilling lives.

No longer is poverty necessary, for the enormous global economy can produce adequate food, goods, and services for all the world’s people.

Human health and longevity can be improved substantially, thanks to breakthroughs in science and medicine.

Education, communications, transportation, and culture have made huge strides toward enriching human existence and could finally be made available to all.

Meanwhile, the rise of the United Nations and of international law holds the promise of moving beyond the violent, bloodstained past and securing peace, human rights, and justice on the international level.

And yet, current realities fall far short of these possibilities.

Monday, January 12, 2026, 8-9pm
Zoom

This week, a white woman did what those in power fear the most: she broke rank, rejected the racist lies aimed at winning over white people, and instead chose to stand in solidarity with her immigrant neighbors in the midst of the largest ICE deployment yet.

Right now, we are scared, angry, and grieving. And– this is a time for those of us who are white to root in our commitments to justice and continue to take risks and step into action. In the face of intimidation and state repression we must stand resolute, refuse to be intimidated, and recommit to the fight against ICE and white supremacy everywhere.

Join us on Monday after the weekend of action for a space to gather with other committed white folks, hear from immigrant rights organizers and folks on the ground in Minneapolis, be in community in our grief, fear, and anger, and learn how you can move into action.

Lolwah Al-Khater is a prominent Qatari diplomat and the current Minister of Education who is known for her significant contributions to Qatar's foreign relations and education sector. Al- Khater is a Phd candidate at the University of Oxford in the area of Oriental Studies. Al-Khater is a female rising star in the Arab world. The name Lolwah translates to "pearl" in Arabic.

The Arab world is witnessing a new wave of young women rising to prominence and shaping the future with their bold vision, creativity, and influence. Lolowah Al-Khater the Qatari diplomat is one among those women.

This woman speaks the truth, a quality that is rare among kings and presidents in the Arab and Muslim world and only those whom God has blessed can utter it. She is truly an honor to all Muslim women. Al-Khater supported the Palestinian cause through the media and showed the world that the Palestinian issue is the most important issue in the world. May God reward her immensely.