Yoko Ono to host anti-fracking event in New York

John Lennon's widow Yoko Ono and the couple's son Sean are set to host an event against hydraulic fracturing in New York City on Wednesday (29Aug12) to protest drilling for natural gas.

The mother and son team decided to take a stand against fracking, which critics claim can poison nearby water supplies with dangerous chemicals, after hearing about plans for extraction near their home.

In July (12) the pair formed its own celebrity coalition, Artists Against Fracking, in a bid to persuade Governor Andrew Cuomo to reconsider the practise, and dozens of environmentally-aware stars have already voiced their support, including Lady Gaga, Paul McCartney, Leonardo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, and Julianne Moore.

And now Ono and Lennon are slated to mark the organisation's founding during an official launch on Wednesday, when they will put continued pressure on government officials.

It is not yet known what impact the group will have on the final outcome, if any, but Brad Gill, the executive director of the Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, insists Cuomo will rely on science, not the media, when making his final decision.

He tells the New York Times, "The people elected Governor Cuomo, not celebrities, to lead New York and to make decisions that are in the best interest (of the state)."