Fracking
IT’S TIME TO END FRACKING.
Fracking, also known as hydraulic fracking, is a technique designed to recover gas and oil from shale rock (the most common type of sedimentary rock). It was invented in 1947 and placed into commercial use just 3 years later. Fracking works by injecting a water/sand/chemical mixture into the rock at high pressure. This allows the gas to flow out of the head of the well. The gas flows out through existing pathways or new pathways are created to release gas from the rock. In 2000, there were about 276,000 natural gas wells in the US. Ten years later, that number had almost doubled to 510,000! Every year since then, about 13,000 new wells have been drilled. At least 15.3 million Americans have lived within a mile of a fracking well that has been drilled since 2000. The areas where fracking is most profitable include the Great Plains from Canada south into Texas, the Great Lakes region and an area known as the Marcellus Shale, which reaches from central New York into Ohio and south to Virginia. So, why do some people thinking Fracking is good? People claim that this drilling technique is a safe and clean method of securing essential sources of power, it creates thousands of jobs, and that it has driven down gas prices. However, the CONS of fracking outweigh the pros. Groundwater contamination is a big problem with regards to fracking. The water mixture which is directed at the rock during the fracking process contains carcinogenic chemicals. These chemicals can escape and pollute the surrounding water, which many people who live nearby drink. Additionally, there are several air quality/health issues associated with fracking. Fracking wells release compounds into the air, such as benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene and n-hexane. Long-term exposure to the pollution near fracking sites has been linked to birth defects, neurological problems, blood disorders and cancer. And there’s more...fracking can actually lead to increased chances of earthquakes! Many areas of the United States not considered earthquake-prone, such as Ohio and Oklahoma, are now experiencing relatively strong seismic activity. Fracking is believed to be the cause of Oklahoma's strongest recorded quake in 2011 and more than 180 tremors in Texas between 2008 and 2009. We’re sure that you can agree that fracking is dangerous. As you read above, the effects of fracking spread wide and harm multiple people across the world. Here are some organizations to check out if you’re interested in advancing the goal to end fracking:
Main goal is to be a movement hub that acts as a centralized place to coordinate with other groups working on oil and gas drilling using the fracking process
Comprised of entities dedicated to banning drilling and fracking for oil and natural gas in order to protect our shared vital resources for future generations
Promotes core environmental values, such as clean air to breathe, clean water to drink, and clean energy to power our lives. Focuses on timely, targeted action that wins tangible improvements in the quality of our environment and our lives.
Wants healthy food and a clean source of water for everyone. They advocate for putting people's lives above everything else. In order to do this, they stand against various corporations.