Dangers of Fracking

By Luke Schmitz

The dangers of Hydrofracking can have serious impacts on human health.  Although fracking can bring economic prosperity, it can also have detrimental effects on innocent human bystanders.  Luckily, with the help of famous actors, musicians and large protests, fracking is banned in New York State.  It took many speakers and organized protests to ban fracking, and although it is currently banned, it doesn’t mean that people haven’t already been affected negatively.  

Sandra Steingraber uses a very personal approach in her book, “Raising Elijah.”  The book explains how children are exposed to a contaminated environment, which can really impact their health.  In the beginning of chapter 7, Sandra tells a story of a bat that is stuck in her house.  I think this shows her personal writing because she is inviting us into her house.  She also later writes, “Even as my son exults in his newfound soccer triumphs, plans are being laid to turn his deeply loved home into a staging ground for fossil fuel extraction and so threaten his hair-trigger respiratory system.”  Again, I think that this portrays how personal Sandra is in her writing because she is writing about her own son and his health, which is a personal issue.  

In “The Fracking of Rachel Carson,” I feel that Sandra Steingraber does a great job in contrasting “good” vs. “evil” in her writing.  Rachel Carson is portrayed as good, while fracking is portrayed as evil.  Sandra writes, “In the iconic Hawk Mountain photo, Rachel Carson is truly beautiful.”  I feel that when reading this, I am imagining Rachel Carson as a beautiful savior to our environment.  However, Sandra also writes, “To extract methane bubbles from the area of economic interest, the natural gas industry is now blowing up the state of Pennsylvania.”  While reading this, I associated fracking with destruction and damage.  Again, I feel that Sandra does a great job in contrasting the opposing views of Fracking and the environment.  

Josh Fox shows how harmful fracking can be to the environment and drinking water in his documentary Gasland.  He goes to Weld County, Colorado, to visit Mike Markham and Marsha Mendenhall, a couple who live in Colorado.  Josh watched as Mike turned on his faucet and literally lit his drinking water on fire.  This shows us how damaging fracking can be.  It’s sickening to think that these people were at risk of drinking water with so much gas in it, that it can be the fuel to start a fire.  Isn’t water supposed to be used to put fires out?  

I think that this documentary also portrays the dualism of  “good” vs “evil.”  Marsha Mendenhall knew that there was something wrong with her water if it could catch fire, so she tried to contact the Acting Director of Oil and Gas in Colorado, Dave Nelson.  However, Dave Nelson ignored her plea for help and is then shown in the documentary telling Josh, “I’d be happy to talk to you off the record if that’s helpful.”  Dave wouldn’t talk to Josh while recording probably because he understands how “evil” fracking is and has no way to justify people lighting their drinking water on fire. 

Luckily, some governments are taking action against fracking.  I found an article in the New York Times called, “Second Judge in State Backs Local Ban on Gas Drilling,” which shows how local governments are banning hydrofracking.  It is very pleasing to see that local authorities are finally starting to protect people from fracking, opposed to using it for economic purposes.  The article is very short and tells just the facts, without too much style.  However, I think it has an empowering style to it because it is showing how local governments are banning fracking.  The article says, “It was the second court ruling this week that affirmed local authority over the process known as hydrofracking.”  While reading this, it makes me feel as if the people have overpowered and overcome fracking. 

New York State has banned hydrofracking.  However, it was a struggle to get the state to ban fracking.  The film Dear Governer Quomo, shows some of the protests that helped to ban hydrofracking in New York State.  It shows the rally at the Capital Building, which took place in Albany, New York.  Many famous actors and musicians helped with the protests such as Mark Ruffalo and Citizen Cope, which was a great way to raise awareness.  When famous people help with the protests, they raise more awareness and have a larger backing because people will support them.  The film showed how the use of music is a strong tool to use for protests.  There were many concerts that helped to raise awareness by creating clever anti-fracking lyrics.  One band in particular was the House of Flies, who performed at The Egg, in Albany to help ban Hydrofracking.  

Since these protests, Governer Cuomo has banned fracking from the state of New York.  He realized that the risks to our water supply and the health of residents was far too great and didn’t outweigh the economic benefit.  New York State holds an incredible amount of natural gas in its Marcellus shale, which shows how great it is that the ban occurred in New York because hopefully it will lead to other states following New York’s ban.  

I feel that it is wonderful that the protests are using music and famous actors because both are great ways to raise awareness.  Most people listen to music and can relate to what they are listening to, so it is a great tool to raise awareness.  Also, when people like a famous actor, there is a greater chance that they will listen to what he/she has to say.  Hopefully, other states will ban hydrofracking also and protect people from the harms that it brings.