Methane Laced Water, Hair Loss, and Death – It’s Okay, Hydraulic Fracturing is Worth the Pay Out

By Isabelle Naimo

Hydraulic fracturing. Sounds pretty intimidating, right? It did for me, at least. Despite being an Environmental Humanities major at Stony Brook University since the fall of 2014 and a self-proclaimed enthusiast about all things green for a couple of years prior, I never really knew what hydraulic fracturing was. I mean, I knew it was something bad. But I didn’t know exactly what made it bad or what it actually meant in the first place. I could probably chalk up my cluelessness on the matter to the fact that hydraulic fracturing is usually surrounded by a lot of political debate. And politics are a sure-fire way to make my brain go into cruise control. So this week was a struggle to grasp all the facts, truly a learning experience.

           

More commonly known as fracking, hydraulic fracturing refers to the process of creating fractures in rock formations by drilling and inserting fluid into the cracks, therefore forcing the cracks to open further, allowing gas and oil to escape so it can be extracted. Fracking has become a hot topic circulating around the United States due to the threat it poses on clean water and health. Lucky for New Yorkers, Governor Cuomo announced his ban on fracking in December of 2014.

           

You might even say that Governor Cuomo was able to make his decision, the right decision, with a little help from the 2012 documentary, Dear Governor Cuomo. The film used a unique method to get their message across; it was a protest within a concert within a documentary. Filmmaker Jon Bowermaster, instead of taking the route of a traditional documentary, wanted to sway viewers and Governor Cuomo with straight facts and an army of musicians, scientists, and activists to back him up. If I’m being honest, Mark Ruffalo was enough for me to spark a newfound interest in the issues of fracking.

The film transitioned from protest footage to interviews with special guests such as Ruffalo, Natalie Merchant, and biologist Sandra Steingraber to concert scenes. This is where Bowermaster lost me. Yes, the traditional documentary can come off bland. It can lose the interest of its viewers by lacking in originality and mistaking us all for programed robots while an endless list of scientific facts are presented. But though I’m sure the concert footage may have intended to inspire the film’s viewers, it used far too much screen time and was seriously… painful. I wouldn’t be surprised if Cuomo banned fracking just so he wouldn’t have to hear these people sing again.

The 2010 documentary, Gasland, was far superior compared to Dear Governor Cuomo at drawing in an audience. Directed and narrated by Josh Fox, his deep and raspy dark knight voice kept me intrigued for the entire duration. Gasland opens with a committee of politicians discussing hydraulic fracturing. The chairman thanks everyone and is then told he doesn’t know what he’s even giving thanks for, followed by a room full of laughter. The scene gives the viewers a good laugh at the stupidity of the politicians and sets the tone. In case the viewer doesn’t know what side of fracking Fox is on, they know now.

The power of Gasland is in its ability to give the viewer a story to connect with. Fox’s style is riveting and although he’s tackling an overwhelming topic, his sense of humor is enough to allow us to swallow it painlessly. The style of editing is also something admirable. There’s a contrast from showing images of the beauty of the natural world to the horrors done by the fracking industry. I’ll never forget the imagery of the tap water being set on fire. Gasland successfully gets the message across – fracking is a harsh reality that needs to be stopped.

           

On par with the overwhelming information is an article written by Sandra Steingraber, “The Fracking of Rachel Carson.” Steingraber is no rookie to environmental issues. She’s an acclaimed ecologist, author, human rights and environmental activist, cancer survivor and has even been arrested in her attempts at fighting for justice. Steingraber brings a personal touch to Carson’s legacy, discussing her battle with cancer as well as revealing why Carson fought for the things she did. For example, Steingraber notes how at a young age, Carson found a fossilized seashell, igniting her interest in the ocean. As an adult, she went on to write a best selling trilogy about the sea. The insight to Carson’s personal life is effectively placed into the bigger picture of human rights and environmental movements, delivering a powerfully moving piece and overall a wake-up call.

           

Back to Gasland for a moment, residents residing in areas near fracking wells were able to hold a lighter under their running faucets and watch it ignite into flames. In other words, there was so much methane in their water that they could set it on fire. Residents that weren’t busy setting their water on fire were suffering from chronic health issues. Sandra Steingraber mentions in her article that a case study conducted on the impacts of fracking showed vomiting, seizures, stillbirths, fur loss, and even death in animals. Headaches, nosebleeds, rashes, and vomiting were found in humans. In Steingraber’s book, Raising Elijah, she also notes that air pollution caused by fracking has been linked to heart disease and cancer in adults, as well as lower IQ, inadequate lung development, and asthma in children. That’s pretty startling. Even though there hasn’t been a comprehensive study conducted, as of yet, I’m certainly not about to move near a fracking well.

           

Despite all the possible risks, there are still people who aren’t against hydraulic fracturing. Governor Cuomo’s decision to ban fracking in New York was highly covered by the media and either got him applauds or dirty looks. According to an article published in the Wall Street Journal, Governor Cuomo’s decision was deemed as hiding behind “bad science.” The author boasts against the lack of studies against fracking and uses his sarcastic humor to persuade readers to shun Governor Cuomo. It’s made very clear that someone who puts money before health wrote the article. Sarcastically noting, “economic growth sure can be a nuisance.” Perhaps, fracking in other states have experienced great economical boosts but Governor Cuomo’s precautionary decision to put health before money was the best choice for his re-election, as well as for New Yorkers. Upstate residents may be giving the stink eye to the “liberal elites” of the city and Long Island for now, but they’ll be thanking them later. I mean, water can be set on fire. Scientific certainty or not, that cannot be safe.