Fracking

Issue # 1 up for discussion: Fracking.

Here's what you need to know

• Fracking combines hydraulic fracturing with horizontal drilling
• Fracking requires the use of a number of dangerous chemicals (596 at last count)
• Fracking may allow these chemicals to find their way into groundwater
• Water which has been contaminated with fracking chemicals is highly flammable. It has been shown to kill plant and animal life, and prolonged exposure causes irreversible brain damage in human beings.
  
• The people have the power to demand legislation that halts fracking until concerns can be addressed

The news isn't all bleak. The New York State Assembly voted on a moratorium last November. Furthermore, the state senate passed a similar bill last August. The moratorium is strongly backed by environmental organization, who are dismayed by the possible effects of fracking on the environment. The measure is not without opposition, however. The Independent Oil and Gas Association of New York, a trade group, has warned that nearly 5,000 industry jobs might be threatened by the legislation. The state might also lose up to $1 million in revenues from drilling permits.  

For more information, explore the links below:

What is Fracking?
What can I do about Fracking?
New York's historic step in the right direction
Proof of the Impact: Gasland: the revolutionary documentary by Josh Fox

Library Resources


To check out a wide range of materials on fracking, including the movie Gasland, click Here