Fracking Sand May Pose Health Hazard To Workers, Residents (VIDEO)...

[Indi Guy]

15. "'Gasland' Movie Director Josh Fox on How Fracking Affects Us All"...

Here's how fracking affects us all (to name only a few examples), based on an interview with Josh Fox and reflecting his research here:

• 34 states and counting are already fracking - the majority of the United States. That means, you're likely either in a state that's impacted, or have a friend or family member who is.
  
  
• We're all downstream. Watershed systems flow from small tributaries into large river basins in places like New York City, Los Angeles, Pittsburg, Cleveland, and many other major metro areas. Many frack chemicals are non-biodegradable and pose water contamination risks all the way to major watersheds.
  
  
• We're all downwind. Studies show that frack sites can emit high levels of pollution. In 2009, 7700 frack sites in the Dallas, TX metro area (there are now 15,000+) were pumping out the equivalent smog and CO2 emissions of all traffic in the entire Dallas/ Fort Worth DMA combined. In Pennsylvania, the industry goal is 100,000-200,000 frack sites, or another 10-20 DFW's worth of emissions, in one state alone.
  
  
• Climate change is impacted. Over a 20-year timeframe, frack gas emissions (CO2, methane) have a more dire effect on climate change than coal.
  
  
• Democracy - your voice - is at risk. Private companies have spent $747 million lobbying congress to be exempted from several key laws including the Clean Water Act in order to continue fracking. While public sentiment is often negative, with petitions being signed and delivered frequently, citizens don't have a quarter of a billion dollars to speak for them.
  
  
• Land destruction is ongoing, including public treasures. Large swaths of public parklands and forests have been handed over for drilling, creating unprecedented destruction of plants, animals, habitats, and natural beauty. Industrialized landscapes are replacing scenic lands previously untouched, and private companies are being granted Eminent Domain rights on private land.
  
  
• Economic recovery suffers. Sustainable energy sources built and maintained over the long-term create and keep real jobs. Frack jobs are typically in and out. While there may be temporary spikes in some jobs, the drilling leaves a slew of negative impacts on the community affected, and nominal long-term growth, behind when the drilling is done.
  
  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-neumann/social-good-stars-gasland_b_1962258.html