Earth: The Operator's Manual Link 2

 

POLITICS

Energy production is a huge source of wealth for the energy corporations. They even contribute cash to elected officials in the hope of receiving favourable regulations in return. For example, oil and coal companies receive $25 billion in yearly subsidies, versus $4 billion to wind and solar companies

 


     


FRACKING

PROS AND CONS


Pollution

  • Water and air contamination. What chemicals are used
  • Radioactivity. Much of the waste is radioactive. Waste is used as road cover.
  • Fracking is exempt from many EPA regulations
  • The pollution destroys local businesses (farms go bankrupt, livestock dies from drinking contaminated ground water, real estate prices drop, tourism declines)
  • The industry provides an incentive to lease their land to the fracking companies, and the farm is closed.

Water Waste

Millions of gallons of water are contaminated, at a time when clean water is becoming more scarce.

Gas for Export

Much of the gas produced by the fracking companies is destined for export, thus leaving the USA still dependent on coal.

Green House Gases (GHGs)

  • Fracking releases methane which contributes to Global Warming. See Ecology page for consequences.

Non-sustainable

This technology is part of the boom and bust economy. Once the gas and oil has been extracted (it takes about 5 years), they leave the land in a devastated condition.

Earthquake Risk

Fracking may increase the likelihood of earthquakes

Democracy

The voice of the people is not being heard. The industry can preempt local demands.

Utilitarianism

the doctrine that an action is right insofar as it promotes happiness, and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of conduct.

We must ask ourselves the question: "Is this local destruction beneficial for the greater environment?"