Scientists are warning that the controversial practice of natural gas
hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, may lead to far more powerful
earthquakes than previously thought. Fracking injects millions of
gallons of water, sand and chemicals deep into the earth in order to
break up shale rock and release natural gas. A new study published
Thursday in the journal Science by a leading seismology lab warns that
pumping water underground can induce dangerous earthquakes, even in
regions not otherwise prone to tremors. The new report comes as
Academy-Award-nominated director Josh Fox has released the sequel to his
highly acclaimed documentary "Gasland," which sparked a national
discussion on fracking. The new film, "Gasland, Part 2" exposes how the
gas industry and the government's portrayal of natural gas as a clean
and safe alternative to oil is highly suspect. He also discusses how
drilling companies have admitted to having several former military
psychological operations, or "psyops" specialists on staff, applying
their skills in Pennsylvania to counter opponents of drilling. "What's
really disappointing about this is that this is a moment, when an
American president has come forward and spoken about climate change, and
exhibited his obvious and earnest desire to take on the problem,
however, the emphasis on frack gas makes this plan entirely the wrong
plan," says Fox, noting that methane released from fracking sites is
more potent than other greenhouse gases. "Moving from coal to frack gas
doesn't give you any climate benefit at all. So the plan should be about
how we're moving off of fossil fuels and onto alternate energy."
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