Refusing the anthropocentric vision and respecting the laws of ecology is the only way to safeguard the future of our and all other species, Sea Shepherd President Paul Watson argues in this op-ed.
What is fracking (or hydraulic fracturing)
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique introduced in the first decades of the 20th century to extract natural gas and oil from shale rocks, i.e. exfoliating rocks that lie deep below the Earth’s surface. How it works Hydraulic fracturing consists in perforating the ground until shale gas deposits are found and injecting pressurised
Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is a technique introduced in the first decades of the 20th century to extract natural gas and oil from shale rocks, i.e. exfoliating rocks that lie deep below the Earth’s surface.
How it works
Hydraulic fracturing consists in perforating the ground until shale gas deposits are found and injecting pressurised liquid made of water, sand and chemicals into the cracks in order to allow natural gas to emerge from the surface.
The process takes advantage of naturally formed fractures and extends them or creates new ones.
What is wrong with it?
The use of massive fracking in the United Statesh has revolutionised the energy industry, but also raised concerns about the environment.
First of, a huge quantity of water is carried to the site and used for gas extraction, causing significant waste and environmental impact.
Secondly, using chemical pollutants has potential public health implications and contaminates groundwater near fracturing sites. Only 80% of the fluid injected into the wellbore is released to the surface, the rest is left in the ground.
Thirdly, there may be a connection between fracking and earth tremors. An often mentioned example is the 5.7 magnitude earthquake that took place on the 6th of November 2011 in the US State of Oklahoma, potentially triggered by the injection of pressurised wastewater into underground.
Environmental organisations claim that this technique, which uses fossil fuels, is an expedient on the part of oil companies to delay governments’ adoption of energy policies based on safe, clean and unlimited renewable sources.
Why do governments rely on it?
The United States and Canada have increased their internal energy production and reduced the energy they import from other countries through massive fracking activity. According to predictions, natural gas extracted by fracturing is going to improve the US energy self-sufficiency and the demand for some dirtier fossil fuels like coal is going to drop for almost a century.
Fracking in Italy, and Europe
Shale gas can be found in many other western countries, such as in Eastern Europe countries, from the Balkans to Poland, and Germany. There are a few deposits in Spain and Italy, especially in Emilia Romagna, in Northern Italy. In Ukraine and recently even the UK there are operating oilfields.
In Italy, the environmental board of the Chamber of Deputies approved a resolution that bans fracking. This decision, based on safety precautions, was made also by many other European countries that are currently involved in a study of fracking’s environmental threats.
youtu.be/z0fAsFQsFAs
Did you know?
Two films have been made on the subject: Gasland, a 2010 documentary by Josh Fox (pictured above), together with its TV version released in 2013, and Promised Land, a 2012 film narrated by Matt Demon and directed by Gus Van Sant. Both of them aim to show hydraulic fracturing’s negative effects on the United States’ small communities.
Siamo anche su WhatsApp. Segui il canale ufficiale LifeGate per restare aggiornata, aggiornato sulle ultime notizie e sulle nostre attività.
Quest'opera è distribuita con Licenza Creative Commons Attribuzione - Non commerciale - Non opere derivate 4.0 Internazionale.
Some of the most significant news stories of the year. From the Paris Agreement to the Colombian peace deal, here’s our 2016 in review: the last 12 months seen through the lens of sustainability.
A judge has recognized the right to land of uncontacted indigenous peoples in the Amazon‘s Juruá Valley. The Brazilian government sold off protected areas adjacent to their ancestral territories at an auction, in order for oil and gas companies to conduct resource exploration including for fracking. In December last year a court decided to revoke
A group of experts in Tokyo suggested pouring radioactive water from Fukushima into the open sea. A marine biochemist explains the consequences of this absurd decision.
A federal court in Washington, D.C. has struck down the Dakota Access Pipeline, following years of campaigning by the Standing Rock Sioux tribe.
The Scottish island of Eigg is self-sufficient for its energy needs, relying almost entirely on renewable sources, especially thanks to a coordinated community effort.
It’s not possible to prevent people from fighting for the climate. Naomi Klein talked at the Climate Action Zone, Paris. Here’s what she said.
Tiny amounts of chemical substances were found in drinking water pouring from the taps of three homes in Pennsylvania, United States. According to a study conducted by the environmental scientists of the Pennsylvania State University, the cause should be ascribed to fracking (hydraulic fracturing) activities promoted by the U.S. Government. The paper was published in the
Something is changing in the world’s energy market: shale gas, gas extracted from porous rocks through fracking, plays now the lead role.