Hydraulic Fracturing: an Environmental Nightmare & a Political Opportunity
This past April 20th marked the one-year anniversary of the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill. As people gathered in remembrance along the Gulf Coast, a natural-gas drilling well in Pennsylvania malfunctioned, pouring thousands of gallons of toxic wastewater into surrounding fields and farms. Although no one was immediately injured, officials must wait to assess the true scope of environmental and human health impacts. This issue highlights the massive risks the US faces as it continues to increase its investment in fossil fuel extraction.
The Pennsylvania wastewater came from a drilling process known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, in which large amounts of water, sand, and chemicals are injected deep into the ground to exploit natural gas beneath dense shale rock. This water resurfaces from the well as waste, carrying highly corrosive salts, carcinogenic chemicals, and radioactive elements that occur naturally deep within the earth. Officially, the wastewater is shipped to sewage treatment plants, partially treated, and then dumped into rivers in order to be safely diluted. However, recent unpublished studies by the EPA and investigations by the NY Times found that these rivers then do not meet federal drinking water standards due to overwhelmingly high carcinogen and radiation levels. Simultaneously, videos of people in affected areas lighting water from their faucets on fire have flooded YouTube.
Although this method has been used since the mid-20th century, recent discoveries of massive natural-gas deposits and improvements in fracking technology have seen an increase in the number of drill sites. In 2009 the US had over 493,000 active natural-gas wells—90 percent of which used fracking, doubled since 1990. Currently thirty-four states employ fracking technology, and at least five have reported gas entering underground drinking water reservoirs. Some states have already reported negative health effects, such as increased asthma rates and ozone levels, in areas adjacent to these sites. Scientists also fear that as these contaminants permeate water sources they will also find their way into food supplies, amplifying the threat to human health.
Proponents of this technique argue that utilizing natural gas has a smaller carbon footprint than other fossil fuels and increases US energy independence.
An increasing number of people across the country, especially young activists, disagree and recognize the grave risks involved in fracking. For many this issue has become a significant rallying point for demanding tougher environmental regulations and investment in renewable energy from the nation’s leaders. This was the case this past April when ten thousand youth marched on Washington calling President Obama to follow through on his promises of a shift towards sustainability.
As the campaign season draws closer, an increasingly mobilized citizen base has the opportunity to demand lasting change to US energy policy in the face of mounting environmental degradation.
By Jacob Stone
Jacob is a third year student at New York University majoring in Environmental Justice and currently studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Tragic Fire Reveals Youth Homelessness in New Orleans
On December 28, 2010 in the ninth ward of New Orleans, a group of young homeless squatters were killed in a deadly warehouse fire. This past winter in New Orleans was unseasonably cold; these 17-28 year olds lit a fire in the hopes to keep warm—it was the city’s deadliest fire in 25 years according to the Times-Picayune. After this devastating event, the city of New Orleans began to address this recent population surge.
In New Orleans, the rise of homelessness is clearly a result of Hurricane Katrina. Youth homelessness in particular is an economic problem. In a Huffington Post article by Bill Quigley, a legal director of the Center for Constitutional Rights and law professor at Loyola University New Orleans, “homelessness has doubled since Katrina…and seventy-five percent of the people in…[abandoned] buildings are survivors of the hurricane” due to the “scarcity of affordable housing”—clearly a structural problem as a result of Hurricane Katrina and the lack of local and federal government attention and action.
This issue of homelessness is not an individual problem that can be addressed by minimal attention; it is indeed a sociological, political, and economic problem that requires attention and aid from the political powers. A paternalistic point of view from the government is often taken when trying to “cure our society of this problem.” It seems as though this “homeless lifestyle” undermines our democratic system; however in most cases this has caused the homeless population to reject and detest officials.
In a local New Orleans article from NOLA.com, Cindy Chang reports that, “trainhoppers live by a distinct ethos that is nonconformist and anti-mainstream, yet dominated by sharing among themselves—both anarchist and communist.” These young people defy and are consciously living against the norm and choosing to live as equal members of a community and not as individuals under another. The articles from NOLA.com are identifying and introducing a small number of youth that are in contact with their families, showing the glamorous side of homelessness—how many of the thousands of homeless people in New Orleans actually keep in touch with their families?
The Times Picayune article is almost sugar coating the situations, making it seem fantastical and idealized, playing down the intensity and the extremes of the situations. The article does not specify why they chose this lifestyle in the first place. Nor do they address the dangers that our “normal” society imposes onto these teens both socially and politically. I don’t necessarily believe that the paternalistic tone and actions of Mayor, Mitch Landrieu, helps the situation, he states, “I would remind them, maybe like a good parent…their choices are really important, and so is their responsibility…at some point though, people have to conform in some way not only to help make themselves safe but other people as well.”
If these teens and young adults have a reason for leaving home; it seems as though the Mayor is blaming them for the tragedy that occurred and not addressing the government’s lack of action surrounding the overwhelming problem of unaffordable housing and safety regulation.
The BlightStat meetings currently taking place in New Orleans are a start to integrate both the community people and the local government officials in addressing issues of homelessness.
By Christina Deogracias
A first year student at Tulane University in New Orleans, Christina is studying child development and education.
World Bank’s “Latin American Agricultural Revolution” Leaves Out Environmental Concerns.
In Calgary, Canada this past weekend, the World Bank announced that Latin America has the potential to solve the global food crisis by increasing food production for export. Several Latin American countries expressed support for an “agricultural revolution.” According to Pamela Cox, vice-president for the Latin American and Caribbean region at the World Bank, rising food prices could benefit Latin America. She claimed that the region has abundant possibilities for producing agriculture and increased exports could lift economic growth.
Latin Americans are more susceptible to rising food prices as seven in ten live in cities and are therefore subject to food retailers’ prices. At the same time, Latin America holds nearly one third of the world’s unused land suitable for farming, according to the World Bank. As a region, its net food exports account for 10 percent of the global agriculture.
Economists are stating that current high prices are an incentive for sophisticated agribusinesses in places such as Argentina and Brazil, who are looking to increase production and diversify products. Already, promise of high returns has led to Chinese investment in producing soy beans in Argentine land, previously deemed unfit for the crop.
This discussion attempts to do two things at once—soften rising food costs that have led to social unrest in the past few months while bolstering economic growth in Latin America. There was nothing explicitly reported about the kind of farming that will be promoted, but it’s likely that “sophisticated agribusiness” means large-scale, monoculture, genetically modified crops. Already, Latin America supplies over half the world’s soybeans exports and a third of corn exports.
While this could benefit foreign investors, like aforementioned China, a course of action that ignores the potential for a true agricultural revolution—one that empowers local workers and does not deplete the land—would be a massive opportunity missed. The dialogue in mainstream news must be expanded to include social and environmental concerns.
By Elisabeth DeograciasA third year student at New York University majoring in Environmental Studies and Metropolitan Studies, Elisabeth is currently studying in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
