Fracking is not an option for us environmentally. This is what I believe fundamentally, to my very core. The environmental costs are just too steep and that the Democratic Party does not include a Nationwide ban on Fracking is very disappointing to me.
Not only does Fracking continue us in the direction of fossil fuels, which, contribute to climate change. I am not going to even argue this. It’s fact. But it’s costs are not justifiable in that the energy it takes to extract by fracking is greater than what is extracted. It’s just too cost prohibitive with the low cost of oil right now. But to me, these are not the most important arguments against fracking.
It’s about the water.
Climate Change is not just about temperature. We will be facing more than rising waters and warmer weather. We will be facing more than stronger storms and less predictable weather patterns. We will be dealing with a drinking water crisis, food crisis, and many other issues of resources to support the billions of people on this planet.
We only have so much fresh water.
Water resources are becoming scarce
Agricultural crisis
Although food security has been significantly increased in the past thirty years, water withdrawals for irrigation represent 66 % of the total withdrawals and up to 90 % in arid regions, the other 34 % being used by domestic households (10 %), industry (20 %), or evaporated from reservoirs (4 %). (Source: Shiklomanov, 1999)
As the per capita use increases due to changes in lifestyle and as population increases as well, the proportion of water for human use is increasing. This, coupled with spatial and temporal variations in water availability, means that the water to produce food for human consumption, industrial processes and all the other uses is becoming scarce.
Environmental crisis
It is all the more critical that increased water use by humans does not only reduce the amount of water available for industrial and agricultural development but has a profound effect on aquatic ecosystems and their dependent species. Environmental balances are disturbed and cannot play their regulating role anymore.
An increase in tensions
As the resource is becoming scarce, tensions among different users may intensify, both at the national and international level. Over 260 river basins are shared by two or more countries. In the absence of strong institutions and agreements, changes within a basin can lead to transboundary tensions. When major projects proceed without regional collaboration, they can become a point of conflicts, heightening regional instability. The Parana La Plata, the Aral Sea, the Jordan and the Danube may serve as examples. Due to the pressure on the Aral Sea, half of its superficy has disappeared, representing 2/3 of its volume. 36 000 km2 of marin grounds are now recovered by salt.
World Water Council
We just have so much water and it isn’t just about drinking water, it’s about the water we will need to grow food. Water is life. Clean water is imperative.
But fracking. Fracking requires water and a whole host of chemicals injected into the ground to get to the oil. Yeah, sounds great. But it’s been proven that fracking contaminates water, ground water. Yeah, that’s not good.
After years of asserting that hydraulic fracturing has never tainted drinking water, the Obama administration issued a long-awaited study of the controversial oil and gas production technique that confirmed "specific instances" when fracking "led to impacts on drinking water resources, including contamination of drinking water wells." Fracking Has Contaminated Drinking Water, EPA Now Concludes
Water shortage. A method to extract oil from the ground that is cost prohibitive and contaminates fresh water supplies that we have.
How can we not ban fracking? How can the Democratic Party not see how the practice of fracking far outweighs any benefits. It is not a bridge, it is a pit.
I implore anyone who reads this to push the DNC to add a ban to fracking to their platform. I ask you to push Clinton to add this as well to her list of things she will accomplish when elected. I plan on doing both.
We cannot afford fracking.