Fracknation, a documentary movie by Phelim McAleer is an attempt to explain people that Fracking does not cause contamination of water and air. The movie tries to prove its authenticity to the anti-frackers about the importance of fracking, and how essential it is for any nation to generate energy and gas. McAleer provokes Joshua fox, the director of Gasland; a documentary that released in 2010, to prove fracking can have dangerous and ill effects on the people living the areas that have gas stations. Fracknation also contains a few clippings from the Gasland movie that are used to show how non-authentic are the claims made by Fox.
All the 34 states in United Stated have large reserves for natural gas, and many energy companies dig wells throughout the country to meet the needs of the population for energy consumption through fracking. Fracking is a process in which the high-pressure of water and chemicals are pumped deep into the earth to extract oil and gas. Horizontal drilling and Hydraulic fracturing, combined together provide an opportunity to unlock large quantities of hydrocarbons and offer economical, plentiful, reliable energy to not just many people, but hypothetically to billions of people.
Propaganda Tactics: Many American citizens are engaged in the ideas designed by Joshua Fox through the Gasland movie. Fox, through his movie shows that tap water catches fire, and his activists create a concern about fracking and earthquakes. McAleer shows that Gasland focuses on the untold risks related with shale gas improvement, and the absence of misunderstanding that permits the industry to grow, from time to time at the cost of citizens who are assured of one thing and later get something else. Gasland provokes and articulates the experiments of unrestricted relations movement to tone America’s developing shale gas boom as uncontaminated, well controlled, and easy. Fox also claims that he was offered huge sum of money to lease his property in Delaware River basin for crusading the ban on fracking. This can be a motivational factor for the surrounding residents to be a part of anti-fracking campaign.
Carol Collier the executive director of River Basin Commission put a moratorium in Delware River basin and had inapt ties with Josh Fox, and the anti-fracking movement. In counties such as Sullivan and Wayne, the land owners received bias treatment as she agreed to support fundraiser for Gasland and then turned away. Fox had claimed that the land in Delaware River Basin would fetch him $4,750 an acre which later turned to be false. However, the damage to the emotions of the land owners was already made due to the greed created by Fox. The makers of Gasland and influential government officials had robbed these farmers of their means of support. I can connect this to the story Josh Fox portrays in the beginning of his film, Gasland.
Craig and Julie Sautner are residents of Dimock, PA who claim to have all harmful chemicals in their well, caused by Cabot Oil Company. Sautner’s are always seen in the anti-fracking campaigns shouting slogans about stopping fracking and introducing themselves as victims of fracking. I believe, fracking to one of the major issues in America, and other countries affecting the beliefs of people as they understood they were running out of fossil fuels. However, I consider that the people were wrong. America has been a leader in tapping previously unreachable oil and gas from shale rock. Media also has played an important role in converting people’s mind and influence them by constantly airing that fracking destroys the water, and every well drilled pollutes the environment.
Fox gathers some audience and claims that Fracking has been happening in Baldwin Hills that will result in noxious fumes resulting in headaches and nausea, however, McAleer interviews many people in the park to justify that the claims made by Fox are incorrect. Some claims made by fox such as benzene in the air, toxic emissions, nosebleeds, and brain damage are sufficient for people to be scared and get motivated for anti-fracking crusades. McAleer’s quest behind anti fracking begins from the Kickstarter website where like-minded people who supported fracking contributed towards making this documentary. A few visits to the people in Dimock, Pennsylvania makes it clear that fracking did not cause the water to be contaminated. The people in this region had been living since ages on their ancestral property without any issues on drinking water, though they were aware that water contained Methane. PA government allotted $12 million for a water pipeline to run between Montrose and Dimock, which I believe is a waste of money as the residents of Dimock were totally against using the state resources on something that was not a matter of concern. It was a good move by these residents to protest by creating a group called “Enough Already” as they already had enough natural resources.
The fact that makes fracking a considerable factor is its existence since 1947 when Kansas drilled the first frack well. The technology and the equipment in fracking is been the same since 60 years; however, the current fracking industry fracks the shale, which is the only difference since its inception. The Halliburton Loophole, commonly known as 2005 energy bill was passed after the consent of Republicans and Democrats without much benefits as the regulations were meant only to be executed at state level.
McAleer’s visit to the Montrose makes the movie stronger in terms of support to fracking as the farmers living there use water for their needs, and even cows drink the same water, and give healthy milk. The farmer who lent his land for drilling stays beside the gas drilling company is just 1200 feet from his residence. Poland imports gas from Russia that results in the citizens paying more of gas bills than the electricity bills. In believe, if Poland has its own oil and gas drilling industries, it would benefit the people living in that country. Most European countries suffer due to non-availability of national energy. This can be credited to the contract dispute between Russia and Ukraine.
McAleer’s attempt to bring out the true facts about fracking are to be appreciated, as he has directed the movie for the people and credited it to the people. Though Josh Fox could not answer the questions on fracking raised by McAleer, I realize this movie enlightens people about the real advantages of fracking and helps the nation improve the oil and gas shortage by fracking the shales.
Works Cited
FrackNation. Dir. Phelim McAleer. Perf. Phelim McAleer and Joshua Fox. 2013. Web.
