After watching the amazing documentary by Josh Fox in 2010 I learned about many individual families that have been directly effected by fracking. It is truly a shame how unimportant the health and safety of not only 15.3 million people, but the safety of our own American soil is to the oil companies. The documentary talked to and about 10 families living in the Marcellus shale region who's lives have been completely changed for the worse.
One story stood out to me in particular. A family who's career, and family legacy, is raising cattle. They lived on a farm which has been owned for 4 generations by their family and means everything to them. They used to love raising livestock for the purpose of being able to produce the best, healthiest, natural meats to their customers. Since the first of the 16 oil wells had been installed on their property they have had highly contaminated water. Their water is not in any way drinkable for them and they buy all their water from a store. Unfortunately it would be entirely too expensive to buy enough water to feed all their livestock and water the grass that all the cows eat. When I watched this film I had never thought that it would effect me because I do not live in that area. After watching the farmers wife speak about the young calves being weak and getting sick from the water I thought wow, every time I eat meat it has to come from someones farm. Although I don't live anywheres near where they do it could happen to anyone. Their family has always loved their career and felt pride in raising healthy strong cows and they feel dishonest and failed having to let their cows drink the contaminated water.
When the first well had been put up their family immediately sued the oil company. The oil company ended up settling for $20,000 and a promise there would be only 1 well put up in that area, which the family took. They also signed a non disclosure message that stopped them from talking about this, which they don't follow. Since then, there has been 15 more oil rigs put up on their land ruining the properties value. All complaints and suits filed are put to rest before going very far due to the companies saying the families sudden black water filled with chemicals that makes their family sick "has nothing to do with their wells".
His wife now has Chronic Migraine Disorder and feels weak most of the time, his cattle have thin coats and lose their hair rapidly, their water is the same color as a dirty penny, and the oil companies take no responsibility. The people affected love their land and their lives and can no longer live the way they have for decades. These are real people, who's lives are being destroyed due to oil company's and the government valuing oil over lives.
As a burger lover, this probably affects me dearly. I hope not but now I will be more careful in the meat that I consume because it could possibly have been affected by Fracking poisoning. Very interesting topic!
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