Post 1: Why Fracking and Other Disasters Are So Hard to Stop

Hydryloic Fracturing, nicknamed "Fracking", is a process used to extract gas trapped in rock a little over a mile underground. Using pumped water, sand and toxic chemicals to help pump natural gas to the surface can be a problem, especially if the process does not go as planned. The conbination of water and toxic chemicals are supposed to break up the rock and release the gas to be pumped to the surface, but unfortunately many times not all of the the gas and chemicals make it back up to the surface to be pumped out. The gas travels through cracks in the the rock and sometimes leaks into underground water aquifers. This leads to serious health risks for people who rely on underground water sources for their household, along with those who own cattle and other domestic animals. Fracking affects not only underground wells, but also nearby streams that fracking companies dump the excess wastes into, destroying that water supply. Fracking is dangerous, killing and bringing sickness to animals all across the country, there has been scientific proof provided as well as citizens’ protests. If it is harming them, it will affect us humans under the same consequences.   
I am extremely passionate about this current environmental issue in the US. Being an Environmental Studies major has really made me aware of how environmentally destructive the human race has become, but this of course does not go for all humans. Fracking certainly will affect me personally if the government decides to move it to NC, which has been debated. Living in a rural area, my family relies on well water at home, so we definitely don’t want fracking to ruin our water supply in the future. This problem is occuring all across our country, and one of the reasons it cannot be stopped is because of our country’s undying hunger for fuel. The benefits of this process does NOT outweigh the cost. Let’s stop fracking and find a solution by turning to alternative energy sources.   
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/peter-montague/why-fracking-and-other-di_b_1218889.html