Fracking synthesis

In the Article “Keep on Fracking? Criticism grows, but Impact Not Clear” it is stated that the EPA has estimated that by 2035 non-conventional gas will supply 45 percent of the nation’s natural gas consumption.  Once again, this article provides information of the environmental side effects that come along with fracking; of course water contamination. States such as New Jersey have already placed a ban on fracking, and Pennsylvania is producing its own regulations, while other states have decided that jobs are more important than the environment. That brings up a new question in my mind. Are jobs or the environment more important? In my personal opinion the environment is much more important, because the environment is not something that can be reproduced or found elsewhere, it is what we live in. President Obama has worked to make some recommendations concerning fracking but as expected environmentalists feels that these recommendations are too soft and the oil executives feel that these suggestions are too harsh. Obama has made clear he wanted the shale gas industry to grow, but doesn’t want any harm to the environment. This obviously isn’t possible concerning fracking is contaminating water in more than one location. Since President Obama’s appointee to work on something must be done to make a definitive decision concerning fracking instead of a compromise.

http://www.sciencedirect.com.prox.lib.ncsu.edu/science/article/pii/S1040619011002302

Fracking

I recently studied the issue of fracking when writing my Essay 2. I was focusing on fracking specifically in North Carolina, but it seems that this issue is taking place all over the place. In this article Lustgarten points out that many of the previous points made concerning fracking are contradicted. Many of these points that stated that the fracking process was safe have been proven wrong. Supporters of fracking have tried to make points that hydrologic pressure would naturally force fluids down instead of up has been proven wrong because obviously environmental officials have now linked water pollution in central Wyoming to the drilling process. I was excited to read that since these findings, this could be a turning point in the national debate concerning water contamination and fracking. This could help to form how the country regulates and develops these resources across the Eastern Appalachian states which would include North Carolina. These new findings will definitely become a heated debate as congress works to regulate fracking. I am interested to see the outcome of Congress’ work. I found it interesting that residents began complaining of water contamination in the mid-1990s, as it got worse in 2004 and this information is just now making it to the news and being addressed by congress. I also found it interesting that these gas companies were supplying replacement drinking water to these residents; I feel like this was just a way to shut the residents up in order for them to continue fracking. Of course, executives in the in the gas company world are denying that any of this contamination could be their fault and they want to blame it on natural causes. I am not surprised that they will still not except what they are causing and try to fix it. These companies seem to be extremely selfish.  I also thought it was weird that EnCana would not give federal officials a detailed breakdown of each compound that is used underground. That in itself proves that he knows there are many issues with what the company is doing.

Richard Kahn

"As an example, instead of developing their environmental literacy (as is currently done) through explorative experiences of the zoo’s Wells Fargo Family Farm, a place according the zoo that can foster experiences for children “to explain and also to learn about how food gets from farms to tables” (http://www.mnzoo.com/animals/family_farm/index.asp), students could gain literacy into how to organize collectively in opposition to such practices and in how to demand answers from responsible parties as to why high-ranking executives of a leading corporate agribusiness like Cargill presently sit on the zoo’s Board of Directors."              Quote from "Towards Ecopedagogy" -Richard Kahn 

After reading this quote I think that Richard Kahn feels that this school is good in terms that it teaches students of their environment and excels their level of bioregional literacy or ecological literacy but he feels that maybe they could be taught in different ways. He points out that the students could learn how to organize against environmental issues and effectively make an argument against these people. In order to use the information they learn they must know how to act on the problems. I also think that in regular schools information such as this should be taught maybe not necessarily concerning the same context but students should be taught how to collectively organize as well as make arguments on any cause that they feel strongly about. 

Snyder Poems 3

The first poem I read while reading Snyder this time was No Matter, Never Mind. This poem was pretty confusing for me but I think that the overall point of is the connection between environment, mind, body, and the relationship of them all. The theme I have chosen is connection of relationships. This poems exhibits several different connections to different relationships. The next poem I read was The Great Mother I think that the "Great Mother" being referred to is "Mother Nature" and Snyder is saying that "Mother Nature" looks at humans determining if they have been protecting or harming their environment. The theme I chose for this poem is protection of environment because this is what I think "The Great Mother" is figuratively trying to do. The last poem I read was Pine Tree Tops. This poems was extremely descriptive and it provided me with a great deal of imagery. I think the theme for this poem would be beauty because these pine tree tops have been untouched by humans, and the area around them is still a home to animals such as deer and rabbits.

Turtle Island Post 2

The first poem I read was The Dead By The Side Of The Road. The theme I would choose for this poem is shamefulness. I feel like Gary Snyder is extremely opposed to taxidermy and feels strongly on protecting animals and absolutely hates to see animals dead on the side of the road thanks to careless humans driving cars. Humans need to be more aware of their surroundings and quit being so selfish. The second poem I read was I Went Into The Maverick Bar. This poem stood out to me because it seems so straightforward but I think that Snyder is touching on his frustration with America and how he  feels that many changes need to be made in America in order for people to enjoy it and for both humans and nature to live in cooperation. Snyder definitely discusses some of his memories that are brought about from being in New Mexico and the way America has developed doesn't give him that feeling. Once again this goes back to his issues with America. I struggled with an overall them for this poem. Lastly, I read Coyote Valley Spring. I thought that this poem was really descriptive without using many words. Snyder is describing a place called Coyote Valley. I feel like maybe this is a peaceful place because Snyder says the people are far out in boats so maybe Coyote Valley isn't quite so overwhelmed with the human population so animals and wildlife can survive and have a suitable habitat. Even though these people are still "lost" they aren't right up in the homes of animals and wildlife.

Gary Snyder Poem's

After reading three different Gary Snyder poem's I determined that he is definitely focused on nature and a human beings relationship with nature or the entire world around them. I really like Snyder's descriptive nature because it made me visualize the poem's better. Different themes would definitely be based on nature and one's surroundings. I read the first three poem's Anasazi, The Way West Underground, and Without. He discusses the smells, the landscape, the animals, and many other aspects of the areas he is studying. My favorite out of the three poems that I read was Without because I felt like it was a really in depth poem without using many words. It was fairly straight forward but I think there was also a deeper message.