Environmental Action: How Far is Too Far?

I struggle on a day-to-day basis with how far I would go for the sake of the environment. There is spectrum of attitudes presented by Chesapeake Bay advocate and author, Howard Ernst, spanning from a “light green” to “dark green” mentality. Light green proponents feel a sense of environmental responsibility and usually act in the form of outreach/awareness/education. Dark green individuals see the environment as a right and act in a more political manner; demonstrations, petitions, canvassing, some groups, like EarthFirst! (formally Earth Liberation Front) even go as far as to commit arson for the sake of the planet. This begs the question: how far is too far? Is there even a “too far”? Should the protection of our resources be fought for at all costs? I had always danced between light green, being a nature camp counselor and believing in the power of environmental education, and dark green, and admiring passionate environmentalists sacrificing their bodies to make a statement.

My mental framework as an “environmentalist” changed from dancing between light green and dark green, to full-fledged dark green after seeing Gasland. The documentary outlined so many grim situations as a result of hydraulic fracturing for natural gas. Six states had seen over 1,000 incidents of water pollution due to “fracking.” If a few of the over 596 toxic chemicals needed to frack end up in a body of water, that water is contaminated forever. Natural gas companies have been paying for rural, poor whites families by the acre for access to the natural gas beneath their property.  These individuals could afford to send their children to college after agreeing to lease their land, but then could no longer farm the land that has been in their families for generations. Fracking has been destroying the way of life for rural Pennsylvanians and Colorado residents for over 50 years; Gasland featured a number of families who can light their water supply on fire because it has become so polluted.

And nobody cares. Just a bunch of poor hillbillies, what a perfect example of environmental classism. Despite the 596 chemicals are used in the fracking process, not a single chemical has been added to the Safe Drinking Water Act since 2000.” The $747 million in lobbying from oil and gas companies probably had something to do with the natural gas exemption from any environmental regulation.

I could not believe watching the movie how many people suffered from dizziness, headaches, loss of taste and smell, chronic body pain, and asthma after wells were put into their properties. Some were even diagnosed with neurological issues and cancer. Fracking is inhumane and unethical and something must be done. I believe it is a human rights issue as much as anything else.