On Tuesday 5th July in Aberdeen, 20 guests of David Millar watched spellbound as a factual documentary film, written and directed by film festivals award winner Josh Fox was viewed in David’s home.
This frightening and in depth report on hydraulic fracturing or drilling for gas, which now virtually covers the entire United States, has received 6 awards, 2 further nominations and has been called a “horror movie and a wake-up call” by Julie Riggs an Australian film critic.
“Gasland” has received critical acclaim by news critics throughout America, and in Congress the relevant gas company’s representatives responsible for the drilling appeared to be devious on screen in not wishing to reveal all the life threatening chemicals being pumped into the soil during the hydraulic drilling procedures.
The chemicals used have polluted local drinking water and rivers in entire towns, whilst the gas emissions have poisoned the atmosphere to the extent that communities have become chronically ill, local domestic animals have lost their hair and indigenous herds of animals are slowly dying out.
What nature has taken millions of years to produce the gas companies have taken just a few hours to destroy, can this happen in the Karoo?
Each “gas site” continually pumps millions of liters of water out of the earth, while trucks do 1,150 trips to the site just to establish it. Toxic waste is piled up and stored alongside farming land and local community areas, and acid rain falls on crops. In the Fort Worth area, 200 tons of emissions of Benzene - like smelling chemicals are pumped into the air every day. These chemicals which pollute the streams and rivers are so potent that they dissolve the gills of the fish.
In Weld County one of many landowners who can no longer use tap water was filmed igniting a dripping tap by holding a lighted match to it.
Fresh water has to be brought into many, many homes in gigantic containers as the natural wells are no longer usable. This is now a permanent feature in the lives of these farmers, and the communities affected.
Of course it was the politicians in power in the United States who amended the bill of the Safe Drinking Water Act which has now repealed “hydraulic fracturing” exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This in itself should be a clear warning, and of extreme and urgent importance to all the farmers and the communities living in the Karoo.
A few Oil and Gas Companies have been fined and a drilling moratorium has been placed on areas in Colorado, but unfortunately permanent damage has already been done.
John–Laurent Tronche of Fort Worth Business Press writes that these documentaries “shed a light on what they call a dirty destructive practice, shale gas exploration.”
The Oil and Gas Companies have labeled these documentaries as radical propaganda. The millions of people, who are suffering, due to the side effects of the hydraulic fracturing, see this process as an almost silent serial killer to them, to their children, to the animals and to the environment.
On Tuesday 19th July 2011 at 2pm, this documentary can be viewed once again in David Millar’s home. Unfortunately due to seating availability only 20 people can be accommodated. Should you wish to attend, please contact Gloria Peniston cell number: 0768856559.
This frightening and in depth report on hydraulic fracturing or drilling for gas, which now virtually covers the entire United States, has received 6 awards, 2 further nominations and has been called a “horror movie and a wake-up call” by Julie Riggs an Australian film critic.
“Gasland” has received critical acclaim by news critics throughout America, and in Congress the relevant gas company’s representatives responsible for the drilling appeared to be devious on screen in not wishing to reveal all the life threatening chemicals being pumped into the soil during the hydraulic drilling procedures.
The chemicals used have polluted local drinking water and rivers in entire towns, whilst the gas emissions have poisoned the atmosphere to the extent that communities have become chronically ill, local domestic animals have lost their hair and indigenous herds of animals are slowly dying out.
What nature has taken millions of years to produce the gas companies have taken just a few hours to destroy, can this happen in the Karoo?
Each “gas site” continually pumps millions of liters of water out of the earth, while trucks do 1,150 trips to the site just to establish it. Toxic waste is piled up and stored alongside farming land and local community areas, and acid rain falls on crops. In the Fort Worth area, 200 tons of emissions of Benzene - like smelling chemicals are pumped into the air every day. These chemicals which pollute the streams and rivers are so potent that they dissolve the gills of the fish.
In Weld County one of many landowners who can no longer use tap water was filmed igniting a dripping tap by holding a lighted match to it.
Fresh water has to be brought into many, many homes in gigantic containers as the natural wells are no longer usable. This is now a permanent feature in the lives of these farmers, and the communities affected.
Of course it was the politicians in power in the United States who amended the bill of the Safe Drinking Water Act which has now repealed “hydraulic fracturing” exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act in the Energy Policy Act of 2005. This in itself should be a clear warning, and of extreme and urgent importance to all the farmers and the communities living in the Karoo.
A few Oil and Gas Companies have been fined and a drilling moratorium has been placed on areas in Colorado, but unfortunately permanent damage has already been done.
John–Laurent Tronche of Fort Worth Business Press writes that these documentaries “shed a light on what they call a dirty destructive practice, shale gas exploration.”
The Oil and Gas Companies have labeled these documentaries as radical propaganda. The millions of people, who are suffering, due to the side effects of the hydraulic fracturing, see this process as an almost silent serial killer to them, to their children, to the animals and to the environment.
On Tuesday 19th July 2011 at 2pm, this documentary can be viewed once again in David Millar’s home. Unfortunately due to seating availability only 20 people can be accommodated. Should you wish to attend, please contact Gloria Peniston cell number: 0768856559.
Article By: Joan Tinker
