entertainment

In fracking culture war, celebs, billionaires and banjos

10 Comments
By Joshua Schneyer and Edward McAllister

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10 Comments
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"Both sides are using movies to try to win the debate"

what happened to research? are we living in such a mentally-challenged society where the "cool guy" in a Hollywood movie substitutes reason and scientific research?

3 ( +3 / -0 )

There are some legitimate environmental concerns with 'fracking' - groundwater contamination being one of the biggest, and much of the drilling is happening in places that depend on groundwater for drinking. But this just means that we need to figure out a way to drill more safely and authorities need to ensure that safety standards are being followed. Extracting fuel oils by fracking shouldn't be abandoned entirely and the technology demonized simply because these concerns exist.

I'm all for reducing dependence on fossil fuels, advancing renewable energy technology, and high standards for fuel efficiency. But the fact is, for the time being we are heavily dependent on fossil fuels, and there is cost and downside to any energy source.

are we living in such a mentally-challenged society where the "cool guy" in a Hollywood movie substitutes reason and scientific research?

Yes... =(

2 ( +3 / -1 )

I can't believe that anyone would think pumping millions of tonnes of chemicals into the ground to expel gas is a good idea. Polutants that will just sit in the earth and do what? Behave nicely for the next 1,000 years? I think this is going to be an ecological disaster if it moves forward, there is no containment of the chemicals and literally anything could happen. If you think nuclear is dangerous, you will really hate this. Oh, and to track the process, glass beads coated with radioctive material is pumped into the soil so that it will provide an "x-ray view of the fracking process (over 8 giga Becquerals). If I'm completely honest, the radioactive stuff is the least of our worries as the half life is quite short, but the other stuff will be poisonous forever.

But here's the sting, how do you get the public on board? Easy, just keep oil proces as high as possible then announce fracking for shale gas as the solution. Public won over and Robert is your uncle.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

what happened to research? are we living in such a mentally-challenged society where the "cool guy" in a Hollywood movie substitutes reason and scientific research?

Sadly a resounding YES, especially in the US

1 ( +2 / -1 )

Of course we should always listen to the environmental advice of Hollywood actors because they are such models of lifestyles that have a small environmental footprint - sensibly-sized, low-energy use housing, small eco-friendly cars, and above all, lifestyles that emphatically reject conspicuous consumption.

1 ( +1 / -0 )

The folks who lived in the town where Damon's movie was made are peeved, as they are generally pro-fracking (will bring in much needed business) but the movie paints them out to be anti-fracking.

Also, the money behind Damon's movie aren't the environmentalists, or even the typical hollywood left as many assumes. It's actually the Saudis (via Saudi Owned Abu Dhabi FZ), as fracking (natural gas) threatens to decrease demand for regular oil.

Just business folks.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

"Promised Land" seems a replay of the theme from "Local Hero" with Burt Lancaster. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Local_Hero

0 ( +0 / -0 )

aedfed Of course we should always listen to the environmental advice of Hollywood actors because they are such models of lifestyles that have a small environmental footprint - sensibly-sized, low-energy use housing, small eco-friendly cars, and above all, lifestyles that emphatically reject conspicuous consumption.

Well said!!!!!!

0 ( +0 / -0 )

Not so long ago, fracking was a technical term little known beyond the energy industry.

Unless of course, you have ever watched Battlestar Galactica. : )

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

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