I suppose a motion picture on the subject of fracking ran a fairly high risk of failure. Matt Damon and John Krasinski and Frances McDormand offer some star power to Promised Land, but the critics say that it isn't enough. To remind you, fracking is shorthand for hydraulic fracturing -- you push water mixed with other stuff under high pressure down, and up bubbles the natural gas. It works, and this relatively new techonology is making industry analysts confident that the United States will become an energy exporter rather than dependent on OPEC and the commies up here in Canada with their oil sands. Here is the plot description for Promised Land:
"...two flacks from a natural gas company (Matt Damon and Frances McDormand) come to a rural Pennsylvania town, where they’re supposed to convince residents that fracking on their land is a good idea--and one that will make them rich. Krasinski’s environmentalist character soon appears in town, complicating their plans."
The film gets an underwhelming 50% on Rotten Tomatoes from critics, 41% from viewers. This one is headed for summer school. Or maybe an "On Demand" viewing. It's too bad, because this is an important subject. Whether it is fracking, or sequestering carbon underground, we seem to have decided that what we once pumped into the air and sea we can now squirt underground where no one will notice. Except that lots of folk who live in the areas where fracking takes place insist that wells have been poisoned and humans and animals get sick and die.
I see that the United Methodist Church in the States, something like our United Church, has made some statements about fracking, and encourage viewing the award-winning doc by John Fox called Gasland. The United Church of Canada chirped a bit, here and there, but I don't find any "in depth" analysis. Perhaps we should screen Gasland here, even though I haven't heard of any fracking projects in Southern Ontario.
Have any of you been following this development? Should we have a policy on this in the UCC, or are our fingers already in too many pies?
After a quick Google, I did read that there was some protest when the Ontario Geogological Survey drilled in 11 different locations in Southern Ontario, to suss out any economically viable sources of shale gas. Pickering was listed as one of those locations (see: http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/making-waves/2012/11/ontario-government-quietly-drills-shale-gas-formations-province). The scary thing, yet again, is how government sneaks these programs in without PROPERLY informing the public. I suspect that this could someday turn out to be another instance of a project that could be implemented that may have devastating effects on our community, where the average person wouldn't be aware of it until it has already started producting jobs. The debate would then become Jobs vs Environment and we all know which one often wins.
ReplyDeleteIt IS important. Whenever you pose the question of whether the UCC should be involved, I say yes. But I'm starting to realize that I've given a lot of "yes" answers and that may be unrealistic for the UCC. Such a tough question. I only know that someone needs to rally the troops to bring awareness and those in leadership have the loudest voice.
There you go. Thanks for the sleuthing Stacey! Even when there are public consultations, such as the meetings for the incinerator, there is a sense that the decision has already been made and the events are to placate those in opposition.
ReplyDeleteYou are right about the UCC, especially in these times of relentless budget cuts and job reductions at our national offices. I chair the presbytery Mission Outreach and Advocacy committee and often I feel overwhelmed with all the causes and social justice issues we could be addressing.