Gasland (Extra credit #2)

Yes, I watched this film awhile ago, but am finally getting time to post about it. Gasland is a documentary film by Josh Fox about natural gas drilling across our country. Josh was encountered to lease his property for drilling and that's what started it all. He traveled to Wyoming, New York, Philadelphia, Texas and other states where fracking seems to becoming a serious problem. Fracking is a process where large amounts of water and chemicals are pumped in to wells to collect natural gases. The problem comes where the gasses leak into nearby streams and into the drinking water. It has been noticed by many, but Josh has tried to get to the source and figure out why the problem is still occurring.

The families that he visited across the country all had similar problems and did not know how to get it fixed. They noticed their water changing colors and and even catching on fire. Yes, fire! there was so much gas flowing through their water that it was flammable as it came running out of their faucets. Their animals that were drinking the water were even losing their hair. Families tried talking to the water and gas companies but they told them that there was no problem and it was safe to drink. The head of one of those companies told Josh that when he went to interview him. Josh offered him a drink of water that was collected from one of contaminated houses... he turned down the offer. Obviously, if it was that safe to drink he would not be declining the offer and would prove all the families wrong.

I had heard a little about fracking before watching the documentary but was not sure what it was. It is crazy how much the affects of fracking can have on the environment. It might be a cheaper way to get gas but it is harming the land, animals and our families in the process. I greatly enjoyed this film and the message that if gave. Gasland was nominated for an Oscar in the documentary category. It did not win, but that does not mean that it has not had a major affect on many people. If more and more people produce documentaries about this or even just get informed about fracking then these issues might start to decease.