What is fracking?

Fracking, or hydraulic fracturing, is forcing fractures in a rock layer, by fluid that is put under pressure. It can happen naturally, but it is now used to force oil and natural gas from shale.

So why should we ban fracking?

Fracking is an extreme method of oil and gas extraction that requires pumping millions of gallons of toxic fluid deep underground to fracture rocks and release oil and natural gas. The process can’t be done safely. The science on the practice shows that:

• Fracking pollutes the air we breathe
• Fracking contaminates our groundwater
• Fracking exposes us to toxic chemicals
• Fracking makes people sick

Fracking companies make profits at the expense of local communities, which may be left without safe water. The solution is to ban fracking everywhere and move instead to using renewable energy.

How does fracking affect our schools?

As drilling expands in Pennsylvania, wells have gotten closer to schools. A 2015 report from the environmental group Penn Environment found that there are 166 schools, 165 child care providers, 21 nursing care providers, and six hospitals within a one-mile radius of permitted fracking well sites.

A 2015 report written by Environment America cited fracking companied for committing an average of 1.5 violations per day.

Raina Ripple, director of the Southwest Pennsylvania Environmental Health Project has said that this distance is too short. “There is more safety involved if you place this type of drilling activity no closer than a mile. Anything closer than a mile, the health risks definitely go up, the exposures go up, and the chances for an accident are that much greater.”

What are the alternatives to fracking?

Eco-energy is a great alternative to fracking. Renewable energy sources include hydroelectricity, solar energy, wind energy, wave power, geothermal energy, bioenergy, and tidal power.

Across the globe efforts are made to increase the use of eco-energy. For the first 3 months of 2013, Portugal produced 70% of its electric power from renewable energy, while Chile’s solar market is leading the way in South America. Similarly, Iceland supplies most of its heat from geothermal energy, while in Australia is it cheaper to produce energy from wind than coal or gas. Even in Britain, half a million houses now have solar energy.

Ready to stop fracking?

Sign the petition to ban fracking near our schools. We need to band together to tell our legislatures, “Enough is enough!”