We are currently living in a time where our planet as we know it is at stake. We are fighting against a ticking clock in a world where climate change is a reality that is endangering not only our valuable natural resources but global civilizations all over the world. The threat of global warming appears worse than ever and it is evident that this is traceable to human-caused carbon emissions. Our current situation is calling out for a solution that will allow for the prosperity of future generations. Power plants today are the largest source of U.S CO2 emissions, which are contributing to the rise of global temperatures and sea levels, changing weather and precipitation patterns and in turn affecting ecosystems and communities. It is clear …show more content…
In their book, “The Real Costs of Fracking: How America’s Shale Gas Boom is Threatening Our Families, Pets, And Food”, Bamberger and Oswald, the first researchers to document ill health in communities near fracking drill sites, exemplify some of the major concerns associated with this practice. First off, many of the fracking chemicals used to extract natural gas are known carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Their studies during the ongoing fracking boom uncovered “serious adverse effects including respiratory, reproductive, and growth related problems in animals and a spectrum symptoms in humans they termed ‘shale gas syndrome’” The harmful chemicals in fracking also include the release of methane. Across the country there have been instances of disastrous spills of wastewater into rivers and illegal dumping into aquifers which poses the risk of the water table being tainted.One recent study carried out by Stephen G. Osborn found amounts of methane in drinking water supplies so high in natural gas well as to pose “a potential explosion hazard”. Not only does this release of methane potentially contaminate drinking water, but its release into the atmosphere contributes even more to global warming. There are now more than 1 million active oil and gas wells in the country, and their growth and adverse effects are calling for regulations. In all these areas, there has been clear evidence of community members with cancer and neurological disorder and other adverse effects that are caused from long exposure to chemical leaks. This is an entirely preventable health and environmental crisis that is being ignored by those in