Sunday, February 5, 2012
This weekend, Ellie and I went to Dimock, Pennsylvania. We are both concerned with hydrofracking because we both live over the Marcellus Shale and have learned the dangerous risks that come with fracking, both to human health and the environment. Dimock, Pennsylvania has many eyes on it currently because of the families that currently do not have safe drinking water, due to contamination from fracking. If you’ve seen Gas Land, this is where much of the film was made, and these are some of the people I was able to spend time with.
The purpose of our trip was to take some photographs, video, and audio of how the community is effected so we can show it to our own and push for a ban in our area. We went with zero contacts. In the car on the way there we said, “Even if I just see a drill, I’ll be satisfied. I just want to see what it’s like with my own eyes.” .. I had higher hopes, however. We had no idea what we would find and how many people we would be able to spend time with. Our lives are forever changed and we now walk with a new mission.
I’m about to begin posting and writing about my time in Dimock, Pennsylvania this weekend. This weekend was the most knowledge filled, emotionally draining experience of my life. I took many pictures, met many great people, and learned so much, so my posts will be long. I want to point out that our trip only lasted 28 hours, we went with no contacts, and we met several families without drinking water and who were able to light their taps on fire. This is important to point out because many people believe this ‘tap water on fire’ phenomenon is fake and these people are making all this up. I assure you it’s not. I want to beg everyone to read every word, hear these people’s stories, and send my link out to others, because this really is an issue that needs to continue no longer.
(Source: laurenpetracca)
