Global protests Today over “Fracking” gas drilling process: Assocated Press Sells Pro-Industry Article Propaganda

By KEVIN BEGOS,AP - PITTSBURGH (AP) — More than 100 protests against the natural gas drilling process known as fracking are scheduled to take place around the world on Saturday, building on public concerns but also using an overly simplified message to spur outrage.
The GlobalFrackdown website and campaign was developed by Food & Water Watch, a Washington, D.C. nonprofit that was once part of Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen group. The campaign claims that fracking “has already damaged communities and ruined lives. It pollutes water and makes people sick.”

Scientists disagree on the risks of fracking, a process that injects large volumes of water, sand and chemicals underground to break rock apart and free the gas. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and many state regulators, however, say that fracking can be done safely. The American Lung Association says natural gas has helped reduce air pollution as many dirtier coal-fired power plants shift to natural gas.

The immense volumes of natural gas found in formations of shale rock around the country has spurred a boom in natural gas production that has been credited with creating jobs and lowering prices for industry and consumers.

The Frackdown campaign doesn’t mention the differing opinions over risks or any benefits of fracking.

Mark Schlosberg, the national organizing director for Food & Water Watch, said supporters of the campaign are concerned about access to safe drinking water now and in the future. And some people simply don’t want fracking in their communities, he said.

Sometimes you should shoot the messenger… (Figure of speech)

• overly simplified message – The crux of this misreporting, is to confuse and distort this issue.
• once part of Ralph Nader’s Public Citizen group – OOOOhhhh Ralph Nader Commie!
• Scientists disagree on the risks of fracking – The science is overwhelming. No scientist has said fracking is harmless, NOT ONE. They do agree the scientific evidence points to fracking causing EARTHQUAKES.
• American Lung Association says natural gas has helped reduce air pollution. So does Tornados and Hurricanes.
• credited with creating jobs and lowering prices for industry and consumers. Credited by whom? Where is the source for this statement?
• The Frackdown campaign doesn’t mention the differing opinions over risks or any benefits of fracking. This is such a loaded statement. As an editor, I would never allow a reporter to misdirect a story like this. I have never seen a Wall Street Bank, falted in an article for Not pointing out “the differing opinions” with the Occupy Protests. The Associated Press must have their own rule book for Protests. Protests must now show both sides to an issue.
• Contaminated wastewater from the process can leak from faulty well casings into aquifers, but it’s often difficult to prove a connection. The difficulty is in part, caused by a bought and paid for Media, Courts, and Shit Scientists.

“The message is, we need to ban fracking,” he said. “We think fracking is just another way to produce dirty fossil fuels.”

Shale is a rock formation thousands of feet underground. Among its largest U.S. deposits are the Marcellus Shale, under parts of Pennsylvania, New York, Ohio and West Virginia, and the Barnett Shale is in north Texas. Geologists knew shale contained gas, but for more than 100 years the industry focused on shallower reserves. Fracking — also called hydraulic fracturing — allows drillers to profitably extract the deep shale gas.

Contaminated wastewater from the process can leak from faulty well casings into aquifers, but it’s often difficult to prove a connection. Some studies also have shown air quality problems around gas wells, while others have indicated no problems. More…

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