GASLAND (2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize – Best US Documentary Feature – Sundance 2010. Screened at Cannes 2010. An award-winning documentary about the effects of fracking.
It is happening all across America and now in Europe and Africa as well – rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from a multinational energy conglomerate wanting to lease their property. The Reason? In America, the company hopes to tap into a huge natural gas reservoir dubbed the Saudi Arabia of natural gas. Halliburton developed a way to get the gas out of the ground—a hydraulic drilling process called fracking—and suddenly America finds itself on the precipice of becoming an energy superpower.
But what comes out of the ground with that natural gas? How does it affect our air and drinking water? GASLAND is a powerful personal documentary that confronts these questions with spirit, strength, and a sense of humor. When filmmaker Josh Fox receives his cash offer in the mail, he travels across 32 states to meet other rural residents on the front lines of fracking. He discovers toxic streams, ruined aquifers, dying livestock, brutal illnesses, and kitchen sinks that burst into flame. He learns that all water is connected and perhaps some things are more valuable than money.
After receiving a letter in the mail proposing $100,000 to lease his 19.5 acre property, filmmaker Josh Fox embarked on a multi-state mission to explore the source, reason, and consequences of hydraulic fracturing; a relatively new process of extracting natural gas. Fox’s documentary, ‘GASLAND,’ paints an in-depth picture of the new part of our county, GASLAND, in what their website calls part travelogue, part expose, part mystery, part bluegrass banjo meltdown, and part showdown.
I mention that hydraulic fracturing is a relatively new process; within the last 50-60 years. In a Q & A session at the Sundance Film Festival Fox states that fracturing was used only as a last resort process in the past. Fox mentions the interesting point that “as we are running out of [natural gas] the desperation technique becomes the primary way”. The process of hydraulic fracturing (also known as ‘fracking’) is aimed at forming a fracture within shale or formation rock to make it easier and more efficient to extract natural gas that is trapped within the rock. A hydraulic fracture is formed by injecting 207 million gallons of water per well into a well which creates a pressure that cracks the rock, and allows the fracturing fluid to expand the crack further into the rock. In order to keep the fracture open, the fracture water includes materials such as grains of sand or ceramics. The fluid itself can also be gel, foam, nitrogen or carbon dioxide. In addition to this, there are also 596 (according to Fox) different chemicals used in this process, injected underground, and most of the fluid is left there. It is estimated that 90% of the natural gas wells in the United States actually rely on hydraulic fracturing in order to release and collect natural gas at the demanded rates.
The frightening consequence with hydraulic fracturing is the quantity and depth of environmental and health concerns. Essentially there is an explosion of natural gas which then migrates into the water supply of local residents in 34 states including Wyoming, New York, Pennsylvania, Texas, and Colorado. Concerns associated with fracking include air quality deterioration, ground water contamination which then migrates into private water wells, and the mishandling of large amounts of toxic waste.
GASLAND exposes where individuals can light their tap water on fire because of the traces of natural gas. The water is contaminated underground and the only way to clean it is to filter it above ground which is costly and requires large amounts of energy.
GASLAND exposes where individuals can light their tap water on fire because of the traces of natural gas. The water is contaminated underground and the only way to clean it is to filter it above ground which is costly and requires large amounts of energy.
An interesting factor of fracking is that the Energy Policy Act of 2005 actually exempted hydraulic fracturing from the Safe Drinking Water Act, something Fox calls the “Halliburton loophole”. Therefore, complete listings of chemicals used within the process are not available to the public, and the industry is not under federal regulation. Some of the chemicals used include benzene (a highly flammable chemical which if drank could induce vomiting, irritation of the stomach, dizziness, and death), tolulen (a common solvent used to dissolve paints, paint thinners, and silicone sealants), and xylene (a solvent used for the printing, rubber, and leather industries).
A group called Energy in Depth has responded to Fox by claiming they have “debunked” GASLAND. For instance, where Fox says 596 chemicals are used in the fracking process, Energy in Depth says there are only 12 used. Energy in Depth states that Fox misstates the law, misrepresents the rules, mischaracterizes the process, and flat out makes stuff up. However, GASLAND explores this real-life issue for many Americans who are suffering through the consequences of fracking. The FRAC Act of 2009 consists of two identical bills introduced to the United States House and the Senate. FRAC stands for Fracturing Responsibility and Awareness of Chemicals Act. The bill removes the fracking industry from being exempt from the Safe Drinking Water Act and requires companies the release the types of chemicals used in the fracking process to the public.
With the BP oil spill still occurring, GASLAND provides a look at another part of the energy industry that consists of major concerns on its own. So what can we do? I would recommend exploring the documentary and surrounding interviews with the filmmaker, Josh Fox. After watching many interviews, I recommend one Fox did with Jon Stewart on The Daily Show. Also, talk to people about this problem. It is compelling, relevant, and I believe it will be a major debate (more than it already is) in the near future. GASLAND can be viewed on HBO on Demand and HBO will re-broadcast the documentary many times over the next two years.
Gasland (2010) - YouTube
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Gasland (2010) | Watch Documentary Free Online - Films For Action
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Mar 2, 2011102 minutes | The Halliburton-developed drilling technology of “fracking” or hydraulic fracturing has unlocked a ...
GASLAND Trailer 2010 - YouTube
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May 6, 2010 - Uploaded by CMGOpMgrGASLAND - (2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize - Best US Documentary Feature ...
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GasLand 2010 - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=bH5-bOWyXa4Jun 4, 2013 - Uploaded by Max GreanIt is happening all across America-rural landowners wake up one day to find a lucrative offer from an energy ...
GasLand 2010 v.o.s. (Fracking) - YouTube
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May 21, 2013 - Uploaded by AnonymousValladolorLas 7 claves del Fracking: 1. ¿Qué es el fracking o fractura hidráulica? Es la técnica utilizada para la extracción de ...
Fenton Tour - from Gasland 2010 - YouTube
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vt9VvkTshTMJan 24, 2014 - Uploaded by Jeremy BuckinghamExtract from Gasland 2010 Fentons of Pavillion Wyoming where fracking for gas has poisoned the water and ...
GASLAND Official Theatrical Trailer - YouTube
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Sep 12, 2010 - Uploaded by Josh FoxGASLAND is coming to theaters around the USA in Fall of 2010. Starting with the IFC Center in New York City.
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