What is fracking? This simple question is unknown by so many, but can effect nearly everyone. Fracking is a process of putting water deep into the ground to break apart rocks deep in the ground and allow the release of oil and gas. This topic interests me because it is a major public health issue and Public Health is my field of study. I as well as everyone else should be concerned about this issue because it could be contaminating the water we drink, causing damage to our environment, as well as causing earthquakes. I am currently taking Cultural Geology, which allows me to learn more on this controversial topic. Taking this class is also teaching me a lot about the environment and allowing me to see just how important this problem is. I am also doing extensive research on the issue to make sure I am staying informed and using credible sources. 

Nick Stockton's article, "Fracking Problems Go Deeper Than Water Pollution," claims that fracking is very unsafe. In his article Nick discusses three main problems that come from fracking which are methane emissions in the atmosphere, methane emissions in the water supply, and earthquakes caused by fracking. This article exploits these dangers of fracking as well as the fact that the government has not places strict enough regulations on the process of fracking. This article really stresses the ethical problems with fracking due to the harm it causes the environment, making this a science issue, as well as the harm it does to the people, making it a public health issue. The bias in the article is definitely toward bringing fracking to a halt. The author includes many reasons why fracking should be stopped and the negative sides of fracking, but fails to include any opposing viewpoints or positive things about fracking. Stockton establishes his credibility throughout the article by referencing specific examples of fracking issues through the times. Not onlt this, Stockton has also written many articles on fracking proving his knowledge and is published on Wired's website.  

Reynard Loki's article, "8 Dangerous Side Effects of Fracking That the Industry Doesn't Want You to Hear About," claims that although fracking does aid in solving a small problem it ends up creating a much bigger problem. Reynard discusses the health risks, natural disasters, and global warming that fracking is causing. He uses research to show the effects the chemicals that are leaked when fracking have on the health of people, especially those who are close to fracking sites. He also uses research to explain how earthquakes occur when water is pumped into the ground at such large amounts and with such force. He also explains that the methane that is leaked, along with other chemicals, can affect the atmosphere more than burning coal. Thus the article shows that fracking is not an alternative to coal because it poses such a risk on the population and the environment. Reynard's article is bias to the stopping of fracking, as he does not show adequate research toward the positive aspects of the opposing viewpoint. Reynard establishes credibility by stating specific numbers and siting where his research came from. He also has published many things on global science that were published on Alternet showing that he is knowledgeable on this subject. 

Lastly, Josh Fox's video, "The Sky is Pink," really exploits the problems with the fracking industry that seem to be covered up by journalism. Fox uses past events and people who have been effected by fracking to prove his point. He explains that the same company that the fracking industry is now endorsed by endorsed the tobacco industry. This company once attempted to cover up the real harm of tobacco products and is now likely doing the same for the fracking industry. He also interviews Doug Shields of the Pittsburg City Counsel who explains that journalism is not researched based and that is how these companies are covering up their misdoings. This article addresses the ethical side of the public not being told the truth explaining that we are all at stake and this issue could cause major health problems. Not only this, but there are moral issues if the companies know the harm they are causing, but are not releasing the information. Fox is definitely bias in this video. First of all, he uses creepy background music in the video which makes the viewer feel panicked as they watch it. He also flashes a lot of chemicals that are released onto the screen but fails to explain what each of them are. Although some of these chemicals were harmful, some were not. He also does not include much from the opposing viewpoints or interview anyone whose water was not affected by fracking in the areas he studied. Fox establishes credibility by interviewing credible people in his video and providing indisputable facts such as someone lighting their water on fire due to methane emissions.  

The question "Is fracking putting us all at risk?" is a very feasible questions because, as one can see in the article, the effects of fracking effect many things including the water and environment which does indeed put us all at risk. All of the articles I found agreed that fracking is contaminating the waters and causing environmental problems, but the video definitely was more centered on what the public is not being told about fracking. The sources definitely made me feel un easy about fracking. I had previous bad feelings about the problems with fracking, but reading about the severity of them in so many articles really made me realize how big of a problem this is. For my research question I may need to make it slightly more specific and focus on either the health risk, the environmental risk, or the ethical problems of keeping the public in the dark about the problems at hand in order to narrow my research. 

The question "Is fracking  putting us all at risk?" is a very feasible question because fracking is a debatable issue. Also, if fracking is indeed affecting the water and the atmosphere then every single person in the world is being effected by it. All of the articles I displayed the dangers of fracking, but the video also focused on the dishonesty of the industry of fracking. I came into my research slightly uneducated on the subject of fracking, but also uneasy about it from the little I did know. I quickly found loads of information on the severity of the problem and all the controversy surrounding it. For my research I need to focus on refining my question to specifically research the health and environmental issues concerning fracking as well as decide on what it is that I think should be done about the issues fracking poses.  I also need to include more of the opposing viewpoints and the reasons people do like the idea of fracking in my research. 

