Written by: Stephen Cavallaro

Fracking, the process of harvesting the environmentally unfriendly natural gas called shale that is being pushed by the government, plows its way through Georgia.

In March, I discussed a deal backed by the government between British-owned Centrica and American-owned Cheniere. The agreement was that Cheniere would spread toxic chemicals across America in order to fuel millions of British homes.

While the fracking industry builds momentum throughout the nation, so does the opposition. Even British activists are taking action to deter the growth of fracking in their nation. Early this month, fracking was banned in France.

Global fear toward fracking is justifiable. Over the year fracking has been deemed a cause of earthquakes in Arkansas and Texas. Early this month, Duke University equated an increase of fracking to the rise of pollution in a Pennsylvanian water supply, and according to Southeastern Naturalist, it has been killing endangered fish in Kentucky since 2007.

Fracking has contributed to a plethora of other environmental damage as well. A study conducted by Environment America offers a concise outline of the horrors.

Several wells have emerged throughout the state. Opposition to the wells has also been prominent. During the summer Environment Georgia submitted a petition of 1,300 signatures to the Chattahoochee National Forest in order to protect the haven from the vile fracking.

According to the Food and Water Watch, 396 measures have been passed across 21 states to regulate and attempt to stop the reign of terror invoked by fracking. Georgia is not one of those states, but with action fracking can be abolished and our beautiful state preserved.

Many fracking operations are conducted by foreign companies or for foreign markets. We must not continue to allow our own people and land to be exploited to keep foreigners energized. A simple plan of action is to spread the word of the dangers linked with fracking.

An alternative to fracking that is breaking ground is known as waterless fracking. Waterless fracking employs propan instead of water to perform fracking processes. The new method, while not completely eco-friendly, does open new doors to safe alternatives to fracking.