The Geography Club and students and faculty from the Department of Philosophy attended a screening of Gasland II at the Ridglea Theater in Ft. Worth. Students met with local community members and organizations before the film; together they discussed current environmental issues in the State of Texas. Following the screening, film director Josh Fox, joined by Texan families from the film, held a Q&A session (Photo 1).

Photo 1: Geography undergraduate students and seniors Angie Holliday and Nikki Chochrek meet Josh Fox, filmmaker of Gasland I and II.

Gasland II offered an interesting perspective for students as it addressed the local issue of fracking. North Texas is experiencing an unprecedented boom in natural gas. Hydraulic fracturing, commonly referred to as "fracking," is the process of extracting natural gas through the injection of pressurized fluids. Common concerns associated with fracking include the use of known carcinogens and toxins, groundwater contamination and harmful airborne emissions (Photo 2).

Photo 2: "That's a terrifying image"--Josh Fox

In response to the documentary's message and concerns, the Geography Club is starting a student campaign for fracking awareness and education. There will be a tabling event once a week in the library mall to reach out to our student community and spread awareness about this issue.

Have a question? Want to get involved? Contact Angie at angieholliday@ymail.com, or attend a Geography Club meeting on Fridays at 12:00 in room 320A!

--This article was written by Angie Holliday