Fractured Colorado: Josh Fox and the Effects of Hydraulic Fracturing

 On Thursday, November 15, members of the Greeley community and University of Northern Colorado students gathered in the University Center Ballrooms to listen to Josh Fox, the director of Academy-Award nominated documentary film, "Gasland", speak about hydraulic fracturing or "fracking" in Colo.

"Gasland" debuted at the 2010 Sundance Film Festival and became something bigger than even Fox expected.

"What was going to be a five- minute YouTube video for my friends and family, turned into a film shown at Sundance," Fox said.

Fox became more aware of fracking when he received a letter from his gas company in 2008 offering him money to lease his property for drilling.

"I thought I was the only one, but it was pretty terrifying to learn that all of neighbors in upper Del. were getting these letters," Fox said.

Fracking, as Fox explained, is when two to seven million gallons of water are injected in the ground at such high pressure that it fractures the rock underneath and could potentially contaminate the water supply a community uses.

This potential contamination, could cause potential life-threatening health effects to the people affected by drilling.

"It is an issue that continues to be in deep, deep crisis," Fox said. "I've met people who had brain lesions, cancers, peripheral neuropathies; all within communities affected by fracking."

Fox made it a point to say that in 2011, the UNC Board of Trustees signed an agreement to approve drilling on campus for $123,000 up front. Fox said that what the oil and gas companies are doing to our own communities is wrong and we need to change it.

"Our level of comfort is an ideal that people around the world aspire to," Fox said. "What I'm trying to say is that the social contract has been completely fractured and mauled by the oil and gas industry."

Wes Wilson,  retired EPA environmental analyst and guest of Josh Fox, urged people to not stand idly by and watch the oil and gas industry destroy Colorado for the purpose of making money.

"We the people of Colorado have been so asleep that we're letting the state impose mineral rights upon our human rights," Wilson said. "You have to create policy and enforce that policy. Every social movement on the face of the planet never got anywhere without those fundamental tools."

While Fox urged for action and having an active voice against fracking in our community, the effective nature of his talk remains to be seen.

Kassidy Wille, a junior English major at the University of Northern Colorado and member of campus initiative, Student LEAF, said that Fox's banjo-playing and activist sentiment, may have turned people away from Fox's message.

"I do think he might have turned people off by playing the banjo," Wille said. "He could have done a few things differently to reach out to UNC students."

Whether or not the Greeley community are proponents of Fox's activist message, those who knew nothing about fracking before, walked away with more knowledge than they came in with and Fox hopes people will share that knowledge.

"Talking to the person sitting to you at dinner, that's what the key is," Fox said. "That's how we create change."

Democratic-Fueled Support for 2012 Election

          The Kress Cinema and Lounge, located on 8th Ave., is brimming with excitement from crowds of Democrats; waiting with drink in hand on the results of the 2012 presidential election. Citizens are showing their support for President Barack Obama by wearing buttons, stickers, and there's even a two-year-old girl named Emily with a bedazzled  black Obama t-shirt. Munching on an assortment of free food provided by the Kress, everyone is glued to the numerous televisions and movie theatre-sized screen that is displaying live election coverage from MSNBC and CNN.

            Democrats of Greeley are out in full force and are excited every time a Democrat state senator, like Elizabeth Warren from Mass., is elected. Filling up on popcorn and pints of Blue Moon and glasses of red wine, the crowd here is decidedly an older generation who supports what President Barack Obama has done for the past four years. Paige Ball, from North Carolina, said that even though Weld County is looking red, she hopes that Colorado will support Obama for four more years.

            "I've been in a low-level panic attack all day," Ball said. "I hope my vote counts for something." Ball's friend, Sarah Curtis from New York felt a similar way.

            "I had a nightmare last night that Romney won," Curtis said."I pray it doesn't come true."

            In spite of Curtis's election day nightmare, most are confident that Obama will be re-elected.

            Matt McCullough, decked out in a white pinstripe suit with a large Obama button, has been a field organizer for Brandon Shaffer for the past five months. McCullough is confident that Obama will win, but it won't be easy.

            "I'm confident that Obama will win," McCullough said. "Obama has played some smart electoral politics; we've already won Pennsylvania and California."

            McCullough, a  citizen from Greeley, Colo., had an outburst in the middle of the interview when a Democratic candidate, Elizabeth Warren from Mass., overtook Republican Scott Brown for a spot in the U.S. Senate.
            "Yes! That's a big f---king deal!" McCullough said. "Yes we can!"

            After his excitable outburst, McCullough voiced his opinion on Amendment 64.

            "I voted yes, McCullough said. "I smoke pot and I'm tired of everyone who lights up getting arrested for it. Colorado can be the leader for change and legalization; I support that."

            The abundance of Democrats and Obama supporters here are supporters of the passing of Amendment 64.  Dave Loftis, who first introduced himself as Mitt Romney; supports Amendment 64 wholeheartedly.

            "I fully support the mess for Colorado's government if  64 passes," Loftis said. Legalizing marijuana will only do positive things for Colorado; I think it will pass by 4 percent."

            Most predict that an Obama re-election won't be easy, but many people are confident in another four more years.

            "I predict a 303 for Obama; after all, I voted for him three times," Loftis said with a smirk.