Conversations sparked by photojournalism. Follow us on Twitter to keep up-to-date.

Jan

2011

1:36pm, EST

Matt Rourke / AP

Fracking opponents protest before the Tom Corbett inauguration to become the 46th governor of Pennsylvania at the state capitol in Harrisburg, Pa., Tuesday, Jan. 18, 2011.

Protest at Pennsylvania governor's inauguration against hydraulic fracturing in oil and gas industry

By John Brecher

Fracking is short for hydraulic fracturing, a process used to increase the flow of oil and gas from underground wells. According to this article about the controversy over fracking, incoming Governor Tom Corbett is seen as friendlier to the gas industry than outgoing governor Ed Rendell. Here's some more info about the Marcellus Shale rock formation, where the drilling is taking place.

Explore related topics: environment, united-states, oil, protest, pennsylvania, natural-gas, petroleum

older

Jan

2011

1:27pm, EST

Ethiopian Jews fly into Tel Aviv to begin a new life as Israeli citizens

newer

Jan

2011

3:16pm, EST

Thousands of police officers in funeral procession for fellow officer killed in action

Discuss this post

skyrider-880550

Fracturing was known in the early 1980s to cause severe environmental problems. A scientist I know wrote a report outlining the problems to government authorities in Colorado. The report was never published because of opposition by Dick Cheney. All parties who wrote the report were fired.