[The people of this planet are about to find-out rather abruptly that it isn't energy that should be our primary concern, it is water, life-giving water. A lot of us are about to receive a rude awakening to the truth of that statement, whenever deep water sources are used-up or polluted. Mass hunger may be the first sign of a potential water apocalypse, especially after intense droughts like the one we are in (SEE: Britain faces food price hikes as fears grow that drought-hit Russia may impose export ban on grain).
A family can live without either gas or oil, if survival requires it, but it cannot last more than a day or two without water. The human race must learn that there are trade-offs which must be made if we are to survive our own industrialization. Progress for the sake of profit will kill us all, if we let it. "Progress" must mean humanity's progress. Some things which seem good because of the comfort that they may bring to many people, such as asbestos, also harm us over time. Fracking will one day be found out to be one of those bad things which seem good to us in the beginning, but harm or kill many people in the long run. The Guarani Aquifer in South America is too precious to ruin. Fracking will poison many water sources before the Halliburton-developed practice is stopped. Let us hope that Guarani is not one of them.]
Fracking Opposition Grows in Argentina’s Guarani Aquifer Region
by OOSKAnews Correspondent
ARGENTINA, BUENOS AIRES — Shale gas and oil production in Argentina face mounting opposition due to concerns over hydraulic fracturing, particularly in the Guarani Aquifer region in Entre Rios province.
The local Entre Rios Free of Fracking movement is working to get a law passed banning the practice in the province. Legislation passed there in 2010 had opened the door for hydrocarbon, shale gas and oil and gas explorations in the area.
The movement was formed at a meeting of the Association of Magistrates of Entre Rios (AGMER) in Parana, the provincial capital.
“Fracking injects millions of liters of water, sand and over 600 chemical substances to fracture the rock which stores hydrocarbon,” Free of Fracking said. These chemicals have been shown to be toxic, carcinogenic and mutagenic, as well having other negative effects on health, the group said.
In addition, the movement said, investigations have shown that the water used in extraction returns to the surface with heavy metals, hydrocarbons and radioactive materials, which “gravely pollute water [used] for consumption, irrigation and production.”
The Guarani Aquifer, a massive water source shared by Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay, is located in Entre Rios province. It is considered one of the most important drinking water reserves in the world.
Entre Rios Free of Fracking has expressed concerns that fracking will pollute the aquifer.
In the group’s public declaration, it says that fracking requires millions of cubic meters of water, and so it inevitably has an effect on water quality and availability.
“In just one well, between 9 and 29 million liters of water are injected and mixed with other … chemical substances. Once the fracking is finished, 1.3 to 2.3 million liters of highly polluted water is recovered,” the movement warned.
