Today’s essential reads.
FRACKING:
Fracking Jobs, Jobs, Jobs…Not So Much
The Keystone Research Center in a policy brief released today states that the number of jobs created in Pennsylvania by the Marcellus Shale boom has been much less than cited in recent news reports.
EPA To Study Natgas Fracking In Five U.S. States
“The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency released on Thursday the locations in five states where it will study the safety of a natural gas drilling technique some blame for polluting water.
Dried Up: Texas Industry and Residents Square Off Over Water as Drought Continues
A severe drought continues to wreak havoc in Texas and shows no sign of letting up, pitting stakeholders against each other as the dry spell threatens reservoirs and rivers.
Economic Benefits of Unconventional Gas Drilling Overblown by Industry PR
A new poll suggests that Pennsylvanians are supportive of unconventional gas drilling in their state. Not because it is safe, but because they are convinced the economic benefits outweigh the risks to public health, water supplies and the environment. This kind of reasoning indicates that gas industry rhetoric is having an impact: advertise the benefits, downplay the risks, convince people that you know what you’re doing and there’s nothing to worry about. And this is just what the industry has done.
BP OIL SPILL:
Gulf Shrimping After The BP Oil Spill (VIDEO)
This second episode in New Orleans started with an early wake-up for a drive out to the tip of Louisiana. As we approached our destination, I noticed that many buildings were new — storms had simply wiped out so much
BP Oil Spill’s Impact Likely to Last Longer, Says Observer
In comparison to a natural disaster such as Hurricane Katrina, the recent BP oil spill’s impact may last longer and have a broader impact, said a U.S. observer in Chicago on Monday.
William Barry Wise, Worker at Carson BP Refinery, Crushed to Death by Railcar
A longtime employee of the BP refinery in Carson died early yesterday morning while on the job. The L.A. County Coroner identifies him today as 54-year-old white man William Barry Wise, an Irvine resident.
The state is ready to put a solid dollar amount on how much British Petroleum owes Florida for last year’s oil spill.
RADIATION:
Keep An Eye On Mobile Phones – They Could ?Bring Down the Global Economy …
There is no ?shortage of stuff ?out there to ?make investors ?feel nervous. ?The euro could ?get blown apart if a long, ?hot summer of protest in ?Greece and ?Spain boils over ?into civil unrest. ?The Chinese ?economy might suddenly turn down, ?removing just about the only source of ?global growth. Inflation might suddenly ?rip out of control, provoking central ?banks into raising interest rates sharply.
As part of monitoring activity of the surrounding environment, we conducted an analysis of plutonium contained in the soil collected on March 21 and 22 at the 5 spots in Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station. As a result, plutonium 238, 239 and 240 were detected.
