This is a big news story, I think. Given all of the controversy surrounding fracking, as well as the rather dismissive promises from proponents of fracking that the process is entirely safe, for it to be revealed that water pollution has been confirmed in four different states as a result of fracking is huge!
The controversy has continued and, predictably, it has often come down to regular people versus big money, more often than not with government backing. Even politicians who usually might seem likely candidates to oppose fracking, such as New York Governor Andrew Cuomo, are solidly in the pro-fracking camp.
For a very long time, any and all suggestions that fracking might be damaging were systematically dismissed, and those who made such claims were essentially labeled as extremists (labeling makes it very easy to dismiss harder questions, doesn't it?).
But with confirmed water pollution, for the first time, we now know that fracking is as damaging as many people have been warning us about for years now. The good news is that this knowledge can be used in the fight against fracking. The bad news is that this is indeed happening, so pollution as a result has already occurred. Also, those who make big profits off of the process are not about to simply let it all go.
Still, this changes things. This is only one story for the time being, but it is not likely to be the last. It also marks the first time that fracking has been proven to be detrimental to people's health. The more stories come out, the more fracking will be discredited.
Unfortunately, that is a process that can take a very long time. Change is often slowest to happen when corporate profits and big money are affected.
Here is the link to the article by Kevin Begos of the Associated Press:
"4 states confirm water pollution from drilling" by Kevin Begos, Associated Press, Published in USA Today, January 5, 2014:
http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/05/some-states-confirm-water-pollution-from-drilling/4328859/
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