Out of The Mouths of Babes

The Following letter was written to the Editor of the Syracuse.com News. You can see the original posting here


Ban hydrofracking and horizontal drilling

To the Editor :

My name is Noah Dessauer. I am 10. I am very concerned about hydrofracking and horizontal drilling. I think we should outlaw hydrofracking and horizontal drilling.

I live in Syracuse and Truxton. In Syracuse, we get our water from Skaneateles Lake. In Truxton, three families get our water from a shared spring. Above the spring is DEC land called Morgan Hill State Forest. It is around 5,000 acres and the DEC has leased it out to a gas company to drill.

Hydrofracking hurts water, land and air for large areas. They pump water with sand or some other substance and chemicals that fracture the surrounding shale to get into the natural gas pockets. Then they pump the water and chemicals into flowback fluid open, lined ponds. Often the flowback fluid overflows, spills or leaks into the surrounding area, poisoning the water. Birds and other animals drink water from or rest in the pond, then get hurt and die. Humans drink water from near drilling and when chemicals have escaped, they have been harmed.

Fossils fuel jobs hurt the Earth and the workers.

Green energy jobs do not hurt the Earth or workers as much.

In general, green energy produces more jobs.

I think we should outlaw and completely ban horizontal drilling and hydrofracking in New York and the United States.

Noah Dessauer
Syracuse, Truxton



Noah, thank you so much for sending this letter to the newspaper. It is very important that everyone understand how children feel about the gas drilling. Adults sometimes forget that the actions they take today can affect our children tomorrow. One day you will grow up and have to take care of the land and water for your children and grandchildren too. Thank you again for telling us how you feel and reminding everyone of how important this issue is!

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