Public Employee Press

Fracking makes it no "Promised Land" at all

The 2012 film "Promised Land" tells the story of an energy company employee, played by Matt Damon, sent to a cashpoor town to sell its residents on hydraulic fracturing, better known as fracking. The controversial process pumps huge amounts of water and potentially toxic chemicals into the ground to extract natural gas from rock formations. Fracking can pollute water supplies and ruin communities that choose immediate economic gains over long-term ecological hazards.

While "Promised Land" is a fictional tale, it offers a glimpse into the very real battle between profits and protecting our environment. Land owners and farmers are being offered big money to allow fracking on their property and ignore the environmental risks, such as contaminated water and polluted air.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo continues to defer making a final decision on whether to allow fracking in New York State. The decision, which was to be made in early February, was put off while Cuomo awaits the results of study by the State Health Dept. on the potential health effects of fracking.

"Promised Land" director Gus Van Sant has a delicate touch that brings out the humanity of the situation. His camera doesn't judge the people of this town, but rather shows how easily the promise of cash can combine with a lack of information to convince people that drilling is a good idea. When they are armed with the knowledge of what fracking could do, the decision becomes far less clear and more difficult.

—Joseph Lopez