Jesse Goldstein
The Marcellus shale is a large rock deposit stretched across Pennsylvania and New York, miles below ground. Drilling companies use a toxic process called hydrofracking to extract natural gas from the shale, by injecting it with millions of gallons of highly pressurized toxic fluid. This fractures the shale in a way that releases natural gas. Most of the fluid that they inject returns to the surface and must be processed as toxic wastewater, the remainder stays underground. Reports of fish kills and drinking water contamination are on the rise, though the industry denies responsibility. Drilling companies lease extraction rights from landowners, many of whom are not fully aware of the implications of hydrofracking, and many of whom cannot afford to pass on the infusion of cash they will get from lease agreements. However, local opposition is mounting, as residents learn of the true costs of this incredibly destructive process.
Jesse Goldstein teaches business students about the dark side of capitalism. He is a PhD student at City University of New York and a printmaker.
