CNN and NPR are in Fort Worth interviewing people about the Barnett Shale. I was contacted by a reporter to set up some interviews regarding Barnett Shale issues in Wise County, but later the reported decided there wasn’t enough time.
Wise County is where Mitchell Energy gave birth to the Barnett Shale. We have Barnett Shale history, but no one is much interested. It’s all about Fort Worth, and I’m really happy they are getting some coverage, but this is a good example of environmental injustice. When environmental destruction and eminent domain come to town, everybody cares, but there is no time to care about the poor, rural people who grow your food.
I understand that the reporters don’t get to call the shots, and news media is understaffed so I don’t blame the individuals. It’s just getting really old.
About Sharon Wilson
Sharon Wilson is considered a leading citizen expert on the impacts of shale oil and gas extraction. She is the go-to person whether it’s top EPA officials from D.C., national and international news networks, or residents facing the shock of eminent domain and the devastating environmental effects of natural gas development in their backyards.
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Environmental and economic issues surrounding rural populations right now is HUGE. Thats what I just got an entire series to write on, what I have a documentary in the works on. I don’t understand how the Barnett Shale issues can be covered in Fort Worth and that not carry through to Wise County. Really kinda boggles the mind.
It’s frustrating to be involved in significant news stories that are ignored by those with access to a wider audience. First, you have to convince the reporter. Then he or she has to convince an editor. Rural issues seem to be perceived as special interest issues, when they are directly tied to the interests of everyone who breathes air, eats food or uses transportation.
None of the presidential candiates had so much as a policy section for Agriculture, despite the fact that a huge Farm Bill was being passed as they campaigned. The National Animal Identification System got a couple of national stories, then disappeared from national press attention, although it continues to be hard fought in the agricultural community. Two federal lawsuits have been filed.
Go figure. These are stories of immediate importance to a general audience. We’ll keep on working on them and at least have the background when they outgrow their irrelevance to these decision makers and someone needs to get up to speed in a hurry.
Old indeed.
Sounds like the reporter/and or editors are taking the same short-sighted route the rest of America does. Rural issues eventually become city issues and city issues eventually spill out to the suburbs.
Call him back and tell him you’ll look forward to hearing from him in 10 years or less when the “rural” issues pop up in his backyard.
This is how Big Oil continues to win and will continue to win until we all ban together and say enough! Everything rolls downhill and Wise County is just a little bit uphill from Cowtown.
It can never be right for one group to profit on the misery of another group.
That’s why Wise County folks have given up.
So Wise County gets nothing in the deal? Who is the largest employer? Who is the largest taxpayer? Who buys all those company trucks I see on the roads & in our restaurants?
Dear neighbor,
It’s so pathetic that you can’t come up with any other argument to support the continued MASSIVE destruction of our environment. Do you really think people will care about any of those things when they are watching their children die because they are breathing dangerous air and drinking contaminated water?
If people in Wise County had any sense at all, oil and gas would not be the biggest employer, wind and solar energy would be. Oil and gas’ days are numbered.
Grow our food? Family farms are dead. Anybody today in Wise County is just playing farmer and/or rancher. Yes, small growing operations still exist but they are a niche, not what you buy in the grocery store.
Sadly, major corporations have taken over that facet, of life, too.
Buy local! It’s healthier, saves gas and saves the small farms.
I get cage free, organically grown eggs from my nearest neighbor. They are fresh, humane, and put grocery store eggs to shame! I’ve also gotten chicken and ham from him.
There is a grass fed beef ranch in Saint Joe.
I get vegetables from several different neighbors.
I find it extremely disappointing that intelligent news outlets like NPR and CNN are choosing to NOT cover serious environmental pollution in Wise County–exactly the kind of poor, rural communities often most-impacted by pollution. It’s especially frustrating because we all know that Fox News, Clear Channel radio and TV outlets, and most other news organizations will definitely not be covering this issue.
Shame on you, NPR and CNN!
I’m hugely disappointed that two of our few remaining intelligent news outlets have chosen not to cover Wise County, a rural community beset by environmental pollution…as many small, poor US communities are. We know that Fox News and Clear Channel station s definitely won’t be covering this…
Shame on you, NPR and CNN!