Vous répondez à ce sujet en anglais dans un raisonnement d'environ 500 mots.

Taking into account their specificities, show how these documents illustrate some of the tensions in American society regarding environmental policies and the polarisation of the issue. Make sure to address…

• The positive impact of fracking on the economy.

• The controversy about fracking

• What is implied about the “dark side” of fracking

In current-day consumerist society, every developed country is reliant on energy, either fossil fuels or eco-friendly solar and wind powers so that citizens are provided with enough electricity. The government raises funds for specific methods of energy production depending on the natural reserves and their own tackling of global warming. [Accroche] For instance, the American energy industry is double-edged, sometimes praised for its efficiency, but also fumed at by activists whose main purpose is to protect our depleted Mother Nature. [Présentation du sujet] Within the framework of “Changing environments”, the set of documents at hand addresses the pros and cons of fracking, which is a means of producing shale gas and oil. It is made up of two articles, one from the National Geographic and the other published in Politico, and a satirical cartoon drawn by John Cole in The Times Tribune. [Présentation du dossier de synthèse]

To what extent is fracking a beneficial way of producing energy in the US? 

After underscoring the positive impact of fracking, I will cast light on the contentious debates it induces, and the significance of fracking in political perspectives.

First, fracking is a vital stimulus for the US pandemic-affected economy, as the sector ropes in up to 3 million American fellows (A). Drillers, operators, engineers, experts are needed to master this technique (C). As a source of durable and well-paying occupations, this booming technological breakthrough is the “economic lifeblood” for several states, such as Pennsylvania (B). It draws investments from an array of operations nationwide, which is economically profitable for the country (B). All in all, it makes the country more competitive on the international scale, being an industrial champion worldwide (A).

However, it is as well a bone of contention as the use of chemicals, toxic substances and other life-jeopardising liquids is decried by activists (B). It is high time Americans' awareness was raised about the hazardous consequences of fracking ecologically speaking. They disapprove of the use of machines and engines which are emitters of unwholesome greenhouse gases (B). At the end of the day, fracking contributes to man-induced pollution. It's the reason why Joe Biden was eager to get rid of fracking, because it would be healthier and more environmentally-friendly. It could also ensure long-term respect of biodiversity in the US (B). It is all the more scathing as fracking takes a heavy toll, especially when toxic substances end up in everyone’s glass of water… (C). Indeed, injections of high-pressure sand and chemicals can pollute groundwaters (A).

Nonetheless, not only does fracking nourish ecological debates, but it has also been weaponized for the presidential elections. Then, president-elect Donald Trump, sceptical of global warming, cracked down on Biden’s promise, and hoped he’d gather fracking proponents in the ballots to be elected for another term (B). Obviously, what Donald Trump claimed had to be taken with a grain of salt. Needless to remind that Donald Trump had withdrawn the US from the Paris Agreement, thus running afoul of multilateral decisions to combat soaring temperatures…

In a nutshell, fracking is a debate revolving around economic, social and even political perspectives. A critical approach of the matter is necessary to fathom the stakes. As far as I am concerned, concrete actions are difficult to implement in our daily life, making global warming hard to combat.

541 words