Increased Fracking? No Thanks, Say More Americans
New poll shows biggest shift towards rejecting hydraulic fracturing in Midwest
A new Pew Research Center poll has found growing opposition among Americans to increased fracking.
According to the results of the survey conducted last week, more people (47 percent) are opposed to increased fracking than in favor (41percent) of its increased use.
In contrast, Pew's March 2013 poll 48 percent in support compared to 38 percent opposed.
Broken down into demographic groups, the November poll shows women have expressed a marked increase in opposition. Fifty-four percent of women expressed opposition compared to 31 percent in favor of increased fracking. In the March poll, the results were more evenly distributed, with 42 percent of women expressing opposition compared to 41 percent in favor.
Men were more in favor than opposed to an increase in fracking in both the November and March polls.
A partisan breakdown shows vast contrasts.
In both the November and March polls, respondents identified as Republican expressed strong support for an increase in fracking -- 62 percent in November and 66 percent in March. Just 25 percent expressed opposition in the latest poll and 24 percent in the earlier poll.
Democrats were more opposed in both polls. Fifty-two percent expressed opposition in March, and that percentage went up to 59 in November. Thirty-three percent were in favor in March, and the number dropped to 29 last week.
The biggest shift between the two polls came from those in the Midwest. Fifty-five percent of respondents in that region said they were in favor in March, but that number dropped to 39 percent in November.
The new poll comes a month after a "Global Frackdown," slated as an international day of action to stop fracking.
Organizers of that action declared:
Fracking for oil and gas is inherently unsafe and the harms of this industry cannot be fully mitigated by regulation. We reject the multi-million dollar public relations campaign by big oil and gas companies and urge our local, state, and national officials to reject fracking. We stand united as a global movement in calling on governmental officials at all levels to pursue a renewable energy future and not allow fracking or any of the associated infrastructure in our communities or any communities. We are communities fighting fracking, frac sand mining, pipelines, compressor stations, LNG terminals, exports of natural gas, coal seam gas, coal bed methane and more. Fracking is not part of our vision for a clean energy future and should be banned.
We are at a crossroads
This country and this world are at a monumental crossroads. In a few short weeks, US voters will have an opportunity to beat back the forces of fascism and confront the billionaires who are rigging the economy, our media system, and our democracy, making it increasingly impossible for ordinary people to get by. We’re not just talking about the election. We’re talking about what must be done once these fascist elements are vanquished from power. We need a bolder set of solutions than what either major party has so far been willing to offer and a working-class movement ready to fight like hell for it. Trump didn't emerge from nowhere. The conditions that fueled MAGA authoritarianism were created by decades of radical neoliberal economic policies and a corrupt political system dominated by corporate interests. They slashed taxes on the super-rich, promising that the benefits would trickle down. They said giveaways to the corporate titans would make life more affordable for the rest of us. It was all bullshit. And when a bitter, betrayed populace searches for someone to blame, right-wing demagogues have little trouble finding scapegoats. People know when they're being lied to, but you won't hear any of this from the corporate media. Only independent journalism—powered and funded by people who believe in building a better world—can deliver truly trustworthy daily news. Our Fall Campaign is underway, and we need your help. To power our newsroom through the rest of the year, we need to raise $125,000 by midnight on October 31. So if you share our vision, please contribute whatever you can to sustain our work. |
A new Pew Research Center poll has found growing opposition among Americans to increased fracking.
According to the results of the survey conducted last week, more people (47 percent) are opposed to increased fracking than in favor (41percent) of its increased use.
In contrast, Pew's March 2013 poll 48 percent in support compared to 38 percent opposed.
Broken down into demographic groups, the November poll shows women have expressed a marked increase in opposition. Fifty-four percent of women expressed opposition compared to 31 percent in favor of increased fracking. In the March poll, the results were more evenly distributed, with 42 percent of women expressing opposition compared to 41 percent in favor.
Men were more in favor than opposed to an increase in fracking in both the November and March polls.
A partisan breakdown shows vast contrasts.
In both the November and March polls, respondents identified as Republican expressed strong support for an increase in fracking -- 62 percent in November and 66 percent in March. Just 25 percent expressed opposition in the latest poll and 24 percent in the earlier poll.
Democrats were more opposed in both polls. Fifty-two percent expressed opposition in March, and that percentage went up to 59 in November. Thirty-three percent were in favor in March, and the number dropped to 29 last week.
The biggest shift between the two polls came from those in the Midwest. Fifty-five percent of respondents in that region said they were in favor in March, but that number dropped to 39 percent in November.
The new poll comes a month after a "Global Frackdown," slated as an international day of action to stop fracking.
Organizers of that action declared:
Fracking for oil and gas is inherently unsafe and the harms of this industry cannot be fully mitigated by regulation. We reject the multi-million dollar public relations campaign by big oil and gas companies and urge our local, state, and national officials to reject fracking. We stand united as a global movement in calling on governmental officials at all levels to pursue a renewable energy future and not allow fracking or any of the associated infrastructure in our communities or any communities. We are communities fighting fracking, frac sand mining, pipelines, compressor stations, LNG terminals, exports of natural gas, coal seam gas, coal bed methane and more. Fracking is not part of our vision for a clean energy future and should be banned.
A new Pew Research Center poll has found growing opposition among Americans to increased fracking.
According to the results of the survey conducted last week, more people (47 percent) are opposed to increased fracking than in favor (41percent) of its increased use.
In contrast, Pew's March 2013 poll 48 percent in support compared to 38 percent opposed.
Broken down into demographic groups, the November poll shows women have expressed a marked increase in opposition. Fifty-four percent of women expressed opposition compared to 31 percent in favor of increased fracking. In the March poll, the results were more evenly distributed, with 42 percent of women expressing opposition compared to 41 percent in favor.
Men were more in favor than opposed to an increase in fracking in both the November and March polls.
A partisan breakdown shows vast contrasts.
In both the November and March polls, respondents identified as Republican expressed strong support for an increase in fracking -- 62 percent in November and 66 percent in March. Just 25 percent expressed opposition in the latest poll and 24 percent in the earlier poll.
Democrats were more opposed in both polls. Fifty-two percent expressed opposition in March, and that percentage went up to 59 in November. Thirty-three percent were in favor in March, and the number dropped to 29 last week.
The biggest shift between the two polls came from those in the Midwest. Fifty-five percent of respondents in that region said they were in favor in March, but that number dropped to 39 percent in November.
The new poll comes a month after a "Global Frackdown," slated as an international day of action to stop fracking.
Organizers of that action declared:
Fracking for oil and gas is inherently unsafe and the harms of this industry cannot be fully mitigated by regulation. We reject the multi-million dollar public relations campaign by big oil and gas companies and urge our local, state, and national officials to reject fracking. We stand united as a global movement in calling on governmental officials at all levels to pursue a renewable energy future and not allow fracking or any of the associated infrastructure in our communities or any communities. We are communities fighting fracking, frac sand mining, pipelines, compressor stations, LNG terminals, exports of natural gas, coal seam gas, coal bed methane and more. Fracking is not part of our vision for a clean energy future and should be banned.