In some communities, hydraulic fracturing, or fracking for short, is transforming the landscape above ground as much as it is underground and changing kids' lives for better or worse. Kids share their thoughts on this issue in the Nick News with Linda Ellerbee half-hour special, "What's the Deal With Fracking?" premiering Monday, Feb. 25, at 8 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon.
Fracking is a process used to get oil and natural gas buried deep underground. A well is drilled first down and then sideways through layers of rock. Water, sand and chemicals are pumped into the rock at high pressure releasing oil and natural gas that has been trapped for millions of years.
"Those in favor of fracking say it's a safe process that's bringing jobs and energy independence to America," says Ellerbee. "Those against it say our air and drinking water are getting contaminated and it just isn't worth the risk to the environment."
"It's just angering to see how we're destroying the land," says 13-year-old Kelsey of Firestone, Colorado.
"I think it's good for the country," says 13-year-old Paiton of Fort Lupton, Colorado. "Instead of having to import oil from countries like Iraq, we have it here in America."
15-year-old Jenny and 17-year-old Grant who live in Pennsylvania, one of the states where fracking has become a booming business, have differing views on it.
"It's been good for our family," says Jenny. "We just got a new roof and also we've paid off debt for our farm."
"I want to make sure people know that it's not as safe as the industry puts it out to be," says Grant. "What good is the money if you can't breathe your air or drink your water?"
Nick News, produced by Lucky Duck Productions, is now in its 22nd year and is the longest-running kids' news show in television history. It has
Built its reputation on the respectful and direct way it speaks to kids about the important issues of the day. Over the years, Nick News has received more than 21 Emmy nominations and recently won its ninth Emmy Award for Under the Influence: Kids of Alcoholics in the category of Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program. Additional Emmy wins for outstanding children's programming include:
The Face of Courage: Kids Living with Cancer (2010); Coming Home: When Parents Return from War (2009); The Untouchable Kids of India (2008); Private Worlds: Kids and Autism (2007); Never Again: From the Holocaust to the Sudan (2005); Faces of Hope: The Kids of Afghanistan (2002) and What Are You Staring At? (1998). In addition, in 1995, the entire series won the Emmy. In 2009, Nick News was honored with the Edward R. Murrow Award for best Network News Documentary for Coming Home: When Parents Return from War - the first-ever kids' television program to receive this prestigious award. Nick News has also received three Peabody Awards, including a personal award given to Ellerbee for explaining the impeachment of President Clinton to kids, as well as a Columbia duPont Award and more than a dozen Parents' Choice Awards.
Nickelodeon, now in its 33rd year, is the number-one entertainment brand for kids. It has
Built a diverse, global business by putting kids first in everything it does. The company includes television programming and production in the United States and around the world, plus consumer products, online, recreation, books and feature films. Nickelodeon's U.S. television network is seen in more than 100 million households and has been the number-one-rated basic cable network for 18 consecutive years.
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