Shockingly, climate change isn’t the main reason people oppose the boom in “tight” oil (or shale oil) production; instead, local communities are fighting against it for fear of the impact of drilling. Modern drilling is noisy and can drive down the value of people’s homes, which homeowners are particularly sensitive about because the home is the most valuable asset for many American families. Aside from that, many fear that drilling will invite more public spending on infrastructure that could affect their homes. Read full article here
Societal Issues
To curb drug deaths, communities turn to Reddit, texts and wastewater
With drug overdose deaths on the rise, authorities are attempting to curb the epidemic by tracking and sharing information in real time. In one unique effort, a nonprofit in New York City is using drug-testing equipment and stamping or marking habits of dealers to identify drug batches that may endanger users. Other approaches are also being used, such as monitoring drug-related chatter on Reddit and analyzing local wastewater for opioid and other drug levels. With the combination of these efforts, researchers hope to put a dent in the opioid crisis and reduce overdose deaths. Read full article here
Merv
June 1, 2023
