More fracking deaths

According to the Houston Chronicle, deaths caused by drilling and fracking operations have raised 7.4% in Texas from 2008. 

Texas Government and citizens should pay more attention to fracking. It is not well regulated and there are risks that have not been considered. It seems that people are not well informed either. According to The Guardian  most of the research available has been linked to big energy companies. It seems as if the government knows how it affects the quality of life and just ignores it. 

Rolling Stone magazine published some photographs of victims of fracking in Pennsylvania. They show how this family needs to buy gallons of water so they can shower, wash their hands, and of course, drink it. They have to drive once a week to buy jugs of pure water because the tap water is tested positive with poisonous chemicals. This case might be outside of Texas but I bet there is people going through the same struggle in Texas. 

I think people should spread the word and get informed. They should demand clear and precise information about where and how is fracking taking place. If the citizens do not take action, deaths caused by drilling and fracking operations will keep escalating. 

Free Birth Control

I read an article about free birth control by Laura Lazos published on her blog "That's what I like about Texas".


She states that birth control should be free. I agree. I should be free at least for the teenagers that can afford paying for their birth control. This would make the birth control more accessible for teenagers and will prevent unplanned pregnancy. On the other hand, I do not agree that if women have to pay for their birth control, then the abortions will start to escalate. I think unwanted pregnancy comes from the lack of sexual education among the teenagers. Unwanted pregnancy is not a result of expensive birth control treatment, because there are many other ways to prevent pregnancy.

I think birth control should be free, but a sexual education talk should be given to all the teenagers that apply to get it. Birth control prevents pregnancy but does not prevent any type of STD, and many teenagers do not use a condom just because they use birth control. Sexual education is very important and should be accessible to everyone too.

Texas is Fracking the Land and Fracking us too.

According to CNBC's overall rankings of 2013 based on variables including Economy, Infrastructure, Quality of Life, etc. Texas stands in 2nd place. If we take a look to each of those variables, Texas takes first place in Economy and Infrastructure, but drops down to place 41 in Quality of Life.

It doesn't surprise me. It seems that there are many other important things than health and the environment in Texas. Researchers at the University of Texas at Arlington found out that levels of arsenic and other heavy metals have raised in Northern Texas. Add that to the fact that fracking is occurring closer and closer to city limits and the results are hazardous. There have been cases in Northern Dallas where laws are being broken and fracking is taking place inside city limits.

Oil is also damaging Texas oceans. Two weeks ago 168,000 gallons of oil were breached into Galveston bay spreading into the Gulf of Mexico. So now we have toxic crops from fracking and toxic seafood thanks to the oil spill.

Texas needs to reconsider if the nation's goal of energetic independence is more important than the health of its citizens. Fracking laws should be updated and enforced to benefit the quality of life of Texans.