How to Host a Fractivist Party

Hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking,” is well on its way to becoming a household term, but most people still don’t know what it is. There’s even a new term for fracking activists: "fractivists."

Fracking is a rock-shattering method of extracting natural gas during which hazardous chemicals can leach out and pollute both air and drinking water. Residents of a Pennsylvania town near a fracking site can light their drinking water on fire. Not exactly thirst-quenching.

When filmmaker Josh Fox was asked to lease his Pennsylvania land for natural-gas drilling, he got curious and embarked on a “cross-country odyssey uncovering a trail of secrets, lies and contamination.” The result was Oscar-nominated Gasland, a film documenting the astonishing realities of the fracking industry and how they affect our health.

Shocked that fracking is allowed to continue? Or just want a free DVD? It’s your lucky day. The Sierra Club’s Hydrofracking Team is sponsoring Gasland house parties across the country. Sign up to host, invite a few friends, and the Club'll send you a copy of Gasland. Don’t feel like hosting? You can also search for a party to attend in your town.

--Sophie Matson