The Environmental Law Society of the University of Arizona - Essay Example

?Calls to Action Call to action The Environmental Law Society of Arizona) The Environmental Law Society (ELS) of University of Arizona as a students’ body has a duty to promote common interest in environmental issues. The society should focus and raise their awareness on matters that affect the local and global community. It should adopt a dynamic approach in viewing such issues. It should focus on the legality of matters that affect them environment through interdisciplinary discussions, meetings with experts, panels, documentaries and films. They as well offer local volunteer opportunities, mentorship programs for students and social events. Evaluate the laws about Fracking To address the major issues of environment, health and compensation, groups that draw membership from the immediate environment affected by drilling, the Environment Law Society should make it their responsibility to look at the current laws in place. This is an effort to aid those affected. As part of the Arizona state, they should mind their environment using the law knowledge they have. In Arizona, there are a number of groups that are deeply and widely involved in environmental issues. However, these groups are riddled with politics when it comes to the issue of fracking and as such, a rather ‘independent and neutral’ group should be used to champion issues that arise. With consideration of the sub issue of compensation, a rather affected group should be chosen. Considering this, the best group is the Arizona Farm Bureau, a Tucson based farm and ranch organization. The groups should come together to propose a law that may be sent to the responsible arm of the state administration. The environment law society of the University of Arizona should be the uniting body and streamline all legal actions of the groups to form a strong proposal. Extend Legal Education to the community regarding effects of fracking Since the group is based on the values of a free and enlightened community that is environmentally sensitive the Environmental law society should involve the community. It should realize the need to educate people more on the environment, face challenges and come up with solutions. There are shaky environmental laws which are not known to many. While they make proposals for better and stringent laws that govern fracking they should also is to disseminate legal environment knowledge to as many as possible as a step towards conservation. What should be of importance to them is the fact that the environmental laws are functional, well known to the people and followed accordingly. The constant bickering and politicking regarding environmental issues should not concern them. The environmental law society should not only leave a community that is aware of laws about fracking and their rights to safety, it should also do that on other environmental laws. This is a call to action for them in time since there are many issues affecting the environment especially executed by drilling companies that do little to mind the people. Conduct Mass Awareness Campaigns The Environmental Law Society is a major contributor to the Arizona Journal of Environmental Law & Policy (“AJELP”) which is a multi-discipline student-run journal. The AJELP examines environmental issues from scientific, legal, public policy, economic and other perspectives. This helps in creation of an engaging, responsive platform to discuss and drawing attention to pertinent environmental issues in law and policy. The journal publishes environment articles on a rolling basis thereby of providing updates that are timely and legal and of interest to the environmental community. The club should use this platform to advocate for a response by airing the grievances of the affected people on print media. The issue of the negative effects of drilling has long been concealed due to lack of exposure for what they really cause. The environmental law society should dwell on this until audience is given. The other feasible actions for the group should be to create awareness to the people directly through various methods. On their platform, which is base to reach thousands, they can create public awareness through different methods like meetings, flyers and recruitment. They can also use their social media forums, websites and blogs to spread word and mobilize more people to the call for action. With the legal knowledge they can be used to reach out to the community as well as draft agenda and call’s policy. The policy should address all the negative effects and recommendations to tackle the drilling problems faced by the local community. This action can serve to make it an issue of each and every person. As such, it will be a mass drive to call for action that is most likely to bear fruits. The environment law society will be stretching the University of Arizona’s mandate to the society they are part of. Call to action #2 The Arizona Farm Bureau (Tucson) The Arizona farm bureau as the largest farm and ranch organization in Arizona with a large membership reserves a responsibility and should spring to action in the time of drilling escapades. It is more than capable of influencing changes as a result of farmer’s oppression due to drilling activities. Here is how it should act to address the issue of fracking and drilling in general Represent the interests of land owners in drilling area As an independent, non-governmental organization stemming from the grassroots, the call to action of the group is to initially analyze problems and formulate action plans aiming to achieve educational improvement, economic opportunity, and social advancement and hence promote the well-being of the people where drilling takes place. It should spring to action by being the first to report cases of contamination of the environment due to fracking. It is commonly known that the groups’ catch phrase is “We are The Voice of Agriculture in Arizona.” As such, everything including the minor details of fracking likely to affect the people of Arizona should be brought to the surface. The agriculture of the state is facing a challenge with the wells sighted in ranches and contention drawing between landowners and companies over compensation. It is the duty of the organization to moderate talks, seek compensation and truth on the misunderstood issues, which are majorly as a result of misinformation from companies. If Arizona Farm Bureau handles in this manner, the affected parties will be less and be informed The values of the group are easy to attach to ideographs because the groups stand seems unequivocal. Its mandate is strong and its vision is clear. This organization is ideal to persuade to the masses that are ill-treated by the companies. One of the entail of their call to action is to use this for the benefit of all affected. This group targets a rather mature audience and its core values are basic and hard hitting. Based on such, a logical appeal would be best suit to persuade the membership. An emotional appeal would border on abuse of opportunity as the issue of compensation is personal and emotive. It is best for the organization to go full blown on covering as many people as possible. This is an appeal that will ensure a massive recognition of the problem at hand and initiate collective efforts. The group through its networks at the grassroots and with its resource should concentrate on networking and lobbying. Through its channels of communication, organs of leadership and meeting forums it would be ideal to disseminate information to members. It can also do the same via the website. Fight for the rights of land owners The organization should direct more efforts in helping farmers face the new challenges that face the industry. They should practice more lobbying on issues and discuss profitability, profitability, property rights, farm policy, water, trade, labor, tax issues and environmental issues. Certainly, the farmers deserve to be fully compensated and appreciated for their farms. They do not deserve to have their water contaminated by fracking and when it do get their water contaminated, they should be compensated. Actually, contamination should not occur in the first place. Involve the government in the Problems of Fracking and human rights The organization believes that America’s progress is based on the freedom and dignity of an individual and that it is continued by basic religious and moral concepts. For cultural advancement, economic progress, ethical and spiritual principles to flourish people must be free and responsible. This belief is ideal in instituting actions to protect the rights of land owners through legislation. It is a feasible action that will benefit the people. The organization should be focused on making it known to the government of all the concerns of the people. It has a wide platform to gain audience and direct attention to the plight of individuals as a result of fracking. In their efforts, they should ensure the government remains impartial and without special privilege and it has a limit in its powers. It is the responsibility of individuals to conserve freedom for potential generations by partaking in affairs. Everyone has a right to speak for themselves through a group or individually and that property rights are human rights too. The organization should focus more on this. Therefore, it should be the mandate of the organization to ensure that legislation and directives complimentary to every sector of agriculture are developed in close collaboration with related groups possessing general and common goals. This is the best way for the organization to act on the onset of fracking and drilling issues in Arizona. Reflection There is much to it in hydraulic fracturing than commonly seen or talked about. The details are very essential as they concern human life through environment. It is only good for all the concerned bodies to act sooner than later in addressing the issues in fracking. A fast response is necessary as it tackles the problem and exposes the loopholes in time before having affecting a wide area and affecting many people. Above all, it is very useful to maintain a collective approach to dealing with the issue of fracking. The community should be involved at all points. Education is essential as it serves to eliminate the mixed reactions associated with hydraulic fracturing. It exposes the real truth behind it and prepares the community, organization and the government for appropriate action. Engaging the environmental law society from the university in the call to action is very appropriate. This is due to the legal perspective that hydraulic fracturing possesses. The laws certainly need to be simplified for the community and streamlined with the emerging discovering in fracking. It would have been faulty to leave out the legal approach in the course of an appropriate action as it is one of the main pillars in addressing the negative issues in fracking. The Arizona Farm Bureau (Tucson) comes in handy at a time land issues and the users are in a conflict with increasing drilling. Moreover, human rights are the essence of morality in a society and the organization is at the heart of it all. Actions of the organizations have the potential to reach a wide area and fulfill the duty to protect the environment. Generally, the calls to actions are bound to revolutionize the perspective on hydraulic fracturing. They will provide the much needed intervention amid growing drilling efforts in the country. They can be subject to emulation in other states and countries. Works Cited Graves, John, H. Fracking: America's Alternative Energy Revolution John H Graves, 2012; Print Spellman, Frank, R. Environmental Impacts of Hydraulic Fracturing CRC Press, 2012; Print United States. Department of Energy. Office of Scientific and Technical Information, Energy Research Abstracts, Volume 11 Technical Information Center, U. S. 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