The Environmental Law Society at the University of Arizona - Case Study Example

Task: Call to action for gas land. Call to action No The Environmental Law Society of Arizona) The Arizona Environmental Law Society is a non-partisan, not-for-profit organization directed and staffed by students at Arizona University. The Environmental Law Society was founded by Arizona University Law students who perceived a pressing need for the Law school, and Law in general to respond more effectively to the environmental problems in the nation. The organization should be committed at preparing students to creatively and intelligently use the law in the service of the environment through participation in conferences, taking trips, hosting speakers and collaborating with groups throughout the University and the world in their effort to address environmental issues. The organization should work to promote students’ interest in environmental issues affecting the local and global community. It should take a dynamic approach of viewing environmental issues through the legal lens with meetings with local and national experts, interdisciplinary discussions, films and panels. The organization should also offer local volunteer opportunities, social events, a student mentorship program and outdoor activities, including camping and hiking, to the students. Extension of Legal Education to the community regarding effects of fracking The Arizona Environmental society is faced with the task of enlightening the community on environmental issues. The organization should travel to areas affected by fracking and educate individuals staying in the areas the possible dangers that are bound to occur and the possible solutions to the problems. The organization should assist community members in addressing the question of whether unconventional gas should be endorsed as a major future source of energy. This question should be answered basing on the impacts of fracking on human health and the climate. There is considerable lack of information and uncertainty around the health impacts of unconventional gas extraction within the community members. It is the duty of the of the Arizona Environmental Law Society to let the community members know that the health impacts associated fracking chemicals used in the extraction of the unconventional gas are serious. The organization should also teach them the laws governing their rights with regard to fracking. The organization should also prepare the community members by teaching them the effects of the chemicals on climatic changes. This due to the fact that climatic changes are likely to exacerbate certain health risks and the vulnerability of certain groups including the elderly, rural and indigenous groups, as well as future generations.The Arizona Environmental Law Society should also report to the community members the risks associated with water contamination caused by the fracking process and wastewater. The group should ensure that the community members being left behind are aware of the health risks caused by fracking, how to avoid the risks and possible remedies, in case, they are infected. The organization should also ensure that the society members are aware of the laws governing fracking and their laws governing the safely of their health. They should also be aware of environmental laws. Evaluation of the laws about Fracking This will involve the task of the Arizona Environmental Law Society in conjunction with the law in respect to unconventional extraction of natural gas. The intervention of the Environmental Law Society will restrict the risk for every individual production project to an acceptable level. It will also enable compensation to be paid in the event of risk occurrence during the process of natural gas drilling. Members of the Arizona Environmental Society should use their knowledge of the law in helping individuals living near natural gas mining areas. They should control the planning of every aspect as well as the infrastructure of all the production projects. There are many groups in Arizona University that are interested in environmental conservation. However, the groups are destructed by politics when it comes to fracking. To achieve the compensation act, a group should be created from individuals from the affected society. Consequently, the best group is the Arizona Farm Bureau, a Tucson based farm and ranch organization. To achieve their goal, the Arizona Environmental Law Society should work in unity with other groups within the university. Conduction of Mass awareness campaigns The Arizona Environmental Society, being am major contributor to The Arizona of Environmental Law & policy (“AJELP”), plays a role in conduction of mass awareness campaigns. The AJELP is a journal run by students and it examines issues from scientific, legal, public policy, economic and other perspectives. It creates a responsive and engaging platform for discussing and drawing attention with pertinent environmental law and policy issues. All students at the university are eligible for membership. The journal publishes environmental the current environmental issues and Updates, thus, keeping the readers up to date with the current environmental information. The Arizona Environmental Law Society should post, in the journal, the grievances faced by individuals staying in areas where fracking takes place. The group should continue posting this in the magazine until when the message reaches the intended audience. Other feasible actions of the organization should involve creating public awareness using other mediums like the internet, public meetings, recruitment and flyers. Members of the group can use their legal knowledge to reach the community and draft an agenda. The Arizona Environmental Law Society, as an organization, will have played its larger role of mass awareness. Call to action No.2 The Environment Protecting Agency (EPA) The Environment Protecting Agency (EPA) is an agency of the US federal government that was developed for the aim of protecting the environment and human health. EPA achieves this by writing and enforcing regulations that are based on the laws passed by the Congress. President Richard Nixon proposed the organization in 1970 after he signed an executive order. It has its headquarters in Washington. EPA conducts environmental assessment, education and research. Its power includes sanctions, fines and other measures. The agency works with all governments and industries in energy conservation efforts and environmental pollution prevention programs. The EPA has the power of bringing the health risks faced by individuals staying in hydraulic fracking areas to an end. The agency can achieve this through the following steps: Representing the interests of individuals whose health is at risk To ensure good health of individuals staying in hydraulic fracking areas, The Environmental Protecting Agency is analyzing the problems and formulating action plans with the aim of achieving educational improvement, economic opportunity and social advancement. The agency should come up with a report on cases of environment pollution as a result of fracking. This will assist in protecting individuals whose health is at risk against many infections brought about by the pollution. Individuals who stay in hydraulic fracking areas face great health challenges since their tap water is contaminated by harmful chemicals from the natural gas mining cites. The EPA has a duty of moderating talks, seeking compensation and truth on the health issues that have been misunderstood as a result of misunderstanding information from the fracking companies. This will, in turn, save the lives of individuals staying in hydraulic fracking areas by reducing the causes of health infection. The actions undertaken by the EPA are easy to relate with ideographs since the stand of the agency appears unequivocal. The group has a strong mandate and a clear vision. It is ideal in persuading the masses, whose health is endangered by the companies. In its efforts to save lives, the EPA targets mature audience and its main values are basic. Due to this reason, to persuade the membership, a logical appeal will be the best method. An emotional appeal would not be effective since compensation is personal and emotive. It is best for the organization to cover as many people as possible. This is the appeal that will ensure that the problem at hand is recognized; hence, allowing for the initiation of collective efforts in handling the problem. The motive of the call to action of the group is to use this for the benefit of the affected. Additionally, The Environment Protecting Agency should concentrate on lobbying and networking. The EPA can achieve this through its leadership organs, communication channels and meeting forums. Communication of the health risks caused by fracking companies to individuals who stay in hydraulic fracking areas can also be done through the internet. Involve the government in the fight against health problems caused by fracking companies. The EAP believes the progress of America is due to good health of the citizens. For economic progress, cultural advancement and for ethical and spiritual principles to flourish, individuals must have good health. This belief is necessary with the EAP since it will assist the group in protecting and freeing individuals whose health is at risk through legislation. This is a feasible action that will benefit the affected individuals. The group has a wide platform to directing information to the right audience about the health risks imposed as a result of fracking. In its efforts, the agency should ensure that the government remains impartial. It should be the mandate of the organization to ensure the legislation and directives complementary to every health sector are developed. This should be done in close collaboration with related groups possessing a common goal. This is the right action by the agency action towards protecting the health of those living in fracking areas. Fighting for the rights of residents whose health is at risk The EPA should direct efforts in helping individuals who face health challenges as a result of the actions by hydraulic fracking companies. The group should lobby on issues and discus profitability health policy, trade, labor, and environmental issues. Those whose health is at risk deserve to be compensated. Their water should not be contaminated by fracking. They should also be compensated if their water is contaminated. This is due to the fact that contaminated water causes health risks. The agency should educate individuals staying in the fracking areas the health risk caused by the harmful chemicals and possible remedies for the caused problems. This will, in turn, reach many people thus making the aim of the agency successful. The APA, as an agency, will have played its larger role of mass awareness. Reflection Hydraulic fracturing imposes a lot of negative effects both to human beings and the environment (Marion 28). Having the knowledge of its effects in details is essential since the information concerns human life through the environment. All the concerned bodies should act as soon as possible in addressing the issues concerning hydraulic fracking. It is mandatory that a fast response be taken. A fast response tackles the problem and exposes the short-comings of the solution in time before the effect takes place over a wide area. This helps in saving the lives of many people. In approaching the issue of fracking, it is important to maintain a collective approach. The whole community has to be involved in all points. The affected individuals should be educated on the dangers of fracking and remedies to the already caused damages. This will help in elimination of mixed reactions associated with hydraulic facturing. Education reveals the truth behind hydraulic fracturing and it helps in preparing the community, organistion, and the government to take the correct action. Engaging the Environmental Low Society from Arizona University in the call to action is a very appropriate action. This is as a result of the legal perspective possessed by hydraulic fracturing. The laws need to be made simpler for community members to have a clear understanding of what is required of them. The Environment Protecting Agency is involved when health issues of individuals staying in hydraulic fracking areas come up. The agency aims ensuring good health of the individuals by focusing on environmental protection measures. The calls to action are aimed at revolutionizing the perspective on hydraulic fracturing. They provide useful intervention amid the growing hydraulic fracturing actions. Work cited: Marion, Nancy E. Making Environmental Law: The Politics of Protecting the Earth. Santa Barbara, Calif,US: Praeger, 2011. Print. Read More