This is another of those, really?! stories that is indeed true, as reported by the Guardian today.
Two young children in Pennsylvania were banned from talking about fracking for the rest of their lives under a gag order imposed under a settlement reached by their parents with a leading oil and gas company.
It begs the question if this is even possible, one, since they are minors and will have free will as adults, and the subject is broad. It is likely over the course of their lives this may be discussed in school. Hell, maybe one of them might want to become an oil engineer?
Hey you lawyers, can this settlement even be legally binding on these kids?
The gag order was a condition of the settlement after the local fracking company destroyed the their 10 acre property by poisoning the water and even the air.
The settlement, reached in 2011 but unsealed only last week, barred the Hallowichs' son and daughter, who were then aged 10 and seven, from ever discussing fracking or the Marcellus Shale, a leading producer in America's shale gas boom.
The Hallowich family had earlier accused oil and gas companies of destroying their 10-acre farm in Mount Pleasant, Pennsylvania and putting their children's health in danger. Their property was adjacent to major industrial operations: four gas wells, gas compressor stations, and a waste water pound, which the Hallowich family said contaminated their water supply and caused burning eyes, sore throats and headaches.
I think I just may have to unplug for a while. I am coming unhinged with all this insanity. The corporate gods of our fate no longer even pretend humans matter; profit is the ultimate Good and everything in its way, be it human, living or stone is not only worthy of being condemned, but their destruction is practically cheered by the Right as justified and necessary.
Poor little kids.
Read the article, but have a yoga mat or some such method of quickly reducing your blood pressure nearby.