The Definition of Propaganda
Chatham County Chatlist
From: chathammatters <chatham...@gmail.com>
Subject: The Definition of Propaganda
I just received an email informing me that the movie Gasland "is not a propaganda documentary, it is fact"… perhaps the emailer is not familiar with the definition of the term Propaganda, or lacks an understanding of what a Fact is.
Definition of Propaganda (type it into google, this is what comes up):
prop·a·gan·da/ˌpräpəˈgandə/
Noun:
• Information, esp. of a biased or misleading nature, used to promote or publicize a particular political cause or point of view.
• The dissemination of such information as a political strategy.
A few examples (of many)... Direct Evidence that Gasland is not Fact:
State of Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission
"Because an informed public debate on hydraulic fracturing depends on accurate information, the Colorado Oil and Gas Conservation Commission (COGCC) would like to correct errors in the film's portrayal of the Colorado incidents."
"Gasland incorrectly attributes cases of water well contamination in Colorado to oil and gas development when our investigations determined that the wells in question contained biogenic methane that is not attributable to such development."
• Source: State of Colorado Oil & Gas Conservation Commission, Correcting Gasland
John Hanger, Secretary, Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection
Gasland is "fundamentally dishonest" and "a deliberately false presentation for dramatic effect."
• Source: Philadelphia Inquirer, ''Gasland' documentary fuels debate over natural gas extraction," June 23, 2010
Ground Water Protection Council
Gasland "stated that the Ground Water Protection Council refused an interview with…[Josh Fox] regarding the practice known as 'hydraulic fracturing'. This statement by the filmmakers was inaccurate. To our knowledge, no one representing the production company approached us for comment on this subject…Had Mr. Fox or his representatives contacted us, we would have been receptive to discussing this issue as we have on numerous occasions when contacted by media outlets."
• Source: Groundwater Protection Council Statement on Gasland
Conclusion based on the Evidence: Gasland IS Propaganda, and is NOT Fact.
For all of you True Gasland Believers out there… you can now return to your regularly scheduled fictional universe..