There is a major fracking debate happening in Argentina involving their government and oil and gas companies. The oil and gas companies have found what is believed to be an excellent location to pursue their fracking. Though, this leads us to a problem. As we know, fracking is an act of fracturing the earth in order to extract shale gas. In doing this, major damage can be done to the surrounding environment.
So let’s get into the problem. The fracking is being done in the indigenous communities. The residents and other local environmentalists are concerned with the amount of damage that will be caused to the environment if this is continued. This drilling has been done close to the fruit tree orchards in the area as well as a major aquifer that spans to three different countries. This is a reserve for freshwater for a number of locations in that region.
There was “an ordinance passed to ban fracking, but this was vetoed a short time later by the municipal government.” It was then upheld by the legislative assembly which allows the oil and gas companies to continue the fracking process.
The way I see it, fracking is needed; but there ought to be a better location for it. These companies are fracking in these locations because it is a good source of shale gas, but there are other places that it can be gathered. The reason why these companies do not want to go to the other locations is because the job would be more expensive. While this is a great business move, it is done without any ethics. Spending a bit more money on equipment, and saving natural resources from natives is a far trade for an ethical company, and I believe this is what needs to be done.
Global Issues 4340: Drug War 
I agree that companies should lean towards being more ethical in their endeavors. In today’s economy, more and more people are aiming their investments at companies that make ethical decisions regarding their business. However, given that in this situation it is more cost-effective to drill in this areas, as it is cheaper, they will continue to do so and people will continue to invest as they can receive higher returns from a company with a higher profit margin. It is hard to get people to go for the more ethical company when they can receive higher returns from the company that may be slightly less ethical, especially when their actions do not effect them directly. As the saying goes, “money makes the world go ’round!”
Unfortunately in many countries, the government puts companies above the indigenous population. This is currently happening in Chile, where disputes are occurring between lumber companies and the Mapuches (primary indigenous group of Chile). The Mapuche people are also present in Argentina. Unfortunately many of these people are denied basic human and land rights and I feel that until this issue is fixed, these occurrences will continue to happen.