In our discussion groups, images that showed an unexpected contrast attracted attention. The contrast in this image between the grassy fields and cows grazing and the flaring gas chimney behind is powerful, showing the scale and the societal implications of fossil fuels.
WHAT IT SHOWS: Cattle graze in a field as gas flares from a pumping installation on the Eagle Ford Shale in Karnes County. The shale oil boom is going strong here south of San Antonio on a formation that stretches for about 300 miles across south Texas, one of the most prolific oil patches in the United States, In some areas the oil companies have discovered "sweet" spots and they are still drilling, while other areas have been cut back. Excess gas is burned off at oil pumping stations which dot the countryside.