Chippewa Valley (WQOW) - A local musician creates a song
about a controversial topic. The frac sand mining industry has seen a rapid growth
across Wisconsin
recently. The business has drawn interest from those that oppose it, and those
that are for it. Now one musician is hoping to raise awareness through
song.
"I started music
when I was real young, I always knew that's what I wanted to do," said musician Brian Bethke.
The frac sand mining industry has
its supporters, and its critics. One such critic is Brian Bethke, a musician
from Osseo, an area where mining has started to expand. He recently made a song
to raise awareness of the industry.
"It was a good way
to get it out to as many people as I could, to just let them know about the
issue. And then let them make their own decisions, and see how they want to
fight it, or if they want to welcome it on their own terms too," Bethke said
Now that he has young ones of his
own to look after, he is more conscious of potential health risks that could be
associated with frac sand mining.
"That's my concern,
is we start opening up all this land with silica sand, and I have three
children. In 20 years, do I want them to be on oxygen?" said Bethke.
The song, called "Song for
you", was inspired by a town meeting Bethke went to. He wanted more
protections for citizens throughout the town, not just next to the facility.
"And I came home
and out of frustration, I wrote this song," Bethke said.
"The ones who are
protesting against it, and are really trying to push it back, are a majority
older people who lived in the area, with family farms they don't want to see
destroyed. So me, I'm just trying to wake up the younger generation. To tell
them to go to your town hall meetings, contact your local representatives, and
have an honest conversation about this. Use the moratoriums, spend the time to
figure out what this is going to cause, what kind of damage this is going to
do, and then decide whether they want to let it in or not," said Bethke.
In 2007, Bethke began his own record
label, and just one year later was named the Chippewa Valley's
best solo performer. To watch the video for this song, click here.
