Tuesday 31 July 2012

Josh Fox - The Sky is Pink

In this busy holiday period we are aware that even those who know that the horrors of fracking have only retreated temporarily may find it difficult to focus on grim issues such as pollution, corruption and more. However, shortly after the holidays the French Government will call an Environmental Conference to re-examine the prospects for fracking en France and many believe that they will eventually seek to amend or repeal the loi Jacob banning the process. Of course, we could be wrong.

In the meantime, here is another chance to view the documentary The Sky is Pink by Josh Fox produced in anticipation of his shortly to be released GASLANDS - 2. Compulsive viewing.

Watch the movie: The Sky is Pink (click link ).

In the meantime, our thanks to those who have given their visible support to Schistehappens by clicking the 'Join this Site' link ( the one in blue at the top right of this page ).

Sunday 22 July 2012

Tour de France - publicity




Collectif members opposed to Gaz de Schiste exploration/exploitation obtained maximum publicity for the cause as the Tour de France passed through Castelnau Montratier ( and we hear, in many other locations too ) last week. We congratulate all those concerned.

Thursday 19 July 2012

Most definitely not over...............

Today we spotted an interesting perspective on the position of the new government in The Connexion (on-line version).Click Shale Gas rethink on the cards for the full article.

One way or another, this is going to happen. It's up to us all to work for tight regulation by pressuring elected representatives at every level.

Finally, please circulate the link to this site to as many friends/contacts as possible and encourage them to Sign up for the regular newsletter on our Home Page at: www.schistehappens.com. Thank you.

Monday 16 July 2012

Mortgages, ministers and mining laws.......

In our post of the 22nd May 2012 we reported how mortgage lenders in the USA were beginning to look unfavourably on applications from areas in the USA affected by shale gas exploration. The relevant article by attorney Elisabeth N.Radow was compiled for the New York State Bar Association Journal and appeared in May of this year.

'How the fracking mess is about to make the mortgage mess worse'
'One fact ought to tell you all you need to know about the risks faced by homeowners signing leases for natural (shale) gas drilling on their property: Wells Fargo and Company, both the largest home mortgage lender in the United States  and a major lender to the country's second largest producer of natural gas, Chesapeake Energy Corp., refuses to make home loans for properties encumbered with natural gas drilling leases'.

Today we hear that Nationwide Insurance said that it "won't cover damage to homes resulting from fracking". Their policies they say, "were not designed to cover any kind of fracking risk".

Of course, it couldn't happen here - could it?

Here in France........ 

Environment Minister Delphine Batho has announced the establishment of an annual 
Environmental Conference to be held on or around 15th September. This year the main points would appear to include...................

A discussion of Energy issues leading to a decentralized debate resulting in a draft bill for 2013 aimed at making people aware of the present state of biodiversity, leading to eventual legislation.

Greater energy savings to be achieved ( via 'natural' gas exploration????!!!) 

Refinements to the Ecological tax in 2013.

Reform of the Code Minier which currently does not conform with the Environmental Charter. This review to commence in September.

Applications for permits to explore for gas and oil to be routinely posted in the interests of transparency.  


Here at SCHISTE TOWERS we welcome the proposals and in particular those relating to the Code Minier which regular readers will know is the law that dictates exactly the precise terms under which oil and gas companies may operate and in the cas of Gaz de Schiste for instance the proximity of wells to domestic dwellings for instance.


We shall see.


PS  We recently encouraged readers to circulate links to this site as widely as possible and to encourage as many contacts as possible to sign up ( see our Home page for details ) for regular updates. We are well aware that many out there think that this problem has gone away and would be grateful for your support in this matter.

Monday 2 July 2012

New minister............

In our previous post we omitted to mention that Mme.Delphine Bathos would replace Nicole Bricq as Environment Minister. Mme.Bricq clearly acted too quickly in cancelling the Guyane permis and thus incurred the wrath of the good people at Shell. We understand that Mme.Bathos has an economics background. In the meantime, President Hollande has promised to continue with the revision of the Code Minier. 

Last week we learned that the Conseil General of the Lot has re-affirmed it's opposition to all forms of Gaz de Schiste exploration/exploitation.

For those interested in or affected by fracking in the UK, the Co-operative Society have established a series of nationwide screenings of Gaslands and Gaslands-2. Full details at.............

http://www.co-operative.coop/join-the-revolution/our-plan/clean-energy-revolution/fracking/ 

Alternatively, enter 'Coop-fracking-Gaslands' in your Google search box.