Saturday 30 May 2015

Facebook - Look what we found................

Checking the various oil and gassy Facebook pages just now as we do on a daily basis and look what we found on Shell's page - Video ( scroll down a bit ) 'A Song of Oil,Ice and Fire'. Compelling viewing.

https://www.facebook.com/Shell/photos/a.366883380021940.83671.200969413280005/910964975613775/?type=1&theater

It's hard to believe that man could be so stupid and so greedy is it not. Has nothing to do with energy needs - at all. Ed.

Sunday 24 May 2015

UK - Here we go, here we go................................

Following the Conservative 'victory' in the recent UK governmental elections we forecast a wave of new fracking applications.

The Guardian - 23/05/15 reported...............

The UK's most high profile shale gas developer, Cuadrilla Resources, announced on Monday that it is poised to submit planning applications for exploratory wells at its site in Lancashire, raising the prospect of a summer of protests against the controversial development.
The company issued a statement confirming it would put forward a planning application to Lancashire County Council for it to drill, hydraulically fracture, and test the flow of gas at up to four exploratory wells at its proposed site at Preston New Road. It added that plans would also be submitted to install a series of seismic monitoring stations within four kilometres of the proposed site, in order to monitor the risk of earth tremors that may result from the drilling.
Cuadrilla said the planning application had followed "extensive public consultation" and would be accompanied by a detailed Environmental Impact Assessment undertaken by consultancy Arup.

Safe as houses.Ed.

Saturday 23 May 2015

UK - Now let us spoil Yorkshire....................

A small energy company has become the second firm to apply for a licence to frack for gas in Britain, submitting an application for a site in the Vale of Pickering in Yorkshire. Just days after the new energy secretary, Amber Rudd, expressed her support for hydraulic fracturing, Third Energy has applied to use the controversial technique at a well at Kirby Misperton, about 25 miles from York, near Malton in Ryedale. The site is close to the Flamingo Land theme park and holiday resort.

Read the full report here:  http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/may/22/uk-fracking-firm-applies-for-licence-in-north-yorkshire

Wednesday 20 May 2015

UK - Full tilt for fracking says Tory Govt.

Fracking support falls as Tory government promises to 'deliver shale'

Conservatives pledge to drive through fracking projects, including under national parks – despite public opposition rising from 29% to 43% in the last 18 months, according to a YouGov pol. (They had previously said that they would stop at the perimeter of a national park, but hey, who cares now ).

Read the full report here.....................

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/may/19/public-opposition-to-fracking-rises-in-face-of-tory-push-for-shale-gas?CMP=share_btn_link



Footnote. Most voters supported other parties, not the Conservatives. ... In reality, under the UK's first-past-the-post electoral system, winning a majority of seats does not mean that the majority of people support you. ... 63% opted for other parties. ... Only 24% of those eligible to vote actually put a cross next to a Tory .

Tuesday 19 May 2015

Back in harness!

Digital problems now digitized it would seem and we are back in business - fear not. Pity about the coffee R!

Fingers crossed that we are not distracted again, we thought you might enjoy this gem from the liberal State of Texas.....................



Texas officially prohibits cities from banning fracking

Published time: May 19, 2015 04:06

Reuters/Terry Wade
364202
A new Texas law signed by Republican Governor Greg Abbott prohibits cities and towns from imposing local ordinances to prevent fracking and other potentially environmentally harmful oil and natural gas activities.


Monday 18 May 2015

Shiste Happens for real

Some of the team appear to be having a problem accessing the site. This is part test and part confirmation that our sterling blogger has not given up, but has a digital difficulty. We hope he will be back online very soon. Meanwhile time for a coffee break.


Ho ho, how we laughed.

Tuesday 12 May 2015

UK - Greenest Govt ever ( or was that the previous incarnation? ).

As we pointed out  in our penultimate post, the UK population has elected to go for fracking: http://www.thegwpf.com/amber-rudd-appointed-as-new-energy-climate-change-minister/

Financial Times - 11/05/15

SHALE ADVOCATE AMBER RUDD APPOINTED AS NEW ENERGY & CLIMATE CHANGE MINISTER

Amber Rudd, a former financial journalist and investment banker has been appointed (as) the UK's Secretary Of State for Energy and Climate Change as Prime Minister David Cameron puts his final touches to his new cabinet on Monday. The Conservative MP believes drilling for shale gas will be good for the UK economy and jobs.

The minister believes ( apparently ) that it is possible to do it 'extremely safely'. Also, something 'that young people can get into (and ) in the wider area of developing renewables'.

You've lost us Amber - completely! Ed

Shale Advocate Amber Rudd Appointed As New Energy & Climate Change Minister

  • Date: 11/05/15

  • Financial Times

Amber Rudd, a former financial journalist and investment banker, has been appointed the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change as Prime Minister David Cameron puts his final touches to his new cabinet on Monday. The Conservative MP believes drilling for shale gas will be good for the UK economy and jobs.

- See more at: http://www.thegwpf.com/amber-rudd-appointed-as-new-energy-climate-change-minister/#sthash.ZbwfX4HV.dpuf

Shale Advocate Amber Rudd Appointed As New Energy & Climate Change Minister

  • Date: 11/05/15

  • Financial Times

Amber Rudd, a former financial journalist and investment banker, has been appointed the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change as Prime Minister David Cameron puts his final touches to his new cabinet on Monday. The Conservative MP believes drilling for shale gas will be good for the UK economy and jobs.

- See more at: http://www.thegwpf.com/amber-rudd-appointed-as-new-energy-climate-change-minister/#sthash.F0io2zbX.nUGtlkiX.dpuf

Shale Advocate Amber Rudd Appointed As New Energy & Climate Change Minister

  • Date: 11/05/15

  • Financial Times

Amber Rudd, a former financial journalist and investment banker, has been appointed the UK’s Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change as Prime Minister David Cameron puts his final touches to his new cabinet on Monday. The Conservative MP believes drilling for shale gas will be good for the UK economy and jobs.

- See more at: http://www.thegwpf.com/amber-rudd-appointed-as-new-energy-climate-change-minister/#sthash.F0io2zbX.nUGtlkiX.dpuf

Friday 8 May 2015

UK - Majority victory for the fracking party in general election.

Just in case you missed the result (!) a majority of the UK populace yesterday voted for the party that will, amongst other things, give them widespread fracking. Ed.

Monday 4 May 2015

France - Word of caution for expats living in areas sensitive to fracking exploration.

A brief word about the current state of play relating to fracking in France. First of all, the threat has not gone away. Far from it. The much maligned President Hollande is the only thing currently standing between the environment and a rush to exploration ( allowed within the terms of the present law ). He has promised that there 'would be no hydraulic fracturing on his watch' and in the main this has held true.

Note that Nicolas Sarkozy, Alain Juppe and the lady leading the FN are all in favour of exploration if not outright fracking. Jobs and the economy seem to be the main argument alongside energy independence or at least shale gas seen as a component of 'energy independence' in a mix with nuclear and some level of renewables input. None of the three candidates seem to be aware of the degree to which the previous threat of fracking in sensitive areas over here penetrated the French psyche. Were they aware, they surely would not be promoting it as a USP in their political agendas. None of the three seem to be aware either of the extent to which as many as half of firms involved in fracking in the US have gone to the wall in recent months nor the extent to which profitable and viable extraction ( let alone envrionmental and health issues ) have an even greater bearing in populated European settings.

The Collectives stay alert and active. Many sites such as our own remain on orange alert. The députe (Ardeche ) who fought for the loi Jacob banning fracking in 2011, Pascal Terrasse assures us that he remains alert. We trust that you also remain as concerned for your homes, your health and the environment as you were in 2011.

In 2017 it could be right back to square one. Thank you. Ed.

Saturday 2 May 2015

Ask Bill Gates to divest - fossil fuels

Today we publish a link to The Guardian's Climate Change Divestment campaign and urge you to join them in urging Bill Gates to lead the way in divesting in/from fossil fuel extraction/utilisation.

Sign the petition here: http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/30/dear-bill-gates-will-you-lead-the-fight-against-climate-change?CMP=share_btn_tw