If UK legislators are so keen to impress upon the populace that fracking can be done 'safely'
(whatever that could possibly mean) then presumably they will have no problem incorporating the pre- and post fracking, standardised sampling of local water supplies.
See how it works in Illinois here: http://www.environmentallawresource.com/2013/06/articles/water/illinois-governor-signs-fracking-legislation/
PLease let us know the minute you here of this happening.
Friday, 23 August 2013
A tale of two ( very different ) cultures....................
We are becoming increasingly aware of the extent to which the UK Press is keen to reinforce the notion that all protestors are somehow evil, unwashed and anti-societal. That of course, would be our view of those who seek to desecrate the landscape, bribe politicians and poison the water but hey, ho.
Compare if you will, two recent images from 'respectable' daily newspapers..............
No sign of the hundreds of respectable, middle class citizens living right in Balcombe and surrounding villages there then?
Ah, here they are......................
But then that photo appeared only a couple of times before the continuing deluge of hippy/traveller/Swampy type shots. Could it be that the British are now so used to imagining that ' there's nothing you can do about 'it'' or is it just that Middle England has become so intimidated by heavy handed police tactics ( and what is their presence costing the taxpayer we hear you cry! ) and notions of 'respectability' that they are frozen in the headlights?
Compare and contrast if you will the situation en France where legitimate protest ( albeit policed but in an entirely different way ) is seen entirely differently - cross party, cross class (!), all-age. Here we see Maires in the Ardeche pictured when 20,000 marched against the (then) very real threat of fracking, proudly wearing their sashes of office.........................
Two cultures indeed.
Compare if you will, two recent images from 'respectable' daily newspapers..............
Ah, here they are......................
Compare and contrast if you will the situation en France where legitimate protest ( albeit policed but in an entirely different way ) is seen entirely differently - cross party, cross class (!), all-age. Here we see Maires in the Ardeche pictured when 20,000 marched against the (then) very real threat of fracking, proudly wearing their sashes of office.........................
Two cultures indeed.
Thursday, 22 August 2013
Stop Obama!
The Huffington Post reveals just how extensive President Obama's plans are to frack some of the most beautiful regions in America including the Glacier National Park. And when the fracking finally has to stop Mr President - what will you have? Certainly you will have total responsibility for years of wasted opportunity in terms of investment in essential renewables and additionally a desecrated landscape.
Has anyone seen an aerial view of Pennsylvania?
Read the report here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-ruffalo/stop-fracking_b_3786370.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
Has anyone seen an aerial view of Pennsylvania?
Read the report here: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/mark-ruffalo/stop-fracking_b_3786370.html?utm_hp_ref=email_share
PM does not expect any more wind farms.....................
UK PM David Cameron said recently that he 'Did not expect there to be any more wind farms in the British countryside'. Of course not David, just lots of lovely derricks and methane flares and trucks galore - at all hours. Read here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-23770629 how fracking is not to be included in an audit of the impact on the environment of power-generating infrastructure. 1,200 for the Sussex Downs if industry estimates of likely reserves are to be believed. Realisable reserves of course are an entirely different matter.
Cameron's fervour reminds us of Blair getting right behind GM crop generation at one point. Nemesis? Unlikely that fracking is now going to actually add to the number of safe seats that he can count on.
Cameron's fervour reminds us of Blair getting right behind GM crop generation at one point. Nemesis? Unlikely that fracking is now going to actually add to the number of safe seats that he can count on.
Wednesday, 21 August 2013
UK - PM chooses fracking rather than 'greening'.
The almost fanatical, religous fervour which appears to be driving UK Prime Minister D.Cameron to support fracking is in inverse proportion to his support for/interest in renewables. Shame on you Dave.
Read more here : http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/21/david-cameron-fracking-green-investors
Read more here : http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/aug/21/david-cameron-fracking-green-investors
Another fossil fuel - why not?
'The longer we continue to rely upon fossil fuels...............................'
Read here http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/aug/21/climate-change-extreme-heat why we should think again and why the entire fracking debate is about much more than the veracity of reports of flaming taps etc.
Read here http://www.theguardian.com/environment/climate-consensus-97-per-cent/2013/aug/21/climate-change-extreme-heat why we should think again and why the entire fracking debate is about much more than the veracity of reports of flaming taps etc.
Concern for the 'energy poor' - UK Government!
We read today in that most respectable of journals (!) The Times (London Times that is) that..........
"Protestors against fracking risk worsening the plight of the 5 million households struggling to pay energy bills, Britain's fuel advisor ( Tzar?! ) has warned. Ministers have a 'duty' to promote the extraction of shale gas because of the potential it has to drive down the cost of energy, according to the Chair of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group ( we kid you not ). Derek Lickorish (!) says that 'the voice of the fuel poor has been lost in the current frenzy at Balcombe, Sussex where the energy Company Cudarilla has been targeted by anti-fracking protestors".
The Times then chooses to publish the article beneath a carefully chosen image of hippy/traveller type protestors that the UK public have come to know and love. Well done The Times - let's perpetuate the myth that the only people who have the courage to protest are those with dreadlocks and rings through their noses.
Here is the lead to the article: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article3848589.ece
SEVERAL THINGS occur to us Mr Lickorish.
1. Since when did this government care one fig about the 'energy poor'?
2. For how long might fuel prices be 'driven down' ( love it!) if the best estimates of the realisable, proportion of the massive reserves ( industry estimates that is ) run to months only?
3. Is this promise of fuel price reduction as valid as the one made when UK utilities were first privatised?
4. Cuadrilla have not been 'targeted', it is they who have targeted communities and they and their pals in government who are in a frenzy about the likely 'take'.
5. Ministers have a 'duty' to promote the extraction of shale gas. NO they do not Mr Licorish, they have a duty to invest heavily in renewable sources and not extract/promote yet another fossil fuel - for profit. Come to that, they have a 'duty' to drive down the obscene profits and subsidies awarded to perhaps the most polluting industry on the face of the planet.
6. Perhaps The Times has a 'duty' to illustrate such a biased piece of lobbying propoganda with an image depicting a proper mix of protestors. The protest 'mix' includes all ages and political leanings and properly so - this matter affects us all.
Well done The Times. Mr Murdoch will be proud of you ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times ).
"Protestors against fracking risk worsening the plight of the 5 million households struggling to pay energy bills, Britain's fuel advisor ( Tzar?! ) has warned. Ministers have a 'duty' to promote the extraction of shale gas because of the potential it has to drive down the cost of energy, according to the Chair of the Fuel Poverty Advisory Group ( we kid you not ). Derek Lickorish (!) says that 'the voice of the fuel poor has been lost in the current frenzy at Balcombe, Sussex where the energy Company Cudarilla has been targeted by anti-fracking protestors".
The Times then chooses to publish the article beneath a carefully chosen image of hippy/traveller type protestors that the UK public have come to know and love. Well done The Times - let's perpetuate the myth that the only people who have the courage to protest are those with dreadlocks and rings through their noses.
Here is the lead to the article: http://www.thetimes.co.uk/tto/news/uk/article3848589.ece
SEVERAL THINGS occur to us Mr Lickorish.
1. Since when did this government care one fig about the 'energy poor'?
2. For how long might fuel prices be 'driven down' ( love it!) if the best estimates of the realisable, proportion of the massive reserves ( industry estimates that is ) run to months only?
3. Is this promise of fuel price reduction as valid as the one made when UK utilities were first privatised?
4. Cuadrilla have not been 'targeted', it is they who have targeted communities and they and their pals in government who are in a frenzy about the likely 'take'.
5. Ministers have a 'duty' to promote the extraction of shale gas. NO they do not Mr Licorish, they have a duty to invest heavily in renewable sources and not extract/promote yet another fossil fuel - for profit. Come to that, they have a 'duty' to drive down the obscene profits and subsidies awarded to perhaps the most polluting industry on the face of the planet.
6. Perhaps The Times has a 'duty' to illustrate such a biased piece of lobbying propoganda with an image depicting a proper mix of protestors. The protest 'mix' includes all ages and political leanings and properly so - this matter affects us all.
Well done The Times. Mr Murdoch will be proud of you ( http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Times ).
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