UK - Labour Party to the rescue? Bit late perhaps.

Fracking would be prohibited on the land that collects the nation’s drinking water, under a Labour proposal published on Wednesday. The party also wants to reverse the government’s decision to stop shale gas companies having to notify residents individually of fracking in their area.

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jan/07/labour-seeks-ban-on-fracking-near-aquifers?CMP=share_btn_link

So where have they been up to this point? Looking to mop up a few last minute voters in the North? Pathetic.

UK - 2015 - Idiot government continues with flawed fracking policy.

And before long they are likley to see just how flawed. Unfortunately, it will be the electorate who foot the ultimate bill ( that will be the astronomical cost of policing, the cost to communities and the environment, the cost to the NHS and more ).

http://www.theecologist.org/News/news_analysis/2697196/fracking_in_the_uk_what_to_expect_in_2015.html

WOULD YOU INVEST IN FRACKING - Read this and think again?

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-12-01/billionaire-shale-pioneer-says-drilling-will-slow.html

UK loaned £1.7bn to foreign fossil fuel projects......................

'Greenest Government Ever'? Somehow we don't think so and we find ourselves completely unsurprised. Business as usual for Dave & Co.

Read the article here:  http://www.ladepeche.fr/article/2015/01/06/2023682-les-voeux-du-maire-sont-offensifs.html

France - Current situation

Ever watchful we note that every single one of the likely Presidential candidates (France) is in favour of fracking. Sarkozy in particular has said that he would repeal 'his' own loi jacob and they all justify their position by reference to the current state of the economy here. Just the UDI demur: http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/ile-de-france-jouanno-candidate-pour-conduire-la-liste-udi-aux-regionales-22-12-2014-4393423.php

Certainly there is inquiet in regions where permit applications are on the increase which on the face of it are for oil. Read one account ( in French - we recommend Google Translate ) here: http://www.leparisien.fr/espace-premium/essonne-91/les-futurs-puits-de-petrole-inquietent-les-anti-gaz-de-schiste-22-12-2014-4392095.php

As we enter the new year we note that in July it will be just four years since the Sarkozy government was cornered in the matter of shale gas and had little choice but to adopt the law banning fracking. Fracking, but not the exploration of such. The moratorium is fragile, but hopefully France is able to satisfy demand ( and pressure/lobbying ) from the likes of Messrs Total in the interim by taking advantage ( literally ) of it's ties with Algeria: http://www.bvoltaire.fr/manuelgomez/exploitation-du-gaz-de-schiste-algerien-bien-commode-pour-la-france,146497 Certainly by the time this is underway all hell will have been let loose across the UK with ( we predict ) major demonstrations and political fallout as a consequence. Hopefully our French compatriots will take due note.

US - Oil and Gas Industry 'confused' says Federal Interior Ministry

Fracking bans in the US are 'confusing' the Oil and Gas industry. Nothing confused about those guys - they know exactly what they are about. Exploiting underground/sea resources of the dirty/fossil type for maximum ( obscene ) amounts of profit long after their extraction has ceased to be relevant and at a time when every penny needs to be invested in renewable sources is not the behaviour typical of a 'confused' industry. The relevant minister has declared that 'there is a lot of misinformation about fracking'. Dead right and most of it coming from their side of the fence.

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/228385-interior-secretary-criticizes-fracking-bans

Fracking accidents - latest statistics.

If you ever harboured the thought that the dangers associated with fracking might be somewhat exagerrated just give 5 mins of your time to peruse the following:-http://www.nofrackingway.us/2014/12/31/spill-baby-spill-kill-baby-kill-2014-in-fraccidents-and-frackastrophes/