Monday, 26 September 2011
In Error - Our Apologies
We have been advised today, following rigorous re-examination of sources by our researchers, that the information contained in our previous blog regarding Languedoc Roussillon was essentially mischievously based. Clearly, someone (!) is ahead of the game. Our apologies for any excitement caused.
Saturday, 24 September 2011
Law - what law? Exploration progresses...............
The Confédération Paysanne in Languedoc-Roussillon in their press release dated 22nd September 2011 refer to letters which they claim members have received from their Prefect instructing them to give free access to Gaz de Schiste companies ( in this case Total ) to their parcels of land immediately following the moisson/harvest. Naturally, they are collectively concerned and in the communique we have received would appear to be advocating 'non-violent resistance'.
Hopefully producers and others in this region will now begin to take seriously earlier warnings about the true intentions of government in this matter. The much diluted law banning Hydraulic Fracking was merely a device to calm the masses. If reports are valid we would now appear to be beginning to see the true nature of governmental intentions. Remember, under current legislation (loi minier) derricks may be placed as close as 50m to your property boundaries.
Hopefully producers and others in this region will now begin to take seriously earlier warnings about the true intentions of government in this matter. The much diluted law banning Hydraulic Fracking was merely a device to calm the masses. If reports are valid we would now appear to be beginning to see the true nature of governmental intentions. Remember, under current legislation (loi minier) derricks may be placed as close as 50m to your property boundaries.
Wednesday, 21 September 2011
Newsletter 21 September 2011
HEADLINES
“Gaz de Schiste production has not been banned”
“The gas companies are re-applying for permits”
“ Gas companies may not be telling the truth”
“Environmental damage is still a real threat”
Thanks from
The Schiste Happens Team
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
UK Set to re-commence fracking operations
This excellent piece by George Monbiot sets out the facts very well and ought finally to bring reality to bear in the UK. Few are yet aware of the threat to the UK environment including The Weald, S.Glamorgan, Mendips and not least the beautiful wild moorland inland from Blackpool.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/aug/31/fracking-issues-resolve
You may wish to leave a comment!
Here in France a variety of sources are beginning to stir ( not least O & G industry propagadists ) once more after the long summer break and in the lead up to 6th October when the PS and other parties table amendments to the loi Jacob which bans hydraulic fracking. Watch this space.
www.guardian.co.uk/environment/georgemonbiot/2011/aug/31/fracking-issues-resolve
You may wish to leave a comment!
Here in France a variety of sources are beginning to stir ( not least O & G industry propagadists ) once more after the long summer break and in the lead up to 6th October when the PS and other parties table amendments to the loi Jacob which bans hydraulic fracking. Watch this space.
Monday, 18 July 2011
Gaz de Schiste - Next stop 6th October ( Assemblée Nationale)
You may well have thought that this was all over and that with the passing of the loi Jacob banning hydraulic fracturation in June there was little left to worry about. Wrong. In fact there is no proper definition of what 'hydraulic fracturing' actually is and in any event 'fracturation pneumatique' which deploys compressed air is a distinct possibility and this or any one of the other re-named processes that the O&G industry is likely to come up within in the 2 month 'proving' period could in theory be adopted. If alternative processes are allowed to proceed in the autumn the negative effects of 'foraging' will be much the same. Derricks ( 30m -50m high ) as close as 50metres to one's property, massive logistical considerations including literally hundreds of truck movements just to remove earth, personnel movements at all hours, landscape clearance/desecration. Messrs Total have 'not yet decided what to do' and Toreador claim that HF was not specified in their permis in any case. It is important to realise also that the existing permits have not yet been rescinded.
Opposition parties ( PS, Greens et al ) and organisations like FNE ( France Nature Environment ) consider the new law to be 'untillegible and unworkable' and on 6th October will jointly propose the banning 'pure and simple' of all exploration and exploitation for Gaz de Schiste in France. They are also calling for modifications to the French mining laws ( loi minier ) which are vastly out of date. This law concerns access to one's property amongst other things and France is currently under pressure from the European Parliament to make significant changes.
The government moved in June to calm massive public unrest across the country and across political allegiances by proposing the loi Jacob and then ( for whatever reason ) drastically diluted its terms at the last minute. They may well feel that they have succeeded. Wrong. France is the first country to react in this way to this destructive and demonstrably short term energy 'quick fix'. However, in the run-up to the presidential elections it is important that we do not allow the matter to rest.
Opposition parties ( PS, Greens et al ) and organisations like FNE ( France Nature Environment ) consider the new law to be 'untillegible and unworkable' and on 6th October will jointly propose the banning 'pure and simple' of all exploration and exploitation for Gaz de Schiste in France. They are also calling for modifications to the French mining laws ( loi minier ) which are vastly out of date. This law concerns access to one's property amongst other things and France is currently under pressure from the European Parliament to make significant changes.
The government moved in June to calm massive public unrest across the country and across political allegiances by proposing the loi Jacob and then ( for whatever reason ) drastically diluted its terms at the last minute. They may well feel that they have succeeded. Wrong. France is the first country to react in this way to this destructive and demonstrably short term energy 'quick fix'. However, in the run-up to the presidential elections it is important that we do not allow the matter to rest.
Friday, 1 July 2011
France ( 01.07.11) All over bar the shouting???
So is that it? This morning, after three months of arguments, recriminations and sundry amendments, the headlines in every French newspaper are proclaiming that France is the first country in the world to ban "fracking", following last nights vote in the Senate. In reality, that much was already a foregone conclusion; as always however, the devil is in the details.......
The wording approved by the Senate is the same as the one from the Joint Committee (see previous posts for a full translation and comments), so no change there. There were a few questions yesterday about whether fracking for scientific purposes would still be allowed, which led Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the Environment Minister, to confirm that that particular option had already been shut down by the Joint Committee.
Companies that already hold shale gas exploration licences* now have two months to either state that they plan to continue their operations using an "alternative process", or see their licences rescinded. The obvious danger, of course, is that they somehow come up with an "alternative process" (whatever that might be) in the next eight weeks....so the shouting may not quite be over yet......
* As a reminder, although a number of shale gas exploration licences have been requested, three have actually been awarded so far, in the areas of Nant (Aveyron), Montelimar (Gard) and Villeneuve-de-Berg (Ardèche). Bear in Mind, however, the recent listing of the Causses-Cévenenes region as a UNESCO Heritage Site would now make prospecting for shale gas in most of the Nant licence area virtually impossible.
Watch this space.......
Please note, this article first appeared on the blog pages of our associate site: www.fracastrophe.com
Comment (Schistehappens)...........
It may just be of course, that the two month 'proving' period is entirely genuine and has been established to show beyond doubt that the fracking fraternity had every chance to come up with alternatives. By this means, government would avoid paying hefty sums in compensation to existing licence holders.
As a footnote, it may be worth noting that the PS (Party Socialiste) is far from happy with the new law and we understand that they are to propose new legislation in the next session of parliament. This issue is far from settled.
Schistehappens.
The wording approved by the Senate is the same as the one from the Joint Committee (see previous posts for a full translation and comments), so no change there. There were a few questions yesterday about whether fracking for scientific purposes would still be allowed, which led Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet, the Environment Minister, to confirm that that particular option had already been shut down by the Joint Committee.
Companies that already hold shale gas exploration licences* now have two months to either state that they plan to continue their operations using an "alternative process", or see their licences rescinded. The obvious danger, of course, is that they somehow come up with an "alternative process" (whatever that might be) in the next eight weeks....so the shouting may not quite be over yet......
* As a reminder, although a number of shale gas exploration licences have been requested, three have actually been awarded so far, in the areas of Nant (Aveyron), Montelimar (Gard) and Villeneuve-de-Berg (Ardèche). Bear in Mind, however, the recent listing of the Causses-Cévenenes region as a UNESCO Heritage Site would now make prospecting for shale gas in most of the Nant licence area virtually impossible.
Watch this space.......
Please note, this article first appeared on the blog pages of our associate site: www.fracastrophe.com
Comment (Schistehappens)...........
It may just be of course, that the two month 'proving' period is entirely genuine and has been established to show beyond doubt that the fracking fraternity had every chance to come up with alternatives. By this means, government would avoid paying hefty sums in compensation to existing licence holders.
As a footnote, it may be worth noting that the PS (Party Socialiste) is far from happy with the new law and we understand that they are to propose new legislation in the next session of parliament. This issue is far from settled.
Schistehappens.
Thursday, 23 June 2011
Gaz de Schiste - Heavily amended law passed - 21/06/11
The French National Assembly have now passed the much amended/diluted version of Christian Jacob's proposal. The bill as presented to the assembly will be examined by the French Senate on June 30th. Essentially,
the requirement is to ban 'hydraulic fracturing' but the government would appear not to have accurately defined what this is. Opposition deputies (MPs)) have now lodged an appeal with the French Constitutional Council claiming exactly this.
For a detailed explanation of current events please go to our associate site : www.fracastrophe.com.
the requirement is to ban 'hydraulic fracturing' but the government would appear not to have accurately defined what this is. Opposition deputies (MPs)) have now lodged an appeal with the French Constitutional Council claiming exactly this.
For a detailed explanation of current events please go to our associate site : www.fracastrophe.com.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)