Meanwhile, back in the UKKKKKKKKK!

Our stated aim here at Schiste Towers is to inform English-speaking residents of France about the appalling nature of hydraulic fracking, the irresponsibility of accessing yet one more fossil fuel at this crucial time and of course related political developments here in France.

We realise however, that the majority of British ex-patriates in particular have a continuing interest in developments in the UK where George Osborne not too long ago authorised 'up to' 60% of UK countryside as fair game for the oil and gas industry. Needless to say, the UK press have done little to inform the populace ( other than the good 'ole Guardian ) until recently and consequently very few have seen even the first version of JOSH FOX'S award-winning documentary GASLAND (freely available in long and short versions on Google ). Local communities are now awakening at the eleventh hour to the reality as various enterprises announce their intention to block roads, poison water and desecrate the landscape - in some cases, permanently thus ruining the lives of thousands of residents on the back of  lower gas prices ( where have we heard that before?!).

Two things in particular work against any national response/reaction to this abomination. One is the lack of effective local democratic political structure allowing for the rapid networking of information of this kind and the other of course is that oil and gas investments appear close to the  top of most senior politicians investment portfolios in close company with 'aerospace' (sic) and pharmaceuticals.

Sadly, in the UK all protest would appear to be styled 'extremist' ( whereas we would consider fracking to be extremely 'extreme' ) and those who first highlight problems of an environmental nature are deemed 'troublemakers'. The outcome is then localised protest resulting in accusations of NIMBYISM which suits the frackers just fine.

Contrary to popular opinion, the applications are not just for 'Up North' but include, Sussex, South Wales, The Mendips, Weald of Kent and more.

To see how the UK is now affected click here: http://frack-off.org.uk/locations/

GASLAND II - Available soon............

Award-winning documentary film-maker JOSH FOX has recently produced GASLAND II and we understand that this will be available for general distribution shortly. Click here to see the trailer:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzx7UXzK_z4

We realise that there are still those among our number ( some holding strong views on the matter ) who have not yet watched the original documentary which first revealed to the world the apalling truth about the process of fracking for shale gas. We confirm that both the short and long versions are now also available on Google.

Please pass on this link to your contacts. Thank you.

Minister cancels Brive permit

You may have read in the French press that Minister Delphine Batho announced during the past week that she intended to cancel the application to frack in the Dordogne ( area centred on Brive ) from Hexagon Gas who are registered in Singapore. Minister Batho cited 'the level of public protest and noted that she did not wish to see France turned into a gigantic Gruyere cheese'.

Protest works and is most effective when based upon a sound grasp of the relevant facts. 

The problem has not gone away however and we must remain vigilant. The commission set up under Sarkozy's administration and charged with investigating 'alternative methods' concluded in it's interim report delivered just three weeks ago that the gas could be extracted 'safely' ( no mention of the logistics or disruption to communities or the futility of engaging with one more fossil fuel. The final report will be placed before Parliament in October.

Dirty tricks...........

Nothing much to report this week except that Environment Minister Delphine Batho and the minister charged with re-invigorating the economy ( and a pro-fracking apologist ) Arnaud Montebourg are at loggerheads over whether France should deploy public funds on subsidizing private Oil and Gas companies in their exploration of alternatives to hydraulic fracking here in France.

We would just wish at this point to re-iterate that we don't really care if they use orange juice! The effect of the logistics ( hundreds of truck loads of earth removal, personnel and plant movements, airborne methane and visual desecration of landscape amenity/ unsightly derricks in close proximity to populated areas ) is a definite none starter.

Just one more thing for now and that is to beware of fake 'pro-fracking' petitions. They sometimes turn out to be completely false. Read more here......................

http://grist.org/news/co-fracking-petition-a-fraud/#.USzxiif3uLY.email

Fracking chemicals revealed - in part

Until now it has been a case of deny, deny, deny. 'Only harmless chemicals are used in fracking'. Really? Read here how the use of cancer-causing carcinocens has been voluntarily reported by gas companies themselves in all 'innocence' to a fracking-friendly website. This in spite of consistent and persistent refusals to reveal any of the chemicals involved to the press or scientific community! Straight from the horse's mouth, if you will. Read the report here:-

 Big Gas Comes Clean: Carcinogens Used in 1 Out of 3 Fracking Operations

Information provided by Care2.com. Care2 is the largest and most trusted information and action site for people who care to make a difference in their lives and the world.


Care2.com

Euphemisms and mis-representation!

We now read in an article in Le Monde which you can read here:-

http://www.lemonde.fr/planete/article/2013/01/22/gaz-de-schiste-ne-dites-plus-fracturation-mais-massage-de-la-roche_1820407_3244.html

 

- that having so far failed to come up with viable alternatives to the dirty business of hydraulic fracking, industry chiefs are.................seeking to call it something else entirely! Perhaps they think we are all totally stupid?

One bright spark ( actually the CEO of a major Oil and Gas concern ) speaks of 'massaging the rock', another of 'stimulation' and yet another of 'brumisation' which we understand to be.......spraying.

Shale Gas - A Gigantic Con?

For our first post of 2013 we have a short introduction with two important links from organic chemist ( hydro-carbons ) Robert Earl which nicely balances the endless hype increasingly issuing from the Oil and Gas PR pundits.

"Two articles below discuss the coverup that has been going on ( for some time ) regarding the overall picture relating to energy supplies and in particular gas sourced from Shale Gas exploitation.
The articles are well worth reading with the latter quarter of the first article dealing specifically with Gaz de Schiste. 

The fact is that there is a huge cover up concerning the actual rate of decline of gaz production in existing wells. The rapid decline rates have the potential to bankrupt many of the GDS producers and all those who have been sufficiently gullible to swallow the hype from both petroliers and politicians who have been promulgating the 'Dash for Gas'.

In the meantime, in order to provide an image to investors of high production rates the industry has to drill thousands more wells to further fuel the deception. This strategy has catastrophic potential in terms of lasting environmental damage."

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/13629-age-of-cheap-oil-abundance-a-myth

http://www.truthdig.com/report/item/the_natural_gas_bubble_20130104/

Thank you Bob.

Clearly, it is our job to challenge our political representatives at every possible opportunity ( write, call, e-mail and lobby generally ) and not just wait for periodic elections.