Latest from the good 'ole USA........................

Hard to believe ( or is it?! ) but the American Environmental Protection Agency ( EPA ) is now authorising the re-use of contaminated fracking water for consumption by livestock and wildlife! This flies in the face of their own regulations. Once again - big money talks. Surely we have now reached the point where government in all it's forms is little better than farce.

Click the link to read more http://ecowatch.com/2013/epa-fracking-wastewater-agriculture/

Can we be sure that if the half of the current French government that are pushing to frack here are ultimately successful that they will not behave in the same way?

PLEASE help us to ensure maximum circulation for this article ( copy and paste the link ) to your friends and contacts or simply tell them to access www.schistehappens.blogspot.com. Thank you.

Earthquakes - the reality........................

Read here how scientists not funded by the 'dirty' industry view the matter of earthquakes and fracking (click the link) http://www.guardian.co.uk/science/2013/jul/11/fracking-water-injection-major-earthquakes

Who do YOU believe?!!!

Please circulate this link ( copy and paste ) or tell your friends and contacts to access www.schistehappens.blogspot. This information is USELESS unless widely circulated. Thank you.

Meanwhile, here in France..................

In French journal La Parisien today a leading article ' Gaz de Schiste la replublique ferme de Le Foll à Montebourg' Stéphane Le Foll ( Minister of Agriculture ) refers to the total unsuitability of fracking in France and challenges the very idea of so called 'ecologique' exploitation of Gaz de Schiste promoted by ministre du Redressement productif, Arnaud Montebourg. He also refers to the clear split on the matter between ministers.

Here at SchisteTowers we are at least pleased that 'les agriculteurs' are now treating this as a real threat ( something we tried to interest them in as early as March of 2011. Perhaps the nations wine growers will become interested next and then maybe even the tourism industry. Now wouldn't that be nice!

Read the article in French here: http://www.leparisien.fr/politique/gaz-de-schiste-la-replique-ferme-de-le-foll-a-montebourg-11-07-2013-2974275.php To translate to English simply copy and paste the text into Google Translator ( not perfect but at least allows a basic understanding of the article ).

Technical note. The idea of the 'green' exploitation of the shale is a nonsense. Even if orange juice were to replace the toxic fracking fluids and guarantees ( impossible ) could be given about the water course, the process would still involve massive disruption, damage to infrastructure with hundreds of truck movements on rural roads, ugly derricks AND once extracted, the net result is yet one more fossil fuel that contrary to industry 'nu-speak' is not (Tyndall Report - University of Salford refers ) cleaner than coal in terms of emissions once everything is factored in.

PS Please pass our site link to all your friends and family as you see fit. Wherever they live it is unlikely that this matter will not concern them soon or later.

UK - Again!

This morning we have been made aware of the detailed proposals for potentially poisoning the entire Sussex water supply chain.

If this concerns you directly or if you have broader concerns about the entire issue of the widespread pollution and disruption of communities caused by hydraulic fracking in the guise of 'clean' energy
( which it is not ) or 'interim' energy ( nu-speak from our friends in the oil and gas industry ) then do please read the following link +/- sign the attached petition ( no obligation ): http://www.avaaz.org/en/petition/Stop_the_poisoning_of_the_entire_Sussex_water_supply/?

More concerning fast-moving events here in France soon. Remember, this is the 'sleepy' period - but not for money-grubbing lobbyists/apologists for 'les petroliers' and their politician friends.

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.