Hydraulic Fracking Campaign

Flaming Drinking Water? No Fracking Thanks!

For the first time in Britain, a controversial technique to extract gas by underground explosions has  been given the go ahead by MPs on the Energy Select Committee. Supporters say the drilling technology of fracking or hydraulic fracturing can unlock a “Saudi Arabia” of natural gas just beneath our very feet. Engineers from the company Cuadrilla are now searching for what’s called shale gas in West Lancashire near Blackpool and supporters argue it could revolutionise world energy markets.

But is fracking safe?

Hydraulic fracturing is a drilling process that injects millions of gallons of water, thousands of gallons of sand and an unregulated cocktail of chemicals (which companies are not required to disclose), at high pressure into oil or methane gas deposits.

Fracking stands accused of

•        Poisoning water supplies with methane gas and a cocktail of toxic chemicals
•        Killing livestock after frack water belches to the surface
•        Destabilising the landscape
•        Creating more greenhouse emissions than burning coal
•        Sucking investment from the renewable technologies vital for combating climate change

Methane Escape? Flaming water ought to be a clue

In Pennsylvania, USA, some householders can now set fire to their drinking water after methane gas leaked into wells. They are blaming shale gas extraction. Numerous videos are available on the web showing these extraordinary scenes.

GASLAND - (2010) Directed by Josh Fox. Winner of Special Jury Prize - Best US Documentary Feature - Sundance 2010. Screening at Cannes 2010.

The hydraulic fracturing industry vigorously denies that shale gas is unsafe and blames pollution incidents as examples of bad practice, rather than an inherently risky technique. However, America’s Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is currently investigating fracking and expects to report in 2012.

So Why The UK? Why Now?

With the global demand for energy on the increase, the British government is cautiously optimistic about the so-called shale gas revolution. It also means the massive expansion of shale gas in the US and also possibly in China may depress global gas prices and cause countries to favour gas over coal.

But APE argues that we must practice the ‘Precautionary Principle’: there must be a moratorium on shale gas extraction until allegations about the technology and its effects on drinking water, ecosystems and the climate can be thoroughly researched. We also want to see a study examining the carbon footprint of the full lifecycle process, from the site preparation to the gas being extracted and delivered.

MPs say the UK government will need to be vigilant to ensure shale gas extraction does not pollute or produce excessive greenhouse emissions. Let’s hold them to that. Let’s lobby to make sure our MPs take our concerns on board, all the way to the House of Commons. Let’s ensure that renewable technologies for combating climate change remain at the forefront of a UK energy revolution.

To add your voice, sign our petition.