Fracking is a Climate Change Issue.

Each fracking well produces a tiny amount of gas – thousands of wells are required in order for companies to attempt to make a profit.Up to 95% of a well’s gas is released in the first 3 years, wells are then routinely abandoned.

There are currently 3 million abandoned wells in the U.S. and recent research from Princeton University suggests each and every one is very bad news for us and our rapidly changing climate. 

Media & original research: http://www.princeton.edu/main/news/archive/S41/80/71G06/index.xml?section=topstories

NO MEETING THIS WEEK !

Hello everyone,

We are sorry to announce that there is  NO MEETING THIS WEEK, 4th March,  

OR on 18th February,

Unfortunately all the usual facilitators of the WAF meetings are not available on those evenings.

We took your suggestions from last couple of meetings to the monthly Frack Free Dee (FFD) meeting last week.

There are now many actions being progressed through the FFD coalition and we will feedback the results and any opportunities to get involved as events arise.

The next meeting is Weds 4th March, (we will email a reminder before)

Meanwhile, we need you to…

– Engage with everyone & anyone on the issue, lets have the ‘did you know…’ conversation as often as possible, and    make sure you bust any myths that people are still believing, & empower people with the truths of the issue.

Spring…

We are looking forward to regrouping in March with the next leafleting campaign, public speeches, and how we are moving forward united.

In Solidarity,

Wirral Against Fracking

 

Lancashire delays fracking decision

  

Fracking company Cuadrilla delays fracking applications – plunging Lancashire residents into further uncertainty.

Yesterday saw Preston fill with concerned people from across the UK, they had travelled from the early hours to come together to support Lancashire, as the council went into a meeting with Cuadrilla to decide if they would be the first UK county to allow fracking to start.

There had been strong signs that the decision was going against Cuadrilla. Last week the council’s own planning officer said the applications should be refused.

Cuadrilla then asked for a late deferral – despite having had months to prepare its case.

Yesterday, after a few hours of a private meeting, Lancashire council called the planned two days of talks short and deferred the decision about permission to frack for another 2 months.

Cuadrilla’s use of the planning system has created more uncertainty for communities – people whose health and environment are at risk from controversial fracking.

Now it’s even more important to stand with Lancashire. Please sign and share their petition to keep the UK frack free

Donna Hume, of Friends of the Earth said “This smacks of a desperate attempt to inflict a dirty industry on a public who don’t want it. Surely this is simply delaying the inevitable – for an industry which is out of touch at a time when we need clean energy, not more fossil fuels.”

Widespread public concern clearly helped force Cuadrilla onto the back foot and made it difficult for the council to find in its favour.

More than 25,000 people have signed a petition to Lancashire Council leader Jennifer Mein calling for the applications to be refused. Early this week many residents, businesses and community groups wrote to councillors opposing fracking.

Earlier this week Friends of the Earth exposed the level of collusion between Cuadrilla and the Government. A leaked letter from the Chancellor George Osborne revealed plans to push through fracking in Lancashire even if the council rejected Cuadrilla’s applications at this stage.

The Environmental Audit Committee has recommended that fracking should be put on hold in the UK because it is incompatible with our climate change targets and could pose significant localised risks to people and the environment.

The Community spirit was strong yesterday in the gathered crowd outside the Lancashire Council offices, as it was in London on Monday outside Parliament. People are standing up to insist that their views are heard… the more the merrier… together we stand strong in solidarity and the protection of our future.

MPs vote on Infrastructure Bill & A freeze on Fracking.

Monday saw our MP’s in Parliament voting on the Infrastructure bill and a motion to call a moratorium to freeze fracking (a delay of 2.5 years to gather evidence). Many people of the UK watched in hope, but were saddened by the resulting all too predictable sham, with Labour abstaining from voting.

Caroline Lucas from The Green Party stated on Facebook…

Caroline Lucas

“Hi all – (further to my earlier post, which details all this), I just voted for a freeze on fracking (with cross-bench backing) – Labour abstained and the vote was lost…

The debate was farcical – so little time was given that we weren’t even able to bring the trespass amendment to vote. That amendment sought to prevent fracking companies being awarded sweeping new powers to frack beneath your home without your consent – a move opposed by 99% of respondents to the Government’s own consultation.

It was backed in a petition by 360,000 people. When it came to a freeze on fracking, Labour abstained. Instead they served up their own superficial tweaks, lacking in detail and riddled with loopholes.

The strength of public feeling on this issue is palpable – and I think it’s intensified still further in the face of the astonishing lack of transparency, lack of accountability and lack of regard for the views of voters.

People won’t be silenced on this. In the run up to the crucial Paris climate talks later this year, the pressure to ditch plans for fracking and instead invest in clean home-grown renewable energy will continue to grow…

Thanks to all who rallied with us today – absolutely amazing support.
– Caroline”

Outside there was an amazing turn out at the solidarity rally in Old Palace Yard, where we had some great speakers and Vanessa Vine shared messages of solidarity from Josh Fox, and other protectors from around the world.

See her interesting speech here…

As a result, Liberal Democrat Tessa Munt MP resigned as Parliamentary Private Secretary. Tessa stated, “I will continue to campaign vocally against fracking and as result it is clear that my views cannot be reconciled with the Government on this matter” see her full statement here…

http://www.tessamunt.org.uk/why_i_tendered_my_resignation_as_parliamentary_private_secretary

 

LETS MAKE IT BIG!

Wirral Against Fracking

 

JOIN THE DEMO !

From 9am –  28th & 29th January – County Hall, PRESTON, PR1 8RL

This is when Lancashire County Council will be deciding on whether or not to approve two of the biggest fracking tests ever contemplated in the UK.
If allowed to happen, each site would have 4 horizontal wells, producing tens of millions of gallons and radioactive and toxic waste and opening the door to thousands more wells to be drilled across Lancashire, and the rest of the UK.

Radioactive Substance Permit granted –
Last week saw the UK Environment Agency granting fracking company Cuadrilla a Radioactive Substances Permit, allowing the company to produce and dump 5.6 million gallons of radioactive waste.
The permits are specific to planning applications that are being decided on the 28th Jan.

The decisions made on the 28th & 29th Jan will have implications for the entirety of the…

View original post 233 more words

Stop the Fracking Cover Up

PLEASE CALL ON YOUR LOCAL MP 

TO DEMAND THE RELEASE OF THE FULL REPORT ON FRACKING

BEFORE THEY VOTE ON MONDAY 26TH JAN…

Next Monday, MPs will vote on the Infrastructure Bill, which proposes controversial changes to our Trespass Laws that will erode our land rights, and pave the way for fracking.

BUT SOME IMPACTS HAVE BEEN HIDDEN. 

DEFRA’s ‘Shale Gas Rural Economy Impacts’ report was produced as a guide to the impacts. But although the Government has repeatedly said ‘the public should be given all the facts’, this report was redacted 63 times, so the full facts are not available before the vote takes place on Monday (including the section on how fracking could affect house prices) DEFRA claim this was best for ‘public interest’.

WE NEED FULL TRANSPARENCY NOW!

For ease you can use this ‘Write to your MP’ tool…

1 – Highlight & COPY the letter below,

2 – Then go to: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/speakout/action-hub-write-to-your-mp-tool

     & insert your personal details and comments before sending.

Dear [Insert MPs Name],

I am writing to ask that you demand David Cameron release DEFRA’s ‘Shale Gas Rural Economy Impacts’ report in full before MPs vote on the contentious Infrastructure Bill on Monday 26th January.

Last month, Anne McIntosh MP asked the Prime Minister to release the report. In his reply, he said “I am very happy to look at that”.  Downing Street has yet to confirm whether the Prime Minister had considered the request.

A total of ten MPs have since urged David Cameron to release the report in full including four MPs from his own party. Yet still it remains redacted.  It’s crucial that what’s hidden in this report is released before the Infrastructure Bill is finally voted on in Parliament, so that you can properly understand impacts that fracking will have on our house prices and our communities.

Although the Government has repeatedly said ‘the public should be given all the facts’, this report was redacted 63 times, including the section on how fracking could affect house prices. DEFRA claim this was best for ‘public interest’.

Next Monday, MPs will vote on the Infrastructure Bill, which proposes controversial changes to our Trespass Laws that will erode our land rights, and pave the way for fracking. How can you possibly vote on the merits of this Infrastructure Bill when 63 pertinent points from this report have been scrubbed out?  Please support the amendments to the Bill proposed by Dr Caroline Lucas MP and Norman Baker MP, which call for the removal of the fracking-facilitating clauses and a ban on fracking.

We all deserve to see the censored material in this important document that our government is keeping from us. Don’t take away our land rights until you have convinced David Cameron to release the full contents of that report.

Sincerely,

---

MORE INFO – http://www.talkfracking.org/news/stop-the-fracking-cover-up/

LETS MAKE IT BIG!

 

JOIN THE DEMO !

From 9am –  28th & 29th January – County Hall, PRESTON, PR1 8RL

This is when Lancashire County Council will be deciding on whether or not to approve two of the biggest fracking tests ever contemplated in the UK.
If allowed to happen, each site would have 4 horizontal wells, producing tens of millions of gallons and radioactive and toxic waste and opening the door to thousands more wells to be drilled across Lancashire, and the rest of the UK.

Radioactive Substance Permit granted –
Last week saw the UK Environment Agency granting fracking company Cuadrilla a Radioactive Substances Permit, allowing the company to produce and dump 5.6 million gallons of radioactive waste.
The permits are specific to planning applications that are being decided on the 28th Jan.

The decisions made on the 28th & 29th Jan will have implications for the entirety of the UK.
So on both days, concerned communities from around the UK will descend upon Lancashire County Hall in Preston for a peaceful show of solidarity and resistance.
This demo could showcase the strength and solidarity of the UK anti-fracking movement, by standing with the people of Lancashire.

If you live in the 60% of the UK that has been made available to fracking companies, this is also your chance to highlight the threat to your community…

…LETS MAKE THIS BIG!

Its time to STOP THEM BEFORE THEY START… Hope to See You There! 

WHAT TO BRING:
** BANNERS/SIGNS to represent your community
** WARM/WATERPROOF clothes
** Food & Water
DON’T BRING: alcohol, drugs, or anything which could be construed as a weapon (glass etc.)

FREE COACHES!!!   To book a FREE return ticket:

Please email the addresses below with YOUR NAME & TEL NO.

• WREXHAM / CHESTER / ELLESMERE PORT / WIRRAL / LIVERPOOL: frackfreedee@hotmail.com
• MANCHESTER:   info@northerngasgala.org.ukhttps://www.facebook.com/events/698484586935412/
• LEEDS:  leedstopreston@riseup.net
• CENTRAL BELT OF SCOTLAND / LAKE DISTRICT:  Scotland+lakes@frackstop.org.uk
• BRIGHTON / LEWES / BALCOMBE: Southeast@frackstop.org.uk
• GUILDFORD: frackfreesurrey@gmail.com
• SOMERSET: info@frackfreesomerset.org
• NORTH EAST: northeast@frackstop.org.uk

WANT TO ORGANISE ANOTHER COACH? Contact – coaches@frackstop.org.uk

If You Can’t Attend: SEND MESSAGES OF SOLIDARITY!  This is a nation-wide day of solidarity and resistance – do something where you live & Send photos of your message to – solidarity@frackstop.org.uk

Event Page: https://www.facebook.com/events/1023056617720081/?ref=3&ref_newsfeed_story_type=regular
Read all about these two planning applications here: http://frack-off.org.uk/new-lancashire-threat-cuadrillas-f…/

Our first meeting in 2015!

Our first meeting of the year will be on Wednesday 7th January in Hoylake.

Address: Vanilla Lounge (upstairs), 6 Market St, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 2AE (round the corner from the train station)

Time: 7pm, Wednesday 7th January

Please come along if you want to get involved or to find out more about fracking, coal bed methane extraction and underground coal gasification in our area- new members are always welcome.

Help us to spread the word! New leaflets are ready to go…

We’re happy to say that our fantastic new leaflets have arrived hot off the press.

We need as many volunteers as possible to help us tell the Wirral about fracking, CBM and UCG.

So if you’re keen to spread the word, please:

1. Tell us where you can deliver by sending a list of road names, if possible, to Christina at wafwirral@aol.co.uk – we are trying to avoid duplication.

2. Go and pick up as many leaflets as you realistically think you can deliver from one of our 2 pick up points:

• Honest to Goodness, Hoylake, 10 Market Street, CH47 2AE
• Honest to Goodness, Heswall, 57 Telegraph Road, CH60 0AD – N.B. leaflets will only be available here from the new year – we’ll let you know when!!

3. Get leafleting! You can also pick up posters if you feel comfortable approaching home owners to display them in their windows. If not, don’t worry – posting leaflets is an immense help!

Get in touch with any questions and to let us know where you can deliver to.

Thanks, in solidarity,

The WAF team.

Join us ! – Communities opposing fracking will be travelling from across the UK for a National Solidarity Sunday at Ellesmere Port

Ellesmere Port is currently the only operational drill site in the whole of the UK and also holds one of the first UK licenses for gas production from unconventional extraction methods.

PLEASE JOIN US to show that we are opposed to this industry progressing without public consultation, in full knowledge of the harm it can cause. There are people travelling from communities that are opposing fracking across the UK to converge on the site at Ellesmere Port, in a MASSIVE DISPLAY OF SOLIDARITY.

There will be some hot drinks & refreshments available.

There will be coaches coming from Manchester, London, Leeds, and Brighton & Hove/Balcombe as well as from Liverpool and Birkenhead to transport people so that we can peacefully show our solidarity and resistance to fracking.

You can book at lift from the train stations at Liverpool Lime St or Conwy St Birkenead for £5 return by email at wafwirral@aol.com.

FRIENDS & FAMILY… LETS STAND TOGETHER

WHEN: Sunday 14th December, 12:00 – 17:00 (try to arrive for 12 if possible)

WHERE: Portside One, Merseyton Road, Ellesmere Port, CH65 2HQ.

WHAT TO BRING:

BANNERS/SIGNAGE representing your community and the extreme energy development your resisting
WARM/WATERPROOF clothes
Food & Water
BIG Smiles 🙂
IF YOU CAN’T ATTEND – SEND A MESSAGE!

This is a nation-wide day of solidarity and resistance:

Send messages of solidarity!: Send photos of your message to frackfreedee@hotmail.com and epfrackfree@gmail.com
Use the day to get your group together where you are: Run an info-stall/hold a film screening
Try to avoid bringing alcohol, drugs, anything which could be construed as a weapon (glass etc.).

Know Your Rights: http://greenandblackcross.org/legal/keyadvice
More about Threat to North West: http://frack-off.org.uk/fracking-threat-in-the-north-west/
New UK fracking licenses confirmed: http://frack-off.org.uk/new-uk-fracking-licenses-conf