Fracking (Hydraulic Fracturing of rock) is a method used to extract natural gas from the ground. The process involves pumping millions of gallons of water, mixed with toxic chemicals, thousands of feet deep into the ground. It has been used in the USA and Australia and has caused widespread environmental damage,water pollution, including death to livestock and wildlife.
Serious health issues for people living in the area are also reported. Because of this damming body of evidence, which includes academic reports, moratoria on fracking have been put in place in the state of New York, New Jersey(USA), the North Rhine (Germany), South Africa and France.
A large area of N. Ireland will be affected by this and licenses have been issued for Central Larne-Lough Neagh Basin, Lough Allen Basin, Rathlin Basin and Rathlin Island. See link. http://www.detini.gov.uk/deti-energy-index/minerals-and-petroleum/petroleum_licensing_2.htm
The people of Northen Ireland need a full review of this decision and a ban on this process. This process could severely impact our tourism industry, agriculture, our water quality,environment and our health.
Sinn Féin Raises ‘Fracking’ Concerns
The European Commission (EC) has been lobbied over constituency concerns surrounding the use of the controversial gas extraction technique called hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’ as it is more commonly known.
Sinn Féin MEP, Bairbre de Brún has written to the EC after four new licenses were granted allowing gas and oil companies exploratory fracking rights in NI.
Ms de Brún said: “Given the major environmental impacts fracking could potentially have on the local area it is imperative that Environmental Impact Assessments are taken before exploration commences and I have written to the Commission in this regard.”
“In America, the use of fracking has been reported as the cause of heavy contamination of drinking water with dangerous gases and chemicals which is clearly a serious concern for public safety and agriculture for any possible projects in Ireland.
“Furthermore, it has been stated by seismologist experts that two earthquakes which happened earlier this year in the northwest of England were connected to the fracking exploration which had begun in the area.
“It is extremely worrying that governments are permitting potentially very dangerous and environmentally unsound gas exploration to take place without full environmental impact assessments and at a time when we should be investing our efforts in searching for clean, safe and renewable energy sources.”
For more information see links below:
http://what-the-frack.org/
http://nofrackingireland.wordpress.com
http://www.activityireland.com
source: GoPetition – Fracking for Natural Gas in N.Ireland and the Republic and build.ie – Sinn Féin Raises ‘Fracking’ Concerns
