Andy Atkins meets shale gas protesters14 October 2011
Friends of the Earth's Executive Director has told concerned locals that drilling for shale gas is not the answer to our energy woes.
Speaking at a Ribble Estuary Against Fracking (REAF) event in Hesketh Bank, Andy Atkins said we should focus on renewables - not dirty energy and unproven practices.
Local residents formed REAF after energy company Cuadrilla Resources announced plans to extract gas by fracking across Lancashire.
The controversial technique involves fracturing the rock and then using water, sand and chemicals to release the gas.
Stop shaking
There are credible health and environmental concerns over fracking.
Only this year Cuadrilla stopped drilling after a second earthquake in 2 months hit the Blackpool area. Investigations into a possible link are on-going.
And to avoid dangerous climate change we need to invest in green power and cut energy waste. The carbon footprint of gas is much bigger than that of renewable energy.
Shale gas is neither clean nor proven to be safe. Drilling it will cause climate-changing emissions and could pollute water supplies.
Andy Atkins, Executive Director, Friends of the Earth
Andy reassured Lancastrians that the UK's huge green energy potential could:
- Stabilise energy bills long term
- Create thousands of skilled jobs in Lancashire and throughout the UK
Friends of the Earth is pushing for a moratorium on fracking - like those already in place in France and some US states.
Get involved
Andy's visit to Bank shows just how important this issue is on a national and international scale.
Doreen Stopforth, local resident and REAF member
REAF is screening the award-nominated documentary Gasland this month. Visit the website for actions and more events.
© Friends of the Earth
