Press release

G8 SUMMIT RALLY: FRIENDS OF THE EARTH HIGHLIGHTS FRACKING THREAT

15 June 2013

Friends of the Earth is taking part in a mass rally today (Saturday 15 June 2013) ahead of the G8 summit next week, to draw attention to the threat fracking poses to local communities.

Speaking from the rally, James Orr, Friends of the Earth's Northern Ireland Director, said:

"G8 nations should be taking the lead in tackling climate change, instead of driving forward policies that keep their economies hooked on dirty, damaging and increasingly costly fossil fuels.

"People across the UK, including Northern Ireland, are rightly concerned about the threat fracking poses to their communites, local environment and the global climate.

"It's time to put the long term future of the planet first - and develop a clean energy future we can all afford."

Notes

1.    Anti-fracking campaigners are taking part in today's Belfast G8 march and rally. They will be using a variety of props to represent a river polluted by a frack pad.  This will involve over 100m of blue cloth, along with a 4m high "frack pad."

2.  DETI has already offered licences for fracking in counties Fermanagh, Derry and Antrim, and is in the process of issuing many more that would threaten most of Northern Ireland with being in close proximity to a frack pad.  http://www.detini.gov.uk/consultation_on_proposed_amendments_to_the_gas__applications_for_licences_and_extensions__regulations__northern_ireland__1996

3. A Friends of the Earth briefing  on the G8 is available at: : http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/media_briefing/g8_media_briefing_2013.pdf

4. A briefing on Northern Ireland and G8 economics is here: http://www.foe.co.uk/resource/briefings/ni_g8_briefing_2013.pdf

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Published by Friends of the Earth Limited