Fracking comes to Merseyside

By Paul Molloy - 8/9/2014

We have set up a petition now nearing 4000 signatures to oppose fracking and other unconventional gas extraction methods in Merseyside. Liverpool, the Wirral, St.Helens and Ellesmere Port and surroundings areas are heavily under threat from these new dangerous technologies.

The government keeps spouting that Fracking is the answer to our energy security, but what is immediately and fundamentally wrong with this assertion is that these last dash attempts to monetise our remaining fossil fuels will leave us far from secure.

Firstly there is the two thirds imperative and 2 degrees Celsius target. Scientists say two thirds of the remaining fossil fuels should remain in the ground to avoid runaway climate change. In regards to Fracking, recent studies from the Marcellus Shale operations by Cornell university engineer Professor Anthony Ingraffea, show that 5 to 7 per cent of wells leak. As wells age the percentage of leakage can increase to between 30 and 50 percent. But the worst leakers remain "deviated" or horizontal wells, commonly used for horizontal fracturing i.e Fracking.

Methane is 20 percent more potent as a greenhouse gas than carbon dioxide. Not only do we face the threat of methane in the atmosphere, we face the threat of groundwater contamination from the carcinogens in the Fracking fluids. The threat to our water aquifers most likely due from the high pressure smashing of the rock strata with billions of gallons of our precious and limited drinking water. Earthquakes are NOT controllable and therefore void of any environmental assessment, however much engineering expertise and regulation is employed and health and safety assurances we are given.

We also have the diminishing returns from the shale, due to high depletion. Meaning more pads, more wells, more industry. Meaning bigger industrial scale, uncontrollable over burden on the transport system, effect on tourism, job negativity as well, as most workers will be skilled itinerant engineers. All this means chaos! A dystopian nightmare, or like one of the signatory's has said "like setting the front room on fire to keep warm".

This coupled with the fact that Lord Browne the head of Cuadrilla, has stated that Fracking will not reduce energy prices surely means that this industry in the very essence is not worth it.

Only to the C.E.Os, the shareholders, and from the government on down from the Prime Minister, to the greedy councillor accepting the bribes... it is. But in this case the heavy lining of their pockets comes with the heavy cost to the health and well being of the public, children, animals, geology and the habitability of the planet.

If in 20-50 years time children are being born with severe defects, and you can't pour yourself a clean glass of water or sell your house, then David Cameron, George Osborne, Lord Howell, Lord Browne, IGas, Peel Holdings, (one of the biggest exponents of Fracking in the North), the greedy councillor with the fat paycheck in his back pocket will be to blame and should be held responsible if this bill goes through.

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Comment left by Elida on 16th September, 2014 at 1:57
My best wishes to your cause, my México is contaminating the most of our rivers with chemicals from minery and gas ductes... We have nothing to do, money in always in the middle