Newsletter – November 2019

29/11/201929/11/2019 SAF 0 Comments fracking, news, Sheffield, UK, Yorkshire

Act now to stop fracking

We challenge you to take one action against fracking each month.

We all have the power to help stop fracking. We’d love it if you would come along to one of our meetings and get involved but we know not everyone can. The good news is, there are many things you can do at home.

Act now: Use your vote on 12th December

The upcoming general election gives us an opportunity to shape a government that will act on climate change – including funding renewables and implementing a permanent ban on all fracking across the UK.

Voting is a very personal choice and there are many issues for us to consider. However, with many tipping points potentially already crossed, the climate crisis has to be a priority for this election.

Before you vote, here are 3 things we recommend doing:

Look at party manifestos – for an overview of each party’s manifesto commitments on fracking, visit DrillOrDrop.com
Watch the Channel 4 News Climate Debate (available to watch until 30th November)
Check your electoral candidates’ voting history at TheyWorkForYou.com

Latest news

Government breaches judge’s order on releasing secret fracking report

The government has failed to comply with a ruling to release a secret report on challenges to a UK shale gas industry.

Last month, a judge ordered the disclosure of sections of the report by 5pm on 25 November 2019. So far, the material has not been released.

Access to the document, which dates back to 2016, has been pursued for nearly two years by Zach Boren, a reporter with the Greenpeace investigative website Unearthed. He used freedom of information laws to request the document from the Cabinet Office. When the government refused to release it, he took his case to an information tribunal.

Judge Fiona Shanks ruled that the background and executive summary, along with other parts of the main report, should be released in the public interest. Specific plans and intentions by individual operators could be redacted.

Fracking halted in England in major government U-turn

The decision was taken after a new scientific study warned it was not possible to rule out “unacceptable” consequences for those living near fracking sites. The report, undertaken by the Oil and Gas Authority (OGA), also warned it was not possible to predict the magnitude of earthquakes fracking might trigger. Read more at TheGuardian.com

It’s important to note, this is NOT a permanent ban and there are big questions over the scope and definitions covered by the moratorium. For instance, based on the government’s current definition of fracking, two similar processes taking place at numerous sites in Surrey and Sussex – acidisation and acid fracking – are exempt from the temporary ban. Read more at TheConversation.com

Ineos pursues South Yorkshire shale gas plan, despite fracking moratorium

Ineos has told residents in South Yorkshire that the government’s fracking moratorium announced earlier this month does not affect its shale gas plans for the village of Harthill.

The company was granted planning permission in June 2018 to drill and test a vertical shale gas well on the edge of the village. It did not seek consent to frack the well but has not ruled out submitting another application to do this in future.

Les Barlow, of Harthill Against Fracking, said an Ineos representative “advised that the moratorium has no effect on the Harthill site since they are not fracking”.

Upcoming events

Sheffield Against Fracking monthly meeting

Tuesday 3rd December 2019
7.00pm-9.00pm
The Old Queen’s Head, 40 Pond Hill, Sheffield S1 2BG

Please join us for our informal monthly meeting to organise our anti-fracking activities and update each other on the local issues.

As it’s the last meeting of the year, we’ll be having a short meeting followed by a meal. Please message June Bhooshi on Facebook or email us if you would like to come, so we can reserve a table for enough people.

View the Facebook event

Climate Change Hustings for Sheffield (South East)

Thursday 5th December 2019
7.00pm
Rainbow Forge Primary School, Beighton Road, Hackenthorpe S12 4LQ

Sheffield Friends of the Earth and Owlthorpe Fields Action Group have organised a General Election hustings event so you can question candidates on their views on the environment and their parties’ policies on tackling the climate crisis. Everyone is welcome regardless of which area you live in, but only environmental related questions will be taken.