In 24 hours, Europe could introduce pollution controls that could stop the flow of Canada’s deadly tar sands oil into the EU. But the UK is moving to block the rules. Only a huge public outcry can save it now. Click below to send an urgent message to the Transport Minister Norman Baker:

See the report in the paper here: http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/2012/02/17/fracking-company-claim-absolute-proof-the-technique-is-safe-91466-30346586/ (My words near the end have been subject to some pretty dreadful editing, but the drift is clear enough)

As you will see from this URL, our old friend Gerwyn Williams, of Bridgend-based two-bit company Coastal Oil & Gas, is keen to twist it for his own ends. Only a complete idiot would suggest that there is any absolute proof that any industrial process, let alone one that involves explosives, nasty chemicals and very high pressure hydraulics, is totally safe. But the report from the UTEI doesn’t say this at all.

The key passage is quoting Lead Scientist Dr Groat:
The immediate concern with shale development and hydraulic fracturing is that fracturing at several thousand feet below the surface would put chemicals in the groundwater that people drank that would be very bad for your health.”

An important part of our study was to determine whether or not there was any direct verified evidence that fracturing itself was producing contaminated waters that ended up in that process in the groundwater.”

Our preliminary finding is we have found no demonstration that that has happened.

Hardly conclusive proof of anything, but clearly leaning towards wanting to exonerate the frackers. The fact that Dr Charles Chip Groat is such an eminent and well respected geologist (http://en.Wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_G._Groat), in the twilight of his career (72 next month), lends it some credibility …… Or does it?

The self same Dr Charles “Chip” Groat (there can only be one of them, surely!) just so happens to have fallen on his feet late in life, with a Directorship of a Houston based company called Plains Exploration & Production Company (PXP). His total ‘compensation’ package was worth $308,300.00 in 2009, and $493,598.00in 2008. He only took up the position in November 2007. http://people.forbes.com/profile/charles-g-groat/64104

And just what does this company do? Its website does not say a lot (http://www.pxp.com/) but it does say this:

“PXP is an independent oil & gas company primarily engaged in the activities of acquiring, developing, exploring and producing oil and gas in its core areas of operation: California, Texas and Louisiana.”

So maybe just the faintest hint of a vested interest, Dr Charlie “Poker Chip” mega-Groats!

But maybe I am being a bit harsh on the old man. His report goes on to say that there is a need to carry out more sampling and analysis of groundwater, to get to the bottom of where contamination was coming from. He also recognises that more baseline studies are also required to show what conditions are like before the start of drilling operations. This would make it easier to establish what effects should or should not be attributed to fracking. Which pretty much sounds like a case for at least a moratorium while all this work is done, wouldn’t you agree, Gerwyn?

And incidentally, Peter Law, for the sake of balance, it would have been worth including these aspects of the UTEI report in what you printed. However, your story does include other bits that support our case rather than Gerwyn William’s:

• “The scientists found many problems attributed to fracking are common to all oil and gas drilling systems. Many reports of contamination could be traced to above-ground spills or mishandling of wastewater rather than the fracking technique itself, they said.”

How reassuring is this?

As for Gerwyn trotting out the the old chestnut of frack fluid being 96% water and 4% food additives, I look forward to him taking a few sips of a sample in front of us all at the Inquiry in May! Now that would be re-assuring and closer to absolute proof! I will get the recipe from Dr Theo Colborn for him, although even she has not worked out some of the secret ingredients yet!

I have a growing feeling that the Public Inquiry in May is going to be a lot of fun!

Lift share any body?

KEY TOWNS/AREAS CENTRAL TO THREATENED AREAS:

Central Scotland: Falkirk/Dunfermline/Cumbernauld/Perth/Dumfries/Galloway (http://frackoffscotland.org.UK/?page_id=65 )

Cumbria: Carlisle/Wigton

Yorkshire: Whitby/Pickering/Malton/Bridlington/Hull/Goole/York/

Lincolnshire: Scunthorpe/Cleethorpes/Gainsborough/Lincoln/Grantham/

Nottingham

North West: Blackpool/Preston/Southport/Warrington/EllesmerePort/Chester/Ribble Estuary (http://reafg.blogspot.com/)

North Wales: Wrexham/Holywell/Rhyl/Prestatyn (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wrexham-Anti-Hydraulic-Fracturing-Movement/127538580658650)

Potteries: Stoke/Stafford

South Wales: Bridgend/Swansea/PortTalbot/Pontypridd/Newport/Caldicot/Vale of Glamorgan (http://thevalesaysno.com/ & http://bridgendgreens.wordpress.com/page/6/?s=fracking)

Mendips: Keynsham/MidsomerNorton (http://www.Facebook.com/pages/Get-the-frack-out-of-the-Mendips/117744804979573)

Southern England: Dorchester/Poole/Bournemouth/Christchurch/Ventnor/Winchester/Andover/Havant/Chichester/Petersfield/Midhurst/Horsham/Crawley/

S.E/Kent/Surrey/Sussex: Deal/Sandwich/Dover/Tonbridge/RoyalTunbridgeWells/Crowborough/Orpinton/Croydon/Sutton/Balcombe/Lingfield/Cowden (http://gasdrillinginbalcombe.wordpress.com/ & http://www.facebook.com/pages/NO-Fracking-in-Sussex/269121553136944?sk=info & http://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Fracking-in-East-Kent/261081763913917)

Ireland: Leitrim/Roscommon/Sligo/Cavan/Monaghan/Donegal/Fermanagh/Clare/Limerick/Kerry/Cork (http://frackingfreeireland.org/ & http://what-the-frack.org/)

PROTECTED LANDSCAPES THREATENED:

Peak District

New Forest

South Downs

High Weald

Bowland Forest

Cotswolds

Mendips

Glamorgan Heritage Coast

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Y4Gw2bkDT_A

For more information: http://moveyourmoney.org.uk/

This year, we have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to protect human rights and save hundreds of thousands of lives.

UN member states have voted overwhelmingly to develop the first international Arms Trade Treaty – but we need to make sure that that Treaty is bulletproof.

This February marks the final UN Preparatory Committee (PrepCom) before the deciding negotiations in July. As the PrepCom approaches, we need to call on the UK’s party political leaders to support the strongest possible Treaty.

Any indication that the UK, as a major arms exporter and influential government, is reducing its support could encourage other countries who are pressing for a weaker treaty – one which fails to protect human rights. Read more about the Arms Trade Treaty

The human impact of the unregulated arms trade is shocking. This could change – but we’ve only got one shot.

Email David Cameron, Ed Miliband and Nick Clegg and ask them to publicly commit the UK to lead the way in securing an international arms treaty that saves lives.

You will find Amnesty International’s suggested wording here, and they will forward it for you from here (towards bottom of page) too:

http://action.amnesty.org.uk/ea-action/action?ea.client.id=1194&ea.campaign.id=13280&utm_source=social&utm_medium=facebook&utm_campaign=Arms&utm_content=arms_FB

Feel free to edit the message to add a personal touch.

The UK Government has lost its appeal against a court decision which blocked its attempts to reduce solar subsidies (1).

Responding to the decision, Caroline said:

“The High Court ruling is a victory for the solar industry and for renewable energy campaigners in holding the Government to account over its illegal attempt to make retrospective changes to the solar tariff.

“Having lost twice in the Court of Appeal and been roundly humiliated over the shambolic handling of solar policy, it is absolutely beggars belief that the Department for Energy and Climate Change is apparently planning to appeal to the Supreme Court.

“The very least that the Secretary of State can now do is to show some integrity, accept that his ministers got it wrong on solar, and pull the plug on this legal merry-go-round which is putting UK jobs and future investment at risk.”

Notes

1) http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-16721328

Book online at www.greenparty.org.uk/conference where you can also download a paper form, or request a booking form and crèche information from Louisa.greenbaum@greenparty.org.uk Tel. 01273 888 360.

Please check the website for more information, including travel, accommodation and crash space and draft timetable (coming soon): www.greenparty.org.uk/conference

Programme highlights include Speeches from Caroline Lucas MP, Leader; Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader; and Jenny Jones, London Assembly Member and Mayoral candidate for London.

Panel sessions on:

Crisis in the Eurozone, Crisis in the UK

Chaired by Romayne Phoenix. Speakers: James Meadway, Senior Economist, New Economics Foundation, Peter Tatchell (tbc), European guest speakers (tbc).

Corporate Recipes: How big business is meddling with your dinner
Chaired by Keith Taylor MEP
Speakers (tbc) from Tescopoly, National Farmers Union, World Development Movement.

Are young people turning to the left?
Chaired by : Ash Haynes Young Green co-chair, Norwich Councillor

Speakers (tbc): National Campaign Against Fees and Cuts (NCAFC) – Michael Chessum, Compass Youth – Will Cass/ Aaron Peters, UK Uncut – Steve Reid; Black Students Campaign Kanja Sesay/ Aaron Kieley; Occupy Movement

No more fish in the sea? An overview of the state of the oceans.
Chaired by Elisabeth Whitebread, Policy Committee. Speakers (tbc): Willie Mackenzie, Oceans Campaigner, Greenpeace UK; Melissa Moore, Senior Policy Officer, Marine Conservation Society; Ian Cambell, UK Coordinator, Ocean 2012.

Over 20 Training sessions for party activists on subjects within Elections, Communications, Press and PR and Equalities and Diversity.

Over 60 Fringe meetings from both internal and external organisations, on topics including: Co-ops and Credit Unions, Biomass – the new threat; Campaigning against fracking; Greens and anti-cuts movements; How 20mph limits can act as a catalyst for behaviour change; How can the Green Party learn from and support the Occupy movement?; NHS – going, going gone?; No More Murdochs; The great train fare robbery – fighting the fare hikes.

Evening entertainment including Welcome to Liverpool reception (supported by Liverpool Organic Brewery) on Friday evening followed by local musicians and performers, the ever popular quiz night on Saturday and an on-site conference bar.

Other info

First time at conference but want to know what it is all about? There will be information sessions for first timers on Friday 3pm and Saturday 9am]

Kids Club will be offering safe childcare and fun activities for 1-12 year olds for the duration of Conference – and its absolutely free for all GP members!