Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network (FFAN)

Beer Purity Threatened by Fracking Say Brewers

admin — Fri, 24 May 2013 19:51:16 +0000

German brewers have called on Chancellor Angela Merkel’s government to block the extraction of shale gas by hydraulic fracturing, citing industry concerns that fracking could taint the purity of the country’s beer.

The Association of German Breweries have rejected the government’s planned legislation on fracking until groundwater contamination can be safely excluded. They say that current proposals are inadequate to protect drinking water and risk infringing the country’s 500-year-old law on beer purity.

Follow the link below to read the article on Bloomberg in full, and meanwhile enjoy No Fracking Ireland’s uniquely Irish take on the news in the image above.

German Beer Purity Threatened by Fracking Say Brewers – Bloomberg.

Newtownbutler fundraising gig on 18th May

admin — Wed, 01 May 2013 16:52:26 +0000

Ciaran McBride, local farmer and proprieter of Gortnacarrow Tyre Service supports the fracking awareness campaign and is sponsoring this gig. Join him and the Newtownbutler Fracking Awareness Group for a night of great music in this vitally important cause.

Irish government to delay fracking – good news for all?

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:19:47 +0000

As reported in the Irish News (April 18th) “The Irish government will grant no new fracking licences until more is known about the controversial method of gas drilling. The Republic’s Minister for energy and natural resources, Pat Rabbitte, yesterday pledged that future decisions on hydraulic fracturing would be based on scientific evidence. … In an address to the Royal Irish Academy in Dublin, Mr Rabbitte said the government could not allow any project involving new or controversial technology to proceed unless it was sure that it would be ‘technologically and environmentally safe.’”

This is good news, so far as it goes, for the Republic of Ireland, but makes it more likely that if, as seems probable, there is a ‘test-bed’ for fracking in Ireland, Fermanagh will be that laboratory.

If you’re a potential guinea pig who would like to have a say in your future, please visit our What Can I Do? page now.

Read the full text of Pat Rabbitte’s speech here.

Wanted: Geologists!

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:53:52 +0000

The Fermanagh Fracking Awareness Network is in need of expert geological assistance. Is there anybody out there, maybe a geology student or retired geologist, who would like to help us on a voluntary basis with an interesting and exciting project? If you’d like to know more please contact us at info@frackaware.com.

Photograph courtesy of the US Geological Survey.

Fracking in Fermanagh: the film premiere

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 13:24:09 +0000

This exciting new film, made by young people in Fermanagh, has its world premiere at the Ardhowen Theatre, Enniskillen, on Tuesday 4th June. Part funded by Fermanagh District Council, the film-makers interviewed a range of community members, including: farmers, doctors, tourism providers and fishermen, about the possible consequences of fracking in Fermanagh. The film-makers also interviewed medical and farming representatives from Canada, where substantial fracking has already taken place, as well as international environmental commentators.

This film will be followed by a panel discussion made up of guest speakers representing a range of perspectives.

This project has been facilitated by Enniskillen’s Development Media Workshop, www.developmentmediaworkshop.org

Book your tickets from the theatre here.

Fracking: your decision?

admin — Sat, 27 Apr 2013 10:31:58 +0000

A survey is being carried out about people’s understanding of their ability to influence decision-making about fracking in Ireland. The survey forms part of research for a Masters degree in Energy Management at IT Sligo and consists of ten short questions. Please take the survey here and spread the word to others.

Image from Marcellus Protest, under Creative Commons licence.

Judge rules that fracking risks were illegally overlooked

admin — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 09:55:25 +0000

A court in California has ruled that the issuing of oil and gas leases broke the law because it did not take into account the dangers of fracking, including potential water contamination . The leases cover 2500 acres of land and are estimated to contain 64% of the United States’ shale oil reserves. Like shale gas, shale oil is only economically obtainable by using high volume hydraulic fracturing (fracking). The court found that the Bureau of Land Management violated US environmental law by not carrying out a full environmental impact study. It was also pointed out that the exploitation of fossil fuels such as shale oil and gas are in conflict with California’s policies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow down catastrophic climate change.

We hope that this cautionary tale will warn our own administration not to make hurried, costly and dangerous decisions that will threaten the economic, health and environmental futures of the people of Fermanagh and Northern Ireland. Visit our What can I do? page to find out more about how you can make your voice heard.

Read the full article here: Judge rules administration overlooked fracking risks in California mineral leases | Reuters.

[picture from the Reuters article, copyright Reuters/Marco Anzuoni]

… and the other five counties?

admin — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 12:26:20 +0000

The following notice has just appeared, announcing DETI’s intention of issuing a new petroleum licence covering counties Antrim, Armagh, Down, Londonderry and Tyrone. Please note the short consulation period of one month from today – anyone who is concerned needs to act quickly!

Fundraising gig – 5th April!

admin — Mon, 18 Mar 2013 15:02:44 +0000

EPA consultation deadline – March 8th

admin — Wed, 27 Feb 2013 14:49:46 +0000

Please don’t forget that the deadline for the EPA consultation is next Friday, March 8th. For a helpful discussion on some of the key issues, you may like to visit the Good Energies Alliance website.