Message to the UK: the fracking ‘bridge’ is burning!
The lesson of fracking in the US and Canada is a simple one, writes Naomi Klein. The fracking industry is vicious, brutal and will stop at nothing to get its way. British anti-frackers can celebrate yesterday’s achievements – but the fight ahead will not be an easy one.
On a week-long trip to the UK last fall, I was struck by how quickly the push to open up the country to fracking has been escalating.
Thankfully, activists are mounting avigorous and creative response, and are more than up to the task of galvanizing the public to put a stop to this mad dash to extract.
A notable victory was scored yesterdaywhen MPs forced amendments through the UK government’s Infrastructure Bill to keep fracking out of national parks, areas of outstanding natural beauty, and places where major aquifers would be placed at risk of pollution.
But still MPs failed to impose the fracking moratorium demanded by the Environmental Audit Committee, and the fracking industry will still enjoy carte blanche to exploit shale gas across most of the country. The fight ahead will not be an easy one.
In rushing to exploit the UK’s shale gas reserves, the industry has spent millions on public relations and brazenly overridden the democratic will of British citizens by overturning laws that had prevented drilling under homes. The coalition government, meanwhile, has done the sector’s bidding at every turn.
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