New UK Fracking License Areas Confirmed

December 17th The UK government has announced that roughly 60% of the UK is now available to be licensed to fracking companies.

December 17th The UK government has announced that roughly 60% of the UK is now available to be licensed to fracking companies. After a brief “consultation” period it is likely that the licenses will be handed out to fraking companies in the first half of 2014. The licenses would cover the exploitation of both shale oil and gas and coal bed methane (CBM).

The area is based on that covered by a newly finalised Strategic Environmental Assessment (PDF). Despite the name the document does not seem to be particularly focused on the environment and does not address the long term impacts of issuing these potentially 30 year long licenses.

To extract the amounts of gas that companies are bragging are in existing license blocks would require tens of thousands of wells. If large additional areas are licensed next year, the scale of threat will be much larger still. These developments would devastate our remaining countryside, industrialising huge areas with well pads, pipelines, compressor stations and processing plants.

The reality of unconventional gas is that it is very hard to extract. It is literally scrapping the bottom of the fossil fuel barrel. Densely packed wells must be drilled (up to 8 wells per square mile) over large areas, since each well individual wells does not produce much gas and then only for a short time. Worse, fracking is not an isolated technology but is part of a wider trend towards more extreme forms of energy extraction, which if not resisted could see even larger threats such as Underground Coal Gasification (UCG) become widespread.

Right now the community around Barton Moss near Manchester is fighting the threat to their region posed by IGas Energy’s attempts to drill a Shale/CBM exploration well there. Across the country communities are getting organised to resist these threats, with around 70 anti-fracking groups already formed in the last two years, and that number growing fast.

Barton Moss giant wind turbine protest

Wind Turbine. Photo by Sherborne G.

Wind Turbine. Photo by Sherborne G.

The fracking test site at Barton Moss has been blockaded with a giant wind turbine blade!

Around fifty people arrived at 5.30 this morning to leave this imaginative early Christmas gift for fracking company IGas.

The Barton Moss site, near Salford in Greater Manchester, is the latest frontline in the battle for clean energy in the UK. IGas are trying to carry out test drilling to see if the site is suitable for extracting coal bed methane and shale gas, despite strong opposition from local residents and the community protection camp that has been resisting the drilling since mid-November. However, the site’s only entrance is now completely blocked by the 1.5 tonne blade, so there won’t be any drilling equipment heading in there for a while…

~Sherborne G.
Barton Moss Protection Camp.

http://northerngasgala.org.uk/ – for regular updates, press release with references from today.

Livestream from action

Barton Moss Protection Camp Barton Moss Road, Just off A57 next to Airport, Eccles M30 7RL

 

ADDRESS:
Barton Moss Protection Camp Barton Moss Road, Just off A57 next to Airport, Eccles M30 7RL

LINKS:
BIFF ! (Britain & Ireland Frack Free)
Barton Moss Community Protection Camp

Twitter: https://twitter.com/BartonMoss

Barton Moss fracking protest continue

Day 17: Fri 13th December

A big day of resistance from the Barton Moss Protection Camp against IGas’ drilling plans.  Around 12 drilling trucks were delayed entering the site for 2 hours under a heavy police escort.  Three people were arrested, including a pregnant women and elderly lady.  Police were widely condemned on social media for their hea

Day 17: Fri 13th December

A big day of resistance from the Barton Moss Protection Camp against IGas’ drilling plans.  Around 12 drilling trucks were delayed entering the site for 2 hours under a heavy police escort.  Three people were arrested, including a pregnant women and elderly lady.  Police were widely condemned on social media for their heavy handedness.  A disabled man suffered a broken knee after being thrown into the hedgerow by police.

Many trucks also left the site the same afternoon, taking a lot of equipment with them.  It is believed that IGas are preparing for their next stage of exploratory drilling.

Friday 13th December marks a year since the government lifted the moratorium on fracking but we’ve still had no fracking this year thanks to the amazing and inspiring community campaigns around the country.

 

Photos at http://northerngasgala.org.uk/ along with news from other days

Australian Anti-Logging Blockade Enters Second Day

tripod-stony-creek12th December For the second day 40 conservationists have maintained a forest protest action at Stony Creek in East Gippsland. Police Search and Rescue arrived at the site this afternoon.

tripod-stony-creek12th December For the second day 40 conservationists have maintained a forest protest action at Stony Creek in East Gippsland. Police Search and Rescue arrived at the site this afternoon. They proceeded to tie-off cables connected to the tree sit, to release the logging machinery. Police climbed the tree-sitter’s tree, removing the platform and the protester’s personal belongings, including blankets, food and water. The tree-sitter remains perched on branches at the top of the tree. Two people are still  at the top of tripods on the road, continuing to block access to log trucks. Logging contractors have began felling trees within the logging coupe.

“The commitment of these dedicated people, willing to face arrest or difficult conditions in the tree-tops, demonstrates their resolve to see our  forests and endangered wildlife protected for the future” said Miranda Gibson, spokesperson for Still Wild Still Threatened.

“The destruction of forests that are home to threatened wildlife displays repeated disregard for the  the government’s own scientists and is an afront to the tax-payer who foots the bill. ” said David Caldwell, Goongerah Environment Centre (GECO).

Maya People of Sipacapa Issue International Call for Solidarity

11th Dec The Maya People of Sipacapa issued an international appeal for solidarity this past weekend, in the midst of ongoing protests against Goldcorp Inc.’s mining activities in San Marcos, Guatemala.

11th Dec The Maya People of Sipacapa issued an international appeal for solidarity this past weekend, in the midst of ongoing protests against Goldcorp Inc.’s mining activities in San Marcos, Guatemala.

The Maya began protesting with campesino communities on December 4,2013, setting up two separate blockades on the Inter-American Highway — at Kilometer 170 in Santa Catarina Ixtahuacán, Sololá and Kilometer 242 near Pajapita, San Marcos.

According to the appeal, issued by The Mayan Council Of Sipacapa on December 7, Goldcorp and its subsidiary EntreMares de Guatemala are violating a community decision to reject any mining exploitation in Sipacapa.

The Maya are now demanding the withdrawal of both the company’s personnel and its machinery from Sipacapa, and requesting ”that central government authorities respect the community consultation carried out in 2005.”

They are further demanding an end to any ongoing efforts to force them to accept the new mine as well as the presence of various government officials “To resolve this issue, since the only thing we seek is peace”, state the Maya People of Sipacapa, adding, “The presence of the mine is causing social conflict, on a family level and on a community level, and it is destroying our social harmony.”

In addition to their demands, the Maya People Of Sipacapa are asking “our sisters and brothers from other nations to accompany us in this struggle which [is] in benefit of all.”

Below, please find the December 7 Appeal from the The People Of Sipacapa, in English and Spanish. English translation by Rights Action.

The People Of Sipacapa, Via The Mayan Council Of Sipacapa, Informs:

  • To all sisterly and brotherly peoples, national and international authorities, national and international social and human rights organizations;
  • To the Ministry of Energy and Mines, the Ministry of the Environment and Natural Resources, the Ministry of the Interior; and
  • To EntreMares (Goldcorp Inc.):

Sipacapa Already Said No To Mining Exploitation.

“Sipacapa Is Not For Sale”

In 2005, the population firmly rejected mining exploration and exploitation in its territory, as was documented in the acts of the community consultation carried out in good faith on June 18, 2005 in each community of the municipality.

Since that time, the community has continued to defend that position. The population does not want its land destroyed by metallic mining, which only leads to social contamination (conflict), environmental contamination, health problems, deterioration of wildlife and economic injustice, as we see in the sister municipality of San Miguel Ixtahuacán, department of San Marcos.

Nevertheless, on April 30, 2012, the Ministry of Energy and Mines – through its general director of mining – issued a mining exploration license to the company EntreMares de Guatemala (owned by Goldcorp Inc.), called the “Chocoyos” license, to exploit gold, silver, nickel, cobalt, chromium, copper, lead, zinc antimony and rare earth elements in an area of 23 square kilometers.

For these reasons, we have been protesting peacefully since December 4, 2013, to reject the presence of exploration machinery and personnel from EntreMares/ Goldcorp. We demand the withdrawal of this machinery and the company personnel from the territory of Sipacapa, and request that central government authorities respect the community consultation carried out in 2005.

We request and demand that they cease to force us to accept the presence of the EntreMares/ Goldcorp mine in Sipacapa. We continue to be intimidated by the presence of the National Civilian Police.

We also demand the presence of the departmental governor, the director of Energy and Mines, the Minister of Energy and Mines and the Human Rights Prosecutor. We request their presence in our municipality to resolve this issue, since the only thing we seek is peace. The presence of the mine is causing social conflict, on a family level and on a community level, and it is destroying our social harmony.

We ask our sisters and brothers from other nations to accompany us in this struggle which in benefit of all. Municipal authorities should not be promoting destructive projects.

Municipality of Sipacapa, San Marcos

December 7, 2013

URGENT: Q’eqchi Leaders Attacked with Machetes on Eve of Megadam Construction

August, 2013 funeral for two Q'eqchi children killed in an assassination attempt against an opponent of Hidro Santa Rita's planned dam on Guatemala's Dolores River10th Dec From

August, 2013 funeral for two Q'eqchi children killed in an assassination attempt against an opponent of Hidro Santa Rita's planned dam on Guatemala's Dolores River10th Dec From Guatemala Solidarity Project:

Four leaders of the Q’eqchi community Monte Olivo were attacked and severely injured with machetes by employees of the Santa Rita hydroelectric company who also carried firearms. Police were called but refused to arrest the attackers. On Wednesday the company plans to begin construction of a hydroelectric dam that would flood communities and destroy the local ecosystem. The dam is being constructed in violation of national and international law which require consultation of the communities, which strongly oppose the project. In August the community was also attacked and two children were killed in retribution to human rights complaints filed by the community.

We are extremely concerned that further violence will occur this week in support of the illegal dam. The GSP condemns the attack and calls for the immediate arrest of those responsible, including the intellectual authors of the attack. The GSP calls for the suspension of construction and immediate cancellation of the shipment of machinery to the region.

Take Action

1 Call Edgar Villanueva at the Gutemalan Embassy in the United States at (202) 745-4953 or (202) 745-3873 and demand the immediate arrest of those responsible, including the intellectual authors of the attack. Also ask for suspension of construction and immediate cancellation of the shipment of machinery to the region.

2 Sign our new petition calling for justice for Saquimo Setana, a Q’eqchi community located nearby Monte Olivo which has also participated in mobilizing against the dam.

3. Support our partners through a contribution to the Guatemala Solidarity Project. We are a volunteer run organization and all funds go to our partners in Guatemala. The best way to donate is to send a check to our fiscal sponsor, “UPAVIM Community Development Foundation” to UPAVIM, PO Box 63, Marshfield, VT 05658. Please write “GSP” in the notes/memo section of the check. Or donate online by visiting http://www.upavim.or/donate Click on the yellow donate button, then YOU MUST WRITE ‘Guatemala Solidarity Project’ for the purpose. We thank our fiscal sponsor UPAVIM for helping us ensure that your contributions are tax deductible and that all funds (other than bank transaction) go to our partners in Guatemala.

Romania Update: Protests Continue as Chevron Restarts Fracking Exploration

pungesti-tvr-1 9th December  Protests against Chevron’s activity in Silistea – Pungesti, northeastern Romanian, area escalated on Saturday, December 6, triggering the American oil and

pungesti-tvr-1 9th December  Protests against Chevron’s activity in Silistea – Pungesti, northeastern Romanian, area escalated on Saturday, December 6, triggering the American oil and gas company to suspend its activity on site.

Protesters destroyed the fence Chevron had built around the 20,000 – sqm land plot at the village outskirts. One day later, however, Chevron re-started their activity on site.

Protests were staged downtown in capital city Bucharest as well, with a peak registered on Sunday evening (December 7), when three protesters were taken into custody by the gendarmes.

Silistea – Pungesti has now been declared a special area for public security, with authorities implementing special measures against violence including placing gendarmes all around the village, according to Romanian media, which has been following the topic all throughout last weekend.

The gendarmes have been checking the documents of everyone visiting the village while villagers have complained of the intrusion, saying gendarmes were in front of every house asking people of their whereabouts.

The group of protesters in Pungesti, some 400 people, were a mix of locals and ecology activists from Iaşi, Bucureşti, Braşov and Sibiu. They initially protested peacefully, but the protest became violent as some of them began throwing stones into Chevron’s vehicles, and tearing down the fence surrounding the exploration site. Footage from the Pungesti protests, here.

Meanwhile, Chevron has again stated that all exploration activities will use conventional technologies based on the permits it received in the beginning of October. “We respect people’s right to express their opinion, but we believe this should be done within the limits of the law,” Chevron wrote in an official statement. The company had started its activity on site in Silistea – Pungesti on December 2, after a first delay earlier in October, also because of local protests.

The protests against exploration for shale case was triggered by concerns that exploration would be harmful to the environment, and coincided with protests against gold mining in Central Romania, at Rosia Montana, where the planned used of cyanide also caused concern.

Bullying tactics drive Penan to abandon dam blockade

The abandoned Long Singu longhouse last week after the government rushed through the Penan's move to the unfinished relocation site. 9th Dec Members of the

The abandoned Long Singu longhouse last week after the government rushed through the Penan's move to the unfinished relocation site. 9th Dec Members of the Penan tribe from the Malaysian state of Sarawak have bowed to overwhelming pressure and abandoned their 77-day protest against the Murum dam.

Faced with rising waters approaching their villages, lack of food at the protest site and the announcement that the bridges that led to their villages were going to be dismantled, the Penan felt they had no choice but to halt their blockade and accept the move to a new government resettlement site.

When asked why they had agreed to move one Penan man said, ‘ The water is already very close to our village. It’s very high’. A local activist told Survival, ‘They went with a very heavy heart, they are not happy’.

As part of the agreement the Penan were promised a further RM8000 (approximately US$2,500) compensation, taking the total compensation per family to just over US$7,000. However, their other demands including, crucially, the need for more land for planting and forest for hunting and gathering, have been ignored.

The Penan rely on hunting and gathering in their forests to survive.

The forest is crucial for the Penan. Even the government’s own studies showed that the Murum Penan rely on the forest for 75% of their sustenance. Without more forest it’s hard to see how the Penan will survive in the relocation site.

Despite being pressured to move, the building of the new site is not yet finished. Two of the longhouses are still being worked on. Water supplies have not been connected; the promised school and clinic have not been built and the road connecting the villages is not completed.

The impoundment (flooding) of the dam before all the affected families had agreed to move has caused worldwide outrage. Despite promises from the Sarawak government that the relocation process would meet international standards the Penan were not properly consulted and the relocation process was shrouded in secrecy.

Survival was told, ‘People believed that it would be different this time, but it has shown to be lies. The government never took their demands into consideration’.

The lawyer acting for the Penan has promised that despite this move the Penan will still protest and will continue to push for justice in the courts.

Direct Action Gets the Goods: Chevron Suspends in Romania

31 8th December 

Chevron has suspended exploration for shale gas in northeastern Romania after hundreds of anti-fracking protesters tore down fences.

31 8th December 

Chevron has suspended exploration for shale gas in northeastern Romania after hundreds of anti-fracking protesters tore down fences.

Chevron won approval to drill exploratory wells in the town of Pungesti, but halted work for a second time Saturday after residents blocked access to the site.

Hundreds of riot police couldn’t prevent residents from demolishing fences and breaking into the site. Dozens were detained and 14 were charged with destruction of property and carrying knives.

Chevron said it had suspended work “as a result of unsafe conditions” and informed police of destruction to its property.

Thousands of people have rallied across Romania in recent months to protest against government support for shale gas exploration. Chevron had resumed work at the site on Dec. 2.

Ecuador Bans Environmental Group

ecuador indigenous woman faces police 8th Dec The

ecuador indigenous woman faces police 8th Dec The criminalization of Ecuador’s indigenous and environmental movements continues, as the Correa government prioritizes extraction at all costs. From World War 4 Report:

Ecuador’s government ordered closed the environmentalist Fundación Pachamama Dec. 4, with the Interior Ministry saying it was “affecting the public peace.” The Environment Ministry issued its own statement accusing of the organization of “interference in public policy.” Plainclothes police were sent to seal off the group’s offices in the morning. The action stemmed from the previous week’s protests at the XI Round for selling oil leases in the Ecuadroan Amazon. President Rafael Correa accused Pachamama and another group, Yasunidos, of attacking the Chilean ambassador, Juan Pablo Lira. Pachamama denies the allegations, saying its members were not even present at the protest in front of the Hydrocarbons Ministry. Fundación Pachamama plans to appeal the government’s decision.

“The real reason the government has targeted Fundación Pachamama is because of the effectiveness of their work,” said Bill Twist of the Pachamama Alliance, the group’s sibling organization based in San Francisco.  ”This is an attempt to keep them from doing their work, and chill their rights to free speech and assembly.”

Yasunidos is a group that is collecting signatures to demand a referendum on development of the Ishpingo-Tambococha-Tiputini oil bloc, located within Yasuni National Park. State company Petroamazonas is set to begin developing the ITT bloc in 2014, and is seeking private partners for production in the zone.

In June, the Correa administration issued a Executive Decree 16, instating new stringent procedures for NGOs to obtain legal status. Human Rights Watch, protesting the closure of Fundación Pachamama, said the group was the “first victim” of the decree, which it charged “contravenes the rights of free expression and association.”

In a statement, Fundación Pachamama accused the Correa government of violating its own constitution: “We have the right to dissent the decision of the authorities, the process that has been implemented and alternatively propose that the oil remain underground to preserve one of the greatest riches of our country, its cultural and biological diversity. The current Constitution obliges the government to find a new development model that respects our country’s Pluri-nationality, Human Rights, Rights of Nature and ‘Sumak Kawsay’ or ‘Living Forest.’… We believe it is illegitimate to implement processes affecting indigenous territories and not include the presidents of indigenous nationalities and peoples…”

The statement also said the group “extends solidarity” to the Development Council of the Nationalities and Peoples of Ecuador (CODENPE), officially empowered to consult on issues affecting indigenous peoples. (Rebelión, Dec. 7; EFE via Ecuavisa, Dec. 6; Pachamama Alliance press releases via Sacramento Bee, Dec. 5, UDW, Dec. 4; WSJ, Dec. 4)

Ecuador’s 2008 constitution includes provisions for consultation with indigenous peoples on development issues, but the Correa government has been repeatedly accused of violating these measures. The constitutional principle of Sumak Kawsay, usually rendered Vivir Bien or Good Living, is a phrase adopted from Ecuador’s indigenous movement.