October 19, 2018

Fracking back in a big way in U.K.

located:	United Kingdom, USA
editor:	Gurmeet Singh

It's been seven years of protests, delays and argument, but fracking is back in the U.K. and in a serious way. The controversial energy extraction method fractures rock to release gas using water. It has galvanised British environmentalists, who have spent the past few years trying to make the public aware of the dangers of the method. However, after winning a vital consent from the Government, the firm Cuadrila have finally started operations this week. 

The BBC describes fracking as "the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside. Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure, which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well."

So far the sites being considered or already used for fracking have only been at an exploratory phase, but Cuadrila is the only firm to be given the final go-ahead by the government to begin fracking in Lancashire, an incredibly important if not dangerous milestone in the evolution of fracking and its introduction into our lives. 

Why is fracking so controversial, you may ask? Well, let's leave aside the fact that it is, culturally-speaking, demonstrative of the fact that the U.K. is moving to an all-out American-style form of 'get what we need at whatever the cost', disregarding responsibilities to its citizens, fracking is also highly damaging to the environment. It uses enormous amounts of water, as water also needs to be transported to the site at an enormous environmental cost. Fracking can cause earth tremors and it can release dangerous chemicals, and contaminate ground water. In a viral documentary on the dangers of fracking, an American woman demonstrates how she is able to light her faucet on fire due to fracking. 

And so after nearly a decade of protests, public disapproval and judges quashing the sentences of campaigners, we're here at last. It's not only shocking for the fact that there is widespread public disapproval of the process, but it's also shocking that in 2018, with all our knowledge about the need for global climate safety and environmental protection, the British government is still pushing for a method as dangerous and unproven as fracking. 

Distraction isn't just a personal issue, it's a serious political one. Having to be distracted from the fight for renewable energy, campaigners are having to fight against damaging energy extraction methods. You can support their fight here: https://frack-off.org.uk/