[tuppence]

Good and brief documentary. Good one to share to friends on Facebook as gives a good introduction.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dEB_Wwe-uBM

[DB10]

I've been told this fracking is banned in France and parts of the UK because of the serious health dangers involved.

If this goes ahead its a ****ing disgrace, people are already not considering moving to the area because of it.

One thing is for sure I will never be voting for these crooks in Government FG and Labour if they implement this, and FF after starting the process. Never have never will, they do not care about this part of the country.....

[JupiterKid]

I've only become aware of the practice of "fracking" in the past few days and it is a truly horrendous way of extracting natural gas from shale layers. Some companies are pumping all types of highly toxic chemicals - like compounds of benzene, sulfuric acid and mercury compounds into the rock and much of the contaminated water seeps into aquifers and poisons people's drinking water.

The plans for the Lough Allen basin have to be nipped in the bud and very soon. The stakes are very high and involve not just Lough Allen and its vicinity but the entire River Shannon basin. The proposals for Lough Allen make the Mayo Corrib Gas pipeline controversy seem like nothing in comparison.

[tuppence]

New website there with plenty of information and resources to download. And the petition is there too.

http://frackingfreeireland.org/

[tuppence]

Mr Helmut Fehr German German politician and respected authority on fracking in the Mayflower Centre, Drumshanbo,
Co Leitrim at 3pm on Saturday the 20th August.



Come along, learn more about it.
Spread the word.

[tuppence]

Shale Gas Extraction Information Exhibition

at 1pm on Wednesday 24th August until 4pm Friday 26th, at Leitrim Sculpture Centre, Manorhamilton.

This exhibition presents a range of information about the hydraulic fracturing process (fracking) and intends to provide an impartial view of some of the issues surrounding the proposed extraction of shale gas in Ireland.

The exhibition will include various EU and National reports on fracking, recent films on the effects of fracking, a range of web links, research tools and information, posters and prints.

What is fracking? See: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing

An artist led project, in association with local discussion groups and LSC.

[tuppence]

Fracking article on Prime Time tonight. Came down to Leitrim Manorhamilton and Drumshanbo on Tuesday. Also talked with the main company. Small studio discussion too.

Brace yourselves for the company line of wanting to do right by us....They're obv not getting a profit outa it at all.

[tuppence]

For those who missed last Thursdays Prime Time from Leitrim almost 15 mins in.

http://www.rte.ie/player/#!v=1109605

[tuppence]

Lough Allen Conservation Society
is hosting a public information/discussion on the issue of 'Hydraulic Fracturing ('fracking') for shale gas in the Northwest Carboniferous Region*
Location - The Bush Hotel, Carrick-on-Shannon, Co.Leitrim.
Date/Time - Thursday, September 1st, 8pm

This is a public meeting with a short presentation and an open discussion.

All public representatives and interested groups including IFA, Waterways Ireland, Coillte etc.. have been invited to attend.

This issue is causing great concern among all sections of local communities.

[IPushButtons]

Theres noting wrong with fracking, provided it's done properly there will be no damage to the environment. I am dubious as to the OP's qualifications on this matter i mean come on people "I seen it on an episode of CSI" "Heres a YouTube documentary"

[JupiterKid]

Originally Posted by IPushButtons

Theres noting wrong with fracking, provided it's done properly there will be no damage to the environment. I am dubious as to the OP's qualifications on this matter i mean come on people "I seen it on an episode of CSI" "Heres a YouTube documentary"

You woudn't be an employee of the gas exploration company, now would you?

I have read up a lot of peer reviewed reports on the use of fracking to extract natural gas and they are all, with no exception, highly critical of the fracking process and the chemicals used in fracking.

The exploration company now claims that there will be no chemicals used at all in the fracking at Lough Allen. This has never been done before and is believed to be impossible.

[IPushButtons]

Originally Posted by JupiterKid

You woudn't be an employee of the gas exploration company, now would you?

Hahahah please you'll drive the conspiracy nuts, well, nuts hahah

[garth-marenghi]

Originally Posted by IPushButtons

Theres noting wrong with fracking, provided it's done properly there will be no damage to the environment. I am dubious as to the OP's qualifications on this matter i mean come on people "I seen it on an episode of CSI" "Heres a YouTube documentary"

What exactly are your qualifications on the matter that we should believe you that there is "nothing wrong with fracking"? I dont claim to be an expert but am jtrying to educate myself with the best available resources. There is a vast amount of information, governmental reports, european union and academic studies, documentary films etc that all highlight serious concern and raise serious doubts about the process. Check out the Fracking Free Ireland website that has already been mentioned to see a compilation of a lot of this material.

[IPushButtons]

Originally Posted by garth-marenghi

What exactly are your qualifications on the matter that we should believe you that there is "nothing wrong with fracking"?

Hi Mate, good question i've not worked in the gas business, although i have worked in the mining industry in Australia blasting iron ore. Nothing to do with the gas industry as i've said, but i did work closely with mine engineers, management level health and safety and business improvement experts who have all worked in the gas industry, highly educated and intelligent people. Having asked them about fracking they all say the same thing. That is that, yes there is a possibility of water and soil contamination if the wells are not built to a high standard. However if there are (built to a high standard) there are no risks to the environment.

Lets think about this logically, a company set up a well and starts the mining process, now if were to believe most of the opinions on this thread, (that fracking is not safe) then the companies in question are acting irresponsibly and are doing so with the consent of the government, what that is a conspiracy you guys are talking about it a conspiracy to pollute the environment in order to secure profits. I don't believe that to be the case, i believe that these will act in a socially responsible and professional manner. If they don't there are unlikely to be given future licenses to exploit gas in the future ( in this county). Im not saying that there won't be im saying that the company does not set out to cause harm to the environment it's in the companies own interest not to pollute the environment so that they may acquire more gas contracts in the future.



I don't want you to think that im bagging on you guys you've got questions and you think it's dangerous, fine, If this were taking place in my area then i'd want assurances from my local politicians that the process is safe and i would also ask them to ask the company to come to local town meeting and enplane the process to the locals, but as for just seeing some docos on the web that says fracking in bad and then taking that opinion as fact, simply put it's not fact it opinion. Against my better judgement i've found this YT doco about fracking which confirms what i've been told already by the people i have worked with.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_xJqPjE_I

Originally Posted by garth-marenghi

Check out the Fracking Free Ireland website that has already been mentioned to see a compilation of a lot of this material.

As for this website im not going to look at it, the reason for this is the title of the website . The title "Fracking Free Ireland" tells me right of the bat that this website is bias in that they want Ireland to be free of fracking.



Peace



IPB

[tuppence]

Originally Posted by IPushButtons

Hi Mate, good question i've not worked in the gas business, although i have worked in the mining industry in Australia blasting iron ore. Nothing to do with the gas industry as i've said, but i did work closely with mine engineers, management level health and safety and business improvement experts who have all worked in the gas industry, highly educated and intelligent people. Having asked them about fracking they all say the same thing. That is that, yes there is a possibility of water and soil contamination if the wells are not built to a high standard. However if there are (built to a high standard) there are no risks to the environment.

Lets think about this logically, a company set up a well and starts the mining process, now if were to believe most of the opinions on this thread, (that fracking is not safe) then the companies in question are acting irresponsibly and are doing so with the consent of the government, what that is a conspiracy you guys are talking about it a conspiracy to pollute the environment in order to secure profits. I don't believe that to be the case, i believe that these will act in a socially responsible and professional manner. If they don't there are unlikely to be given future licenses to exploit gas in the future ( in this county). Im not saying that there won't be im saying that the company does not set out to cause harm to the environment it's in the companies own interest not to pollute the environment so that they may acquire more gas contracts in the future.



I don't want you to think that im bagging on you guys you've got questions and you think it's dangerous, fine, If this were taking place in my area then i'd want assurances from my local politicians that the process is safe and i would also ask them to ask the company to come to local town meeting and enplane the process to the locals, but as for just seeing some docos on the web that says fracking in bad and then taking that opinion as fact, simply put it's not fact it opinion. Against my better judgement i've found this YT doco about fracking which confirms what i've been told already by the people i have worked with.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NW_xJqPjE_I




As for this website im not going to look at it, the reason for this is the title of the website . The title "Fracking Free Ireland" tells me right of the bat that this website is bias in that they want Ireland to be free of fracking.



Peace



IPB

The process isnt safe because of documented evidence that it is not safe. It is using a technology that is new and hasnt been proven. It is not safe because we dont have the proper national or European laws to monitor it yet. (see below) The shortage of fossill fuels has meant that governments and compaaies are willing to take greater risks to get at the scarcer natural resources. The Americain governement legitimised taking risks and the gas companies continously spin with them and say its to ensure self sufficiency from the 'gulf' mentioned again in that documentary you posted. But this has led to dire consequences as evidenced in America. The Environmental Protection Agency was not monitoring in the states. This has led to people being badly let down in terms of the consequences to their health livlihood and environment. Alot of those documented cases would be from the lawsuits. Too many firms werent acting very responsibly for the common good time and time agin as they denied any wrong doing consistently to the landowners, thus forcing the landowners to go to court to prove it.

There has been enough ducumented cases for governments to halt and ban this procedure, including France, South Africa, parts of America and Germany. Maybe you should ask them were they dealing with conspiracies or logic?

If you want to sound like your talking logically you shouldnt be taking the word of the guys in the industry (whatever they might be blasting at the time!) because of their vested interest. Large Private companies who have one eye on their shares lose their social responibilities fairly fast if they need to cut corners. And do you really think it is logical to advise that people seek reassurence from these companies as self samed guardians of our environment? I certainly dont think that is safe. Independent sources are the only way of evaluating this situation. And for example in the recent European Parliaments recent report on the Impacts of Shale gas on oil on the environement and human health says in its conclusions pg 77

[I]Finally, some risk is inherent to uncontrolled fracturing which results in uncontrolled mobilization of fracture liquids or even of the natural gas itself. For instance, it is well known that small earthquakes can be induced by hydraulic fracturing which might mobilize gas or fluids through “naturally” created fractures. Experience from the USA shows that in practise many accidents happen. Too often,companies are fined from official authorities for violations. These accidents are partly caused by leaky or malfunctioning equipment, partly caused by bad practises in order to save costs and time, partly due to unprofessional casing of the wells and partly due to groundwater contamination through undetected leaks.[/I]h
http://www.ledevoir.com/documents/pdf/europe_gaz.pdf


But if we continously talk of the process we are only looking of one of the negatives of this issue. Its the noise, its the land coverage of the hundreds of wells, its the roads and large truck containers to service them its the industrialisation of a rural area. Its about focusing on a proven dirty industry instead of renewables.

But fundamentally its about the community been included in decesion making and the potential once again for misinformation and money to get in the way of what is a close knit rural area. Shame on our politicians for not being proactive to ensure full and proper negotiation and consulation, with independent experts and research.

Theres no conspiracy theories here only people who got badly let down before by a bunch of speculators in the past. Many have learnt harsh lessons and want to protect whats precious to them. We have nothing left except the land we stand on and more private specalators and governement want to take this from under us and our children too.

People are trying to get at the truth and researching the information themselves within a context of sleepwalking in the most part by our political representatives. If anything people have learnt is to exercise caution this time and proper vigilance and that surely aint a bad thing, its quite rationale.

Peace T