What do you know about unconventional gas and fracking?
Do you want to find out more?
Come along to the Yahl Memorial Hall, on Friday 27th March at 7.30pm to watch a short film on unconventional gas and to meet members of the Limestone Coast Protection Alliance and talk to your neighbours and friends about unconventional gas and fracking.
All Welcome
RSVP Sue on gunyah236@gmail.com
THE OVERNIGHTERS
Dir. Jesse Moss | US | 2014 | 102mins
SAT 21 FEB, 630PM | MON 23 FEB, 830PM
Followed by Q&A on Mon Wed 23 Feb
A documentary The Overnighters, set in Willison, North Dakota, where the natural-gas industry is booming, the population is growing so quickly that housing is in critically short supply. Pastor Jay Reinke offers newcomers the chance to sleep in his church, setting off a controversy with the town and his congregation. Director Jesse Moss gains intimate access to events as they unfold. The films accolades include winning Sundance Film Festival Special Jury Prize.
6 – 8 March 2015, KNAG International (we might have one of the UK Nannas here!) Conference.
in Lismore all welcome.
more details at http://www.knitting-nannas.com/diary.php
The Guardian UK
Fracking risk compared to thalidomide and asbestos in Walport report
Historic innovations that have been adopted too hastily with grave unforeseen impacts provide cautionary examples for potential side effects of fracking, says report by government’s chief scientist Mark Walport.
Fracking carries potential risks on a par with those from thalidomide, tobacco and asbestos, warns a report produced by the government’s chief scientific adviser.
Wattle Range Council Road declared Gasfield and Mining Free
Communities have begun to stand up – and are Locking The Gate in the hundreds! Through a comprehensive and truly democratic survey process, communities are declaring themselves ‘Gasfield Free’.
Local roads throughout the Limestone Coast are now displaying “Gasfield Free” road signs sending a clear message of “Lock the Gate”, “Lock the Road” & ”Protect the Region” from industrial gasfield activities. Communities simply do not want this in their backyard.
Faced with the extraordinary capture of our governments by the mining industry, the region is witnessing a historic alliance of our local councils, mayors, farmers, conservationists, lawyers, doctors, teachers, parents, students and retirees who are saying no and locking their gates. Together, they are saying it’s time to protect existing agricultural industries, our land, water and health from the destructive force of the proposed open cut mining and gasfield projects in the Limestone Coast.
Local communities who are locking their gate, locking their road and protecting their region are the building blocks of a strong community campaign. Knowing what is at stake, the “Lock the Gate” strategy is providing pathways for more people to join in the movement and is now spreading across the country and the world, inspiring communities everywhere.
The District Council of Robe was the first council in the Limestone Coast to call on our State Government to halt unconventional gas mining in our region and since then all seven local councils have banded together to ask the State Government for a moratorium on unconventional gas mining, buffer zones and landholder approval prior to mining. So it is only appropriate that communities in the District Council of Robe will be the first to present their “Gasfield Free” declarations to the Mayor of Robe at a ceremony on Saturday 11th October.
All are welcome to this historic event.
Need a bit of a laugh with all this worrying fracking talk going on?
Watch this video for a lighthearted look at what is going on in our country
MINING companies like to tar everyone objecting to proposed unconventional gas developments in the Lower and Mid South East as “greenies and professional activists”, according to chairman of the Limestone Coast Protection Alliance Will Legoe.
But the sheep and cattle producer and grapegrower says the membership of his organisation – which held its first meeting in November with 11 members – tells a different story.
“We now have 270 members, with 50 per cent of them farmers,” he said.
“And it’s growing every day, mainly through word-of-mouth, although we did attend the (SE) field days.”
Legoe says when people ring him, all he can do is point them to the relevant websites and documentaries.
“People in the region are mostly very conservative – but not on this issue,” he said.
“And they come from all walks of life – a big cross-section.
“They become more educated about the issues and build their knowledge, and this has added to the groundswell of support (for LCPA).”
Legoe had attended Beach Energy information sessions and others organised independently to discuss the possible impacts of unconventional gas mining.
He became concerned and decided to become active in the debate after assessing the ‘evidence’ presented and possible ramifications of developments.
“I have to shake my head when Beach Energy says we are ignoring the science – there is plenty of science saying the opposite (to the company),” Legoe said.
“The possibility of water contamination is a primary cause of concern, but there would be huge lifestyle and social pressures.”
If the March state election had been 12 to 18 months later, Legoe believes the notice of motions carried by SELGA calling for a moratorium on unconventional gas mining would have had more sway on politicians.
“I certainly hope we can still have some influence (on SE politicians) as our numbers grow,” he said.
* Full report in Stock Journal, July 3, 2014 issue.
Anne Daw – who serves on the Rountable for Unconventional Gas Projects – described the inclusion of a ‘royalty holiday’ in Thursday’s state budget announcement as appalling.
Under the announcement, companies would be given a FIVE YEAR ‘holiday’ from royalty payments to stimulate developments, but they would still need to be paid following the grace period.
“It’s now not only the community that doesn’t want this activity here, it’s the councils who represent the community as well”, Ms Daw said.
“This should not be happening in the South East.”
Ms Daw said while she applauded SELGA for taking a stand, Thursday’s announcement was proof it was not being heard.
“SELGA has sent a clear message to the government” she said.
“What a log of people don’t realise is the whole of the Lower South East is already mapped out for unconventional gas exploration..”
We’ve seen it before (like in Gasland Part II), scientific evidence proves that drilling and fracking contaminated ground water, but then the industry swoops in with their misinformation campaigns and pressure on regulatory agencies, and suddenly there’s a new set of “facts” to debate.
Our video of the week shows that the Lispky family is still living deep in Gasland, where fracking science denial déjà vu has unfortunately become the way of life.
We reported on Steve and Shyla Lipsky’s case in Gasland Part II, and the industry responded with vicious and personal attacks against the facts and the Lipsky family.
In our Video, Brett Shipp reports that the science proves not only do the Lipsky’s have dangerous levels of methane in their water, but also that an isotopic analysis proves the gas in Lipsky’s well is an almost identical match to the gas being drilled for in the area.
The scientists interviewed say these tests prove that fracking is to blame for the contamination of the Lipsky’s water.
But the Texas Railroad Commission is refusing to look at the scientific evidence, rather claiming that it is inconclusive as to where the gas is coming from.
The industry is also desperately trying to deny the facts, claiming the Lipsky case is a fraud.
But as Julie Dermansky reports in this great piece on DeSmog Blog, the industry doesn’t have a leg to stand on.
Help us share the science that proves fracking contaminates ground water
P.S. If you haven’t seen the Lipsky’s story yet, get your copy of Gasland Part II.
And if you haven’t seen Gasland Part I yet, click here
Meet 9:45am at Parliament House and then 10am march to Victoria Square.
South Australia has only 4.6% agricultural land outside of pastoral areas. Our farming production areas are being invaded by shale gas exploration in the South East of SA, mineral exploration and proposed mining for iron ore, copper and other minerals on Eyre Peninsula and Yorke Peninsula. Plus oil and gas exploration licences are off shore near Kangaroo Island, only around 10 km off our SA coastline.
These exploration and proposed projects are a major threat to our groundwater aquifers, surface water, soil and air. We want to maintain our clean, green food bowl, water and tourism which should be held in trust for generations to come. Currently, land owners in South Australia have virtually NO rights to say NO to mining and petroleum exploration on their properties, even if they don’t want it. This is unfair! We want the laws changed to protect our food bowl.
9.45 a.m. we will be meeting on the steps of Parliament House. Some short speeches will commence at 10 a.m. followed by a march to Victoria Square. Some short speeches will take place also at Victoria Square. People are encouraged to stay for a picnic lunch or purchase food from nearby.
Please Note: Adelaide City Council CAN NOT park farm vehicles over 8 tonnes. Please bring placards instead.
Find out more about the Rally by clicking here to go to facebook
Contact Anne Daw for more information annedaw@bigpond.com
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