British PM David Cameron’s country home has been ‘fracked’ by environmental activists in protest against the exploitation of shale gas. The protest comes as the Queen announces changes to trespassing laws that will pave the way for fracking across the UK.
Environmental activists have sent a powerful message to the
British Prime Minister over plans to exploit reserves of shale
gas in the UK through a process known as hydraulic fracturing, or
fracking.
Greenpeace activists gathered at Cameron’s country home in the
Cotswolds and gave him a taste of what mass fracking might bring
to Britain.
The ‘frackivists’ blocked the entrance to the house, erecting
metal fences and suspending a sign that read “We apologise for
any inconvenience we may cause while we frack under your home.”
“David Cameron wants to rob people of their right to stop
fracking firms drilling under their homes – surely he won’t mind
if we kick off the under-house fracking revolution below his own
garden,” said Simon Clydesdale, a Greenpeace UK energy
campaigner.
We're fracking outside @David_Cameron's des res, and even provided compensation. £50 should cover it pic.twitter.com/Xpbn0je7kj
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) June 4, 2014
The protesters then attempted to deliver a giant, novelty check
for 50 pounds (US$84) – the amount ministers have said will be
compensated to individual homeowners if fracking is conducted on
their property. Activists have stepped up their efforts recently
to oppose a bill that would allow fracking companies to drill on
private land without permission.
The queen announced the controversial bill on Wednesday to allow
fracking companies access to private land.
“My government will introduce a bill to bolster investment in
infrastructure and reform planning law to improve economic
competitiveness,” said Queen Elizabeth II at the official
opening of parliament. She added the changes would “open up
access to shale and geothermal sites.”
Leading companies in the fracking industry have said that if the
legislation does not pass it could be the death knell for the
industry in Britain.
Sorry for the inconvenience @David_Cameron, but the fracking revolution stops for no one pic.twitter.com/CeUL7rfOIk
— Greenpeace UK (@GreenpeaceUK) June 4, 2014
Cuadrilla chief executive Francis Egan previously told the Times
it would be “impractical” to negotiate with every
individual landowner.
Opposition to the bill says that depriving citizens’ of their
right to stand up to fracking companies is a step too far. A
YouGov poll last month revealed that over 74 percent of those
asked opposed the mass exploitation of shale gas in the UK.
The practice of fracking entails blasting fissures in rocks
thousands of meters underground with water, sand and chemicals to
release trapped stores of gas and oil. However, the process is
far from failsafe. In the past, investigations have shown that
fracking wells can contaminate water supplies and even cause
earthquakes. In fact, the practice was discontinued in Britain in
2011 after it was connected to a number of minor earthquakes in
the north of England.
Despite opposition, the government has championed hydraulic
fracturing as Britain’s answer the rising energy prices and
unemployment. Environmentalists believe the government would be
better off investing more in renewable energy source to increase
the UK’s energy independence.