This update was received today from Friends of the Earth
In 2012, community concern about the threat of new coal and gas operations, especially coal seam gas (CSG), pushed the state government to ban the use of dangerous BTEX chemicals and place a moratorium on the process of fracking for gas.
The moratorium will finish shortly and the government has made it clear it wants to see renewed expansion of the fossil fuel industry.
And to make our job harder – mining magnate Gina Rinehart has now bought into Victorian coal and gas exploration.
Her company has bought into local company Lakes Oil, and placed climate sceptic Ian Plimer and former politician Alexander Downer on the Lakes Oil board.
FoE has been tracking Lake’s activity for a year now, and highlighted poor management of some previous operations. They are currently drilling for shale oil in Gippsland, and hold three exploration licenses for brown coal.
Lakes Oil is also currently preparing drill pads in Gippsland so they can start fracking for Tight Gas as soon as the moratorium finishes. Please see the photo here: http://twitpic.com/cosnvp . This site is near Longford in Gippsland.
We know that the government is feeling pressure on this issue: from industry, who want the moratorium lifted, and from the community, who want it extended.
PLEASE ACT NOW
1. Please tell the Premier The Hon Denis Napthine: [email protected] to extend the moratorium:
Suggested wording:
Dear Premier
I urge you to maintain the current moratorium on fracking, and extend it to any exploration activity for coal or gas.
Please initiate, as a matter of urgency, a thorough investigation into the likely impacts of this industry on:
- water resources,
- farmland and food security,
- local communities and natural biodiversity, and
- greenhouse emissions.
Without this data it would be negligent to allow any further development of the fossil fuel industry in our state.
2. If you like to receive monthly campaign update, just email me: [email protected] with the words SUBSCRIBE VIC NEWSLETTER in the subject line.
3. Please consider supporting our work so we can run a stronger campaign: http://www.givenow.com.au/foecsgcampaign
For further information on the situation: http://www.melbourne.foe.org.au/?q=node/1215
Thanks for whatever support you can offer
Regards
Cam Walker
Foster.vic.au feed
As I recall it was you lot who started the gas alternative as a clean green replacement for coal. Much the same as nuclear power was being hailed as safe clean and green (until Fukishima and then you went a bit quiet)
I guess nobody actually looked at the international research on fracking, or data available from places that had already banned it.
It appears to me that all too often environmental supporters believe anything they are told, then reverse their position literally as often as the weather changes. Or their latest pet project is shown to be even more dangerous than what they spruke as the way forward into a pristine world.
Actual research and long term thinking and being prepared to drop or ban ideas that do not work is required. Instead of blindly following your gallant leaders, who may, or may not, be telling you the truth.
Do your own research. Take nothing at face value. Or dont participate and leave it to those who have done and do just that.
Hi Jaqueline,
I’ve forwarded your comment to Friends of the Earth for their response to your feedback. Thanks for caring!
Best wishes,
Linda
hi Jaqueline
thanks for the feedback. It may be wise to research groups before making public judgements about them.
We have always opposed gas as a transition fuel, instead supporting a 100% renewables model. We started campaigning against unconventional gases like CSG about a decade ago. Perhaps you are confusing us with another group? There are a number of green groups that have supported gas as a transition fuel, although most of them have changed their position in recent years.
And we have campaigned against nuclear power since our group was set up in the early 1970s. If you have concerns about the nuclear industry, you may want to support our work. You can find some info here: http://foe.org.au/anti-nuclear
regards
Cam Walker