Across Wales, tens of thousands of 38 Degrees members are campaigning for change on issues that matter to all of us. People are coming together to call for a fairer and more sustainable place to live. Together, we’re making our public services work for us - and fighting devastating cuts. Take a look below at some of the campaigns started by 38 Degrees members in Wales: In Neath Port Talbot, Neale is campaigning to get the council to reject all applications for fracking. With your support Neath Port Talbot could become a frack free zone: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/Neath-Port-Talbot In Newport, Rich is campaigning to stop the proposed M4 route - the plans could damage the nature and wildlife at Gwent levels: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/M4 Malcolm has started a petition to save Pontrhydyfen Primary School in Afan Valley from closure. To watch the campaign song by Pontrhydyfen students click the link below: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/Pontrhydyfen And Len has started a petition asking members of the National Assembly for Wales to stop austerity cuts: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/Cuts-in-Wales
There seems to be an irony in the 4 (Well 3, excluding the school one) you chose. Take away two things that could bring in revenue and jobs into the local area (Fracking and an improved transport system) and could help build up a relatively working class area (in the form of Neath, I have no idea what Port Talbot is like) economically. Then the austerity cuts because the area can't afford to have its budget cut, even though there is a way to improve the Welsh economy. People may hate fracking (As someone who is building a career around sustainability, I generally dislike fossil fuels) but it's not going to be stopped. America is self-sustaining it's oil needs currently, and even exporting oil currently due to fracking, and while people demand oil there will be a supply if its available. If communities want to stand up against things such as fracking, they should lead by example. Open up Community Interest Companies in a renewable energy scheme, such as having solar panels on top of local schools generating renewable energy and money as well to re-invest into the community.
Actually I didn't choose them just posted as I received them, tbh I would have thought they would be of interest to people on the forum living in the relevant areas. Although Neath & Port Talbot Council are among the worst councils in wales
Also they should make sure they stand up against it early enough, or it will end in tears and lawsuits like in Northern Ireland: http://www.belfasttelegraph.co.uk/n...warted-fermanagh-drilling-plans-30757856.html
Is fracking more environmentally troubling that offshore drilling? Probably easier to keep things clean on-shore. As I understand, after the initial drill you'd barely notice it was there.
There's quite a bit of debate about whether it's safe to fill the ground with the water/chemical mix that is used during fracking. Supposedly they reach the water table and localised areas are often consuming things in water that they shouldn't be. Supposedly - this is only stuff I've read on reddit etc, I don't know how true it is.
Well certainly in the Neath area the protest atm is about Fracking in Cilfrew but Neath & Port Talbot traditionally allow these companies to expand their operations if the price is right
Fracking is shorthand for Hydraulic Fracturing, a process by which they pump chemicals into a well under high pressure to crack the rock, allowing gas to migrate to the well and be extracted. Problem is, the gas doesn't just travel horizontally into the well, it can also travel vertically through the newly created cracks in the rocks into groundwater. In the video above, natural gas has gotten into this person's water well and is being drawn up with the water. In addition to the spectacular flammability hazard, there is also a risk that the chemicals in the fracking fluid will contaminate the aquifer, and the companies that make and use those chemicals refuse to release their contents, claiming trade secrets. As for whether offshore drilling is safer, it's debatable. On the one hand, aside from the drilling or production platform crew, there is no one around to be harmed by a release from an offshore well. On the other hand, if a release does occur it's likely to be much larger and more difficult to control, and can damage not only the ecosystem over a large area, but can also have a massive economic impact.
Well thankfully the process is better understood now having been tested on Americans. Whether you consider it cleaner or dirtier than off-shore depends on whether you care about the Oceans, I guess.
Imagine a huge drill getting gas and oil from beneath your home - without your permission. On Monday, MPs could vote to let that happen. [1] The drilling is part of a process called fracking. Dirty energy companies desperately want MPs to let them have the land under our homes. All they need is a change in trespass law. [2] MPs vote on Monday. So we’ve got four days to persuade MPs to throw the plan out. 38 Degrees members are building a huge petition telling MPs to vote the right way. The bigger the petition, the stronger the message. Can you add your name now? Please click here to sign: SIGN THE PETITION https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/mps-vote-against-fracking#petition Giant energy companies want the go-ahead to start fracking all across the UK. But it’s a huge threat to us and the environment. It could poison our water and produce toxic waste. And it could cause earthquakes. [3] The boss of one energy company, Cuadrilla, has said that if MPs don’t vote to change trespass laws, then fracking probably won’t happen in the UK. [4] This is our moment. A huge petition could persuade wavering MPs to vote the right way. Click here to add your name: SIGN THE PETITION https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/mps-vote-against-fracking#petition Fracking hasn’t happened in the UK yet - beyond a few tests - because people-power has said no. 136,000 members of 38 Degrees have already signed the petition, and 47,000 have emailed our MPs too. And we’re not alone. Greenpeace supporters, Friends of the Earth members and thousands of grassroots campaigners are all standing hand-in-hand to stop these plans. [5] Some MPs are turning against fracking, but there’s still work to do if we’re going to win Monday’s vote. [6] And when we work together, we’re stronger. Can you join tens of thousands of other 38 Degrees members and sign the petition now? Click here: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/page/s/mps-vote-against-fracking#petition
Bad news Bad news - last night MPs voted to give the green light to fracking across the UK. 50 MPs broke ranks to vote against the plans, but it wasn’t enough. [1] Trespass laws have changed: now dirty energy companies can apply to drill for oil and gas under our homes. Days like today are difficult. But we urgently need to channel our frustration into hope - because tomorrow, Lancashire County Council could vote to block fracking in Lancashire. [2] Local councils still have the power to block fracking, so this is a test case. Council by council, we could start to turn the tide. 38 Degrees members in Lancashire are pushing their council hard to do the right thing tomorrow. In the wake of yesterday’s vote, let’s stand with them - and prove that across the country, we’re not done fighting yet. Please add your name to a huge message of support for 38 Degrees members fighting fracking in Lancashire: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/back-lancashire Losses like yesterday’s prove that we’ve got a long way to go to get MPs to stand up for the environment. But without pressure from 38 Degrees members, Greenpeace, Friends of the Earth and thousands of grassroots groups, it could’ve been much worse. [3] Yesterday’s vote had some positives: fracking is now banned in national parks. [4] And it wasn’t an easy vote for the government to win. Slowly, because of everything 38 Degrees members and climate change campaigners have done together, support for fracking is wavering - and MPs are feeling the heat. Now let’s take the fight to a local level: council by council, let’s push fracking back. Three of the MPs who voted against fracking yesterday were from Lancashire - so the pressure is on for Lancashire Council to block it. [5] Please add your name to the message to Lancashire, to show that we’re standing with them in the fight against fracking: https://secure.38degrees.org.uk/back-lancashire Thanks for being involved, Amy, Robin, India, Rachel, James, Susannah and the 38 Degrees team
Just to add perspective on the fracking argument. Firstly the US regulatory regime is no where near as rigorous as the UK HSE. Any planned Wells would come under the control of major accident hazards (COMAH) regs and land use planning laws. Briefly the COMAH regs require a safety case to be written which demonstrates to the HSE that the risk to persons and environment has been minimised as far as practical. land use planning would restrict Well locations so that the risk of serious injury to public is less than 1 in a million. These are the same rules that cover gas lines, refineries, petrol storage facilities etc.
Ugh, hate the use of the term dirty energy companies when the people who despise them so much probably still love to use the services provided from them. It makes the campaign look unprofessional when you throw terms like that around. (Not saying you wrote it Teel).
