Went to Southwell Library yesterday evening for a talk on fracking given by an ex oil and mining worker, Kevin Topham, who lives in Ekring. It was well attended - the meeting room was packed. Unfortunately the speaker must be about 85 and he talked as though the fracking that he and his compatriots (two other gentlemen of a similar age who were helping - a geologist and a geo-phiz) were involved in was the same now as it was over 40 years ago when they were working. Obviously they are all retired now and the business has changed quite a lot, which I felt I had to point out quite early on as he was speaking so confidently and reassuringly about it, perpetuating this myth that fracking has been carried out since the first world war! I did interject quite often and some of the audience became irritated by my interruptions, but I just couldnt let him get away with his soothing assertions that there is nothing for anyone to get worked up about. One other woman there appeared to be well informed, and she also said her piece, for which I was grateful, and a man put in some points about climate change and being concerned about our childrens future. The speakers called the process hydro fracking, which is the activity they were involved in and they used no chemicals in the process. I pointed out that its now hydraulic fracturing and it uses many toxic chemicals. At one point when I uttered the word renewables I was practically hounded out of the room - I assume there was a large contingent of Daily Mail readers there! Also present was a representative from BCG who is working I think for the Environment Agency - he is German but working in this country. He said that they have to remain impartial, but you have to remember that hes advising businesses. He was aware of many of the issues, including that Germany and France have a more up to date attitude towards fracking and climate change than our country, but he didnt appear to know what happens to the waste water or what chemicals are added, referring me to the environment agency and commenting that there ought to be more trust. When I said that trust is affected by the evidence of vested interests and he agreed. He did not approve of nuclear, by the way - and he said he was a scientist. As he left he said, Trust the Scientist! Hmmmm ...... I did not have any of our flyers to hand out as I couldnt print them out in colour on my printer, but I didnt think they would be favourably inclined to reading it anyway. I really think though that the discussion will have made everyone who attended want to find out more. I pointed out the house value/insurance aspects, which I think those at the meeting would be more in tune with. They finished the evening with a film about oil - which is not quite fracking! Maggie Gallimore
Posted on: Thu, 20 Mar 2014 16:25:11 +0000
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