Fracking in the news...

After Boris Johnson said this - http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/02/shale-gas-energy

about fracking in London, today Lord Howell suggests that "fracking should be carried out in the 'desolate' north-east of England." Read the article in today's Guardian - http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2013/jul/30/fracking-north-east-england-tory-peer

Meanwhile, "excessive force" has been used against protesters in West Sussex - http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/police-accused-of-using-excessive-force-during-balcombe-fracking-protest-8738629.html. People are protesting over plans by Cuadrilla, a fracking company chaired by former BP chief executive Lord Browne, to explore for oil and 
gas in Balcombe, West Sussex.

What is fracking?
Fracking is a process used to extract shale gas from rock formations thousands of metres below the Earth's surface. A well is drilled and millions of litres of water containing a cocktail of often-toxic chemicals are forced into the rock at high pressures to fracture it and release the gas.

What are the human and environmental costs of fracking?
- Our drinking water could be poisoned

• - Our air could be polluted
• - Test fracking in Lancashire has already caused two earthquakes
• - Fracking keeps us hooked on fossil fuels and flies in the face of our country's legally binding commitments to cut CO2 emissions
• - Fracking could also threaten farming, local tourism, house prices and jobs

Click on the link below for a map that shows the areas of the UK currently licensed and under consideration for licensing. Enter your postcode and see if your neighbourhood is at risk from fracking.

https://www.foe.co.uk/help_us_pull_plug_fracking_40282.html