Take a stand against Fracking!

What is fracking?

Fracking is the process of drilling down into the earth before a high-pressure water mixture is directed at the rock to release the gas inside.

Water, sand and chemicals are injected into the rock at high pressure which allows the gas to flow out to the head of the well.

The process is carried out vertically or, more commonly, by drilling horizontally to the rock layer.

The process can create new pathways to release gas or can be used to extend existing channels.

Why is it called Fracking?

It is shorthand for hydraulic fracturing and refers to how the rock is fractured apart by the high pressure mixture.

Do Not Frack Here!

Drakensberg and KZN Midlands is the water factory for millions of people in the south eastern half of South Africa.

An American owned ( based in Texas )company, Rhino Oil & Gas, has applied for a prospecting license for the already water stressed areas of Matatiele, Richmond, Eston, Pietermaritzburg, Hilton, Howick, Karkloof, Balgowan, Dargle, Kranskop, Estcourt, Dundee, Weenen, Nkandla and Vryheid.

Rhino Oil and Gas faced a blast of angry questions and objections at a public hearing into fracking plans in the KwaZulu-Natal Midlands yesterday.

The US oil company wants to explore 1.5million hectares of land in KwaZulu-Natal by drilling holes on 10000 farms.

A Public Participation Meeting begin this morning in Ashburton, this afternoon in Richmond and the all week until Nkandla on Saturday.

In Ashburton, the community will be focussing on legal issues at the meeting.

At Lion’s River Club in Dargle tomorrow, November 4 protestors will start arriving from 1pm, including school learners, Mpophomeni and Nxamalala residents and activists from across the Midlands.

The area includes the Umzimvubu Catchment, which is earmarked for extensive water supply investment under the National Development Plan.

Hydraulic fracturing (Fracking) has unknown long term impacts on human and animal health through exposure to the chemicals used in the process.
Groundwater may become contaminated.

Fracking requires about 20 million litres of water for each drill site. Few people will have access to the skilled job requirements, and thousands of rural people may be adversely affected through compromised health and farming.

We need renewable energy, not short term fossil fuel extraction at the expense of our water and well-being.

Sustainable farming generates better returns for longer periods for more people, with limited adverse impacts, than Fracking can ever offer.

The extensive use of Fracking in the US, where it has revolutionised the energy industry, has prompted environmental concerns.

Fracking uses huge amounts of water that must be transported to the fracking site, at significant environmental cost.

The second is the worry that potentially carcinogenic chemicals used may escape and contaminate groundwater around the Fracking site.

The industry suggests pollution incidents are the results of bad practice, rather than an inherently risky technique.

There are also worries that the Fracking process can cause small earth tremors.

Two small earthquakes of 1.5 and 2.2 magnitude hit the Blackpool area in 2011 following Fracking.

Finally, environmental campaigners say that Fracking is simply distracting energy firms and governments from investing in renewable sources of energy, and encouraging continued reliance on fossil fuels.

Fracking is not the solution to our energy challenges; we need an energy revolution based on efficiency not more fossil fuels that will add to climate change.

Growing evidence shows that Fracking activities are simply not capable of preventing harm.

It can lead to contamination, air pollution, stress, earthquakes, flood risks; threats to the climate system and property value an increased crime rate and much more.

For more Fracking facts visit https://concernedhealthny.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/PSR-CHPNY-Compendium-3.0.pdf

questions for Rhino Exploration Permit meetings

Dear the Government jacqueline final letter