Ukraine Buys Huge Amounts of Russian Fue... Fri Jan 20, 2023 08:34 | Antonia Kotseva
Turkey Has Sent Ukraine Cluster Munition... Thu Jan 12, 2023 00:26 | Jack Detsch
New Israeli Government Promises to Talk ... Tue Jan 10, 2023 21:13 | Al Majadeen
Russia Training Iranian Pilots Ahead of ... Tue Jan 10, 2023 15:19 | The Times of Israel
Lukashenko Abolishes Copyright Protectio... Tue Jan 10, 2023 15:05 | Nikki Main Anti-Empire >>
A bird's eye view of the vineyard
Moveable Feast Cafe 2023/02/06 ? Open Thread Mon Feb 06, 2023 22:00 | cafe-uploader 2023/02/06 22:00:02Welcome to the ‘Moveable Feast Cafe’. The ‘Moveable Feast’ is an open thread where readers can post wide ranging observations, articles, rants, off topic and have animate discussions of
Why Shinzo Abe Was Assassinated: Towards a ?United States of Europe? and a League of Nations Mon Feb 06, 2023 20:48 | The Saker By Cynthia Chung for the Saker blog As already discussed in my paper ?Is Japan Willing to Cut its Own Throat in Sacrifice to the U.S. Pivot to Asia??, to
How can we stay in touch? (a repeat and summary) Mon Feb 06, 2023 17:25 | The Saker Dear friends, The tsunami of emails expressing their support and understanding has not abated at all! Many also express sadness, which I very much share. For me the blog was
Ukrainian refugees are becoming a burden to the Baltic states Mon Feb 06, 2023 16:40 | The Saker by Batko Milacic for the Saker blog Every conflict, including this one in Ukraine, always leads to refugees. Considering the size of Ukraine, it is not surprising that a large
Pontius Pilate in the White House: The US, the Ukraine, China, Russia and Russian Orthodox Prophecie... Sun Feb 05, 2023 21:54 | The Saker By Batiushka for the Saker blog Foreword The second half of this essay replies to a commentator who has written: ?Batiushka, let us know how to read your prophecies?. Here The Saker >>
Interested in maladministration. Estd. 2005
RTE in breach of its own editorial principles Anthony
Waiting for SIPO Anthony
Formal complaint against Robert Watt Anthony
RTE bias complaint Anthony
Fergus Finlay and the maternity hospital ‘gotcha’ trap Anthony Public Inquiry >>
A Blog About Human Rights
UN human rights chief calls for priority action ahead of climate summit Sat Oct 30, 2021 17:18 | Human Rights
5 Year Anniversary Of Kem Ley?s Death Sun Jul 11, 2021 12:34 | Human Rights
Poor Living Conditions for Migrants in Southern Italy Mon Jan 18, 2021 10:14 | Human Rights
Right to Water Mon Aug 03, 2020 19:13 | Human Rights
Human Rights Fri Mar 20, 2020 16:33 | Human Rights Human Rights in Ireland >>
|
Shale Gas Bulletin Ireland – . Majority of MEPs support fracking moratorium in symbolic vote
national |
environment |
other press
Sunday July 19, 2015 23:09 by No to Fracking

For the first time, a majority of MEPs (338 to 319) has voted in favour of an immediate moratorium on hydraulic fracturing in Europe in view of its "risks and negative consequences for the climate, the environment, and public health." The MEPs voted in support of Amendment 1 to the Energy Security Strategy report.
However, as the final report as a whole was not adopted, the moratorium on "any new operations involving the exploration or extraction of unconventional fuels within the EU until this is proven to be safe for the environment, citizens, and workers" will not take effect.
 While some pro-fracking groups in the European Parliament voted against the amendment and the report as a whole, the European United Left – Nordic Green Left group (GUE/NGL), which voted for the fracking moratorium, opposed the final report on the grounds that it "underlined the importance of nuclear energy" and "moves in the same direction as neoliberal policies."
The votes of Irish MEPs on the fracking moratorium amendment were as follows:
- For: Boylan (SF), Carthy (SF), Flanagan (Ind), Harkin (Ind), Ni Riada (SF)
- Against: Childers (Ind), Clune (FG), Hayes (FG), McGuinness (FG), Kelly (FG)
- Absent: Crowley (FF)
Despite the defeat of the final report, the vote in favour of an EU moratorium on unconventional fossil fuel exploration and extraction is considered "a milestone for the European anti-fracking movement" by the environmental group Food & Water Europe, whose director Geert De Cock commented: "Today’s vote in the Parliament provides a clear indicator that the public acceptance for the fracking industry is crumbling across the EU."
Adding its voice to those calling for an EU-wide moratorium on hydraulic fracturing is the CHEM Trust, a UK charity that investigates the risks caused by chemicals to human health and wildlife. On June 20, 2015, the CHEM Trust published a new scientific study which highlights the risks of water, land, and air pollution from fracking, as well as the risks to oil and gas workers and to wildlife. It makes 18 recommendations, such as full disclosure of all chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing operations and the requirement of an Environmental Impact Assessment for all sites
|