As a Shell executive reading this please take note of the following thread of connectivity – much like the thread of underground connectivity that may destroy the Karoo as a result of your plans to proceed with hydraulic fracking:
- MyPE has been very vocal about the oil tanks in the Port Elizabeth Harbour, encouraging you to take your tanks and frack off.
- Your attempts to calm the local natives by taking them to lunch and spin doctoring the hell out of them were not succesful.
- The oil boom that was placed off of the jetty next to the oil tank farm has now been expanded with the ADDITION of one more boom outside of the existing one (just for clarity, this is NOT a good omen).
- Your Transnet security goons are still standing guard along the jetty and outside of the pump station in the PE harbour, preventing anyone from taking photographs and actively ‘evicting’ observers (I sincerely hope that Transnet are being re-imbursed for the additional security).
- Friday’s incident when a yacht smashed up against the land close to the pump station brought home another truth to me – the security officials have been instructed to mark and observe any person belonging to the media who enters the harbour and ensure that they cannot carry out their jobs as per our countries constitution. I, personally, was ‘surrounded’ by two security officials who advised me to move on because; “we know who you are and what you do”.
- I do not appreciate being told that if I report on anything that occurs within the harbour that I will be sued.
- I do not appreciate security officials telling people who have experienced a ‘newsworthy event’ within the confines of the harbour that if news of the event appears in the media that they too will be sued.
With the background above and Shell’s pretty poor feedback (read niks, nada, nothing, fokkol!) after meeting with local media last year, you surely cannot think that you have made a friend in me?
Now Shell wants to proceed with Hydraulic Fracturing in the Great Karoo basin despite already having a bad environmental mark against Royal Dutch Shell in Graaf Reinet!
Fracking is a process where drillers blast millions of litres of water, sand and chemicals at high pressure into underground rock formations to create cracks for gas and oil to escape easier.
According to findings from a U.S. Congressional probe, several energy companies in the U.S.A. may have violated environmental rules by injecting diesel into the ground without permits as part of the controversial drilling technique.
Minister of Mineral Resources Susan Shabangu on Tuesday 1 February 2010 placed an indefinite moratorium on the processing of all new exploration and production rights in the Karoo, although this would not affect those applications already in the pipeline.
In December 2010, Shell submitted three separate exploration licence applications, each approx. 30 000 sq kms in size. The area covered by the applications is situated in the south and central part of South Africa, incorporating land in Western Cape, Eastern Cape and Northern Cape provinces.
Let’s learn from our US Counterparts and specifically from Josh Fox, the director of Gasland (2010) which was the winner of the Special Jury Prize as Best US Documentary Feature at the Sundance 2010 film festival.
The documentary was inspired by Josh Fox receiving a cash offer in the mail to lease his land for hydraulic fracturing. He set of on a journey across 32 states to meet other rural residents on the front lines of fracking. He discovered toxic streams, ruined aquifers, dying livestock, brutal illnesses, and kitchen sinks that burst into flame and learned that all water is connected and perhaps some things are more valuable than money.
See what other blogs are saying about Hydraulic Fracturing in the Karoo:
Alan Straton
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Thx Alan for helping to spread the word but its not just shell as Falcon gas is further along in their attempts south of Graaff Reinet and Sasol wants to exploit areas to the north of shells exploration area, thus the whole of the Karoo is in danger from different companies.
Thanks Andrew
I, like most people with half a brain, work on the principle that if a process sounds ‘off’ and cannot be easily reversed (fixing all those blast fractures underground will be impossible), and is something that I wouldn’t allow to happen in my home (blasting my walls will bring them down), then, whatever is being proposed MUST be wrong – no matter the perceived benefits.
Thanks Andrew
I, like most people with half a brain, work on the principle that if a process sounds ‘off’ and cannot be easily reversed (fixing all those blast fractures underground will be impossible), and is something that I wouldn’t allow to happen in my home (blasting my walls will bring them down), then, whatever is being proposed MUST be wrong – no matter the perceived benefits.
I fear that we are no match for these oil companies – they have so much money that they will through at our greedy politicians – but we cannot and must not be complacent!!!!!!!!!!
Be verbal and active – rather rant and rage now ,BEFORE they get even a finger through the door….!!
Agreed they are fracking up our Karoo and should frack off!
Fracking Karoo roadtrip / raid. Sutherland, Loxton, Fraserburg, Victoria West, Beaufort West, Graaf Reinet. The Karoo needs us now. Join the fb group, Greenpeace cause or just be there at the meetings. 15 to 23 March.