Caroline Lucas MP with fellow co-leader of the Green Party, Jonathan Bartley, at Preston New Road, 18 September 2017. Photo: Refracktion
The Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, supported campaigners taking peaceful direct action at Cuadrilla’s fracking site near Blackpool.
On a visit today, she said residents and activists protesting outside the Preston New Road site were “pioneers” in the battle against climate change.
“I am so proud that the Green Party is in the forefront of supporting people who are taking peaceful direct action here at Preston New Road. We know how important the fight against climate change is.”
There have been protests outside the site since Cuadrilla began work in January 2017, with more than 270 arrests so far.
Pictured right to left: Caroline Lucas, Jonathan Bartley and Lancashire Green Party councillor Gina Dowding at a sit-down protest at Preston New Road, 18 September 2017. Photo: Refracktion
Dr Lucas, who took part in a symbolic sit-down action at the site entrance, described the protesters as “courageous and brave”.
She said:
“There comes a point when you believe this is so serious, that this is really the front line of the climate change battle, that you think that it is right in those circumstances to take this kind of peaceful action that people around me are taking.”
Dr Lucas was arrested following a sit-down protest at anti-fracking demonstrations at Balcombe in West Sussex in 2013 but was acquitted after a trial.
Dr Lucas was joined by her fellow co-leader Green Party leader Jonathan Bartley.
During a rally, Dr Lucas said people opposed to fracking had lobbied Lancashire County Council. The council had listened to their concerns, she said, and refused Cuadrilla’s planning application for the Preston New Road site in 2015. But the decision was later overturned by the Communities’ Secretary following a public inquiry. She said:
“This government, which is supposed to be favour of localisation drives a coach and horses through the local decision and forces fracking on the local community.
“That’s why we’re taking action here today. This action is about true democracy. You know what local people want, you know what is safe for the future for your kids and that’s why you’re doing it by being here today.”
Dr Lucas and Mr Bartley were representing the second political party to visit Preston New Road in the past four days. On Friday, the Shadow Chancellor, John McDonnell, repeated Labour’s commitment to banning fracking if the party got into government and promised support to activists. DrillOrDrop report
Dr Lucas told the larger than usual crowd of campaigners:
“You are the pioneers and when people look back to what you’ve done here, what you’re doing every day here, they will absolutely see the role that you’ve played in this fight back against climate breakdown and corporate criminality.
“Never doubt you are the right side of history. Never doubt that your courage will make the final difference and together we will defeat the frackers.”
“Against will of the community”
Caroline Lucas at Preston New Road, 18 September 2017. Photo: Refracktion
On policing at Preston New Road, Dr Lucas said she thought it was sad to see officers acting, as she put it, “against the will of the local community”.
Over the past nine months, campaigners have accused officers of heavy-handed and aggressive policing at Preston New Road.
Dr Lucas put it to officers:
“I bet when you don’t have your uniforms on, when you’re talking to your families and your friends, you know that what’s going on here is against the interests of the local community. It’s against the interests of the environment. It’s certainly against the interests of future generations. You know that.
“Of course, you’re doing your job but I hope sometimes you might just think about that too because ultimately all of us are responsible for the actions that we take.”
Police took no action against the rally. But when the politicians left the site entrance officers began to remove protesters from the roadside.
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Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
A well organised community is the best defence against a fracking industry that is not needed.
Time and time again across the country communities are joining together to stop this industry before it even starts.
Climate change is here now. The world is awash with fossil fuels as countries drop prices to sell their reserves knowing full well we are moving quickly into a world powered predominantly by renewable energy.
There is no place in the British countryside where communities will not fight to protect their homes and loved ones.
Government statistics show the majority of those who are asked do not support the industry.
UK shale gas will fail.
The Green Party MP, Caroline Lucas, supported campaigners taking peaceful direct action at Cuadrilla’s fracking site near Blackpool.
Thank you Caroline Lucas, peaceful protest is what will change the situation, and that is what is demonstrated here.
Oh John-you can’t resist trying to bend information, can you? Becoming the King of Fake News. Keep it going, you are doing a great job-at losing the antis any bit of credibility left.
Strange about the plans for new nuclear and gas power stations in UK-your moving seems a bit of a zig-zag.
Peaceful protest that infringes on the rights of others cannot be tolerated in a just society.
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On the contrary Peeny – happy as a sand boy as we see the lack of support for fracking, both politically and in the communities, being demonstrated more and more clearly every day.
[Edited by moderator] {Those} pushing this industry cannot be tolerated by a just society and those wanting a better future for the environment and the next generation.
We all want a better future for the environment and for future generations. Why is it that your opinion as to how we achieve that end is the only one that matters? Why is it that you feel that you have the right to infringe upon the rights of others to pursue your personal moral and environmental agenda? Please elucidate.
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[Edited by moderator] Childish personal attacks demonstrate that deep inside yourself/selves, you know you’ve lost the argument. Do you have the courage to honestly state what your vested interest/s in defending the fracking industry is/are? Do you have children, grandchildren? Would you let them live next to a fracking site? Honestly? Did you see Prof Stephen Hawking’s recent BBC docu on how, in his view, humans will, within the next 100 years, need to find & colonise a habitable new planet to survive as a species because of global warming? (still on iPlayer). Please look into your heart/s and think carefully. Thank you.
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Sorry Ry to disappoint you. I have stated numerous times, I have no vested interest in the UK fracking industry. If you did some research, you might find that there are few decent opportunities to do so, even if I wanted to. I would like to be able to see if fracking in the UK offers some economic advantages. That’s what test licences are for, and I would like to see that for myself, not have that precluded by a group who continue to Giggle any nonsense they find and then insist that is a reason to prevent the majority from observing whether fracking in the UK is economic and commercially viable. And YES, it is a majority, because it is a MINORITY that objects to fracking in the UK.
I will continue to play the ball. If some of the antis merely continue to post nonsense, I will point out that it is nonsense. They know it is, they post to excite people who don’t.
Sorry that someone contradicting some nonsense is a problem to you. Posts are currently moderated. We have not yet arrived at a situation where disagreement is censored altogether.
I believe I have been playing the ball. [Edited by moderator] If you want everything to fit your picture of the world there is only one country for that, and it is not the UK. [Edited by moderator] as a point of reference, we do have some free speech left.
“And YES, it is a majority, because it is a MINORITY that objects to fracking in the UK.”
Really? http://www.refracktion.com/index.php/the-answer-my-friend/
Hmmm…
/2017/09/19/caroline-lucas-anti-fracking-protesters-are-right-side-history
Headline from Desmoguk.
Caroline Lucas claims anti frackers are on the right side of history ………
But both were on the wrong side of the road at PNR site.
Not a complaint just an observation.
And on what bass are you saying one side is the wrong side TW?
Not a complaint just a question.
I should concentrate on facts refracktion-like the study in Nature Geoscience, which clearly shows the models calculating climate change “were on the hot side”, yet the scientists have been slow in acknowledging it. (Wonder why??) Or Adam Rutherford’s clumsy attempt to try and adjust (polite terminology) a government committee to more reflect his views.
I’m sure your website is a site of national importance, but not one I will visit. I try and avoid being a follower. Thanks for the invite.
None so blind as those that won’t even look eh Martin 😉 You’re clearly not a fan of YouGov polls then – Well I can see why given what you spend so much of your life defending.
But goodness – you are not a climate change denier are you? Who would have thought it?