Protest at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, 13 June 2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Five grandparents, aged 63-82, are taking part in an anti-fracking protest at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in central London.
They used chains and arm tubes to lock themselves together in the lobby at about 10am this morning.
The protest calls on the government not to grant fracking consent to Cuadrilla for its Preston New Road shale gas site in Lancashire.
Protest at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, 13 June 2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Cuadrilla is preparing to frack the first horizontal shale gas well in the UK. If approved, this would be the first high volume hydraulic fracture in the UK since 2011, when the company’s operation at Preese Hall, near Blackpool, was linked to a series of small earthquakes.
The national pressure group, Reclaim the Power, which organised this morning’s action, said:
“We are are truly scared by the speed with which the earth’s ecosystems are being destroyed. We cannot make the earth a subsidiary of the economy. Those who follow us are more precious than anything.”
Protest at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, 13 June 2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Protest at the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, 13 June 2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
The Green Party co-leader, Jonathan Bartley, tweeted:
“Full solidarity with Grandparents for a Safe Earth and @reclaimthepower locked on at BEIS demanding Greg Clark says no to fracking”.
A spokesperson for the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said:
“We were one of the first countries to recognise and act on the global challenge posed by climate change. Since 1990 we have cut carbon emissions by over 40% and last year produced over 50% of electricity from low carbon sources.
“The UK has over 50 years of experience in regulating the onshore oil and gas industry, meaning the sector is governed by one of the safest, most environmentally sound and well-regulated systems in the world. These strong controls and laws will ensure shale gas can be explored safely and sustainably.”
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
The grandparents are being used as Reclaim Power foot soldier. I am sure their children dont approve of their retirement hobbies of disruptive behaviour which doesn’t make good role model for their grandchildren.
Unlike the employees of certain companies these gentle folk have freedom of choice. Well done all.
Congratulations anti antis, you have alienated yet another valuable asset of our society.
You must be running out of people to insult and p(!)ss off?
Keep it up, we love to watch you poisoning everyone against you!
Which just about sums up the whole sorry fracking debacle.
The usual stale guff from the Government servants. They’ve been dishing those same words out for years.
Inspirational action by intelligent people who have obviously done their research and care about the future. Thank you
“The national pressure group, Reclaim the Power, which organised this mornings action…”
Rather spoils the spontaneity of the “action”. Interesting to see that the SNP are not exactly getting a lot of praise for their spontaneity either.
If there was an attempt to rebrand as a warm/cuddly group ahead of the expected contempt of court arrests it fell foul of an unfortunate coincidence.
l hope Greg Clark M.P. & Minister responsible for fracking is inspired by your dignity integrity honesty and above all tremendous wisdom! All five of you are a perfect example of real ｈｕｍａｎｉｔｙ! Profound gratitude.
Thank you for doing this, Grandparents. Who knows whether climate chaos will be averted. But your grandchildren will know that you loved them.
“Warm and cuddly”? He don’t know us vewy well, do he?