Block Around the Clock outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site, 28/6/2018. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Eilidh Robb, communications coordinator of the UK Youth Climate Coalition, describes in this guest post how she discovered that defence of democracy is at the heart of the anti-fracking campaign.
Fracking didn’t excite me. It wasn’t why I became passionate about protecting the environment. It wasn’t something I felt confident discussing, and it certainly wasn’t something capable of convincing me to travel 195 miles from Glasgow to Blackpool to campaign against.
And yet, at the end of June, I spent three amazing days at Preston New Road where I discovered a rhetoric that is often missing from the anti-fracking movement.
Preston New Road, in the heart of Lancashire, plays host to what Cuadrilla plans will be the UK’s first horizontal fracked shale gas well.
The local community #SaidNo, the local government #SaidNo, and in the end, the Conservative government said we’re doing it anyway! Since then the local community have demonstrated admirable perseverance; manning the entrance to the fracking site day and night.
On June 27th, members of the UK Climate Coalition (UKYCC) headed down to Preston New Road to support and witness the work being carried out first hand. Our visit coincided with Reclaim the Power’s organised #BlockAroundTheClock, marking the end of the three months of rolling #UnitedResistance against fracking.
Members of UK Youth Climate Coalition at Preston New Road. Photo: Eilidh Robb
Given the government’s recent announcements on proposed changes to the planning regime for onshore oil and gas, it was clear that this resistance was more important than ever.
My time at both Maple Farm camp (my home for the trip) and the site entrance (the heart of the resistance) left my brain stuffed full.
I learnt about the wider importance of fracking resistance for the rest of the UK; the continued local struggles and the impact that fracking would have on their daily lives, identities, and house prices. I learnt about the ins and outs of the fracking process, and the connections it may or may not have to nuclear waste. And I saw how much energy, love and support was being poured into the anti-fracking movement.
Hearing first-hand about this anti-fracking battle was of course inspiring, but if I’m being honest, I had heard it all before.
UKYCC have been following the gas movement closely, and with the launch of our own #CleanGasKissMyAss campaign it has been nearly impossible for me to avoid discussion of fracking. Therefore, I already knew about the situation at Preston New Road, the inspiring activism, and the difficult details of fracking.
What then (I hear you ask), was this new rhetoric?
Well, quite simply put, it was this: The #UnitedResistance at Preston New Road, is not about fracking. It is about protecting democracy, demonstrating people power, and standing up to the government’s attempts to destroy our environment.
And THAT was something I could get behind.
Outside Cuadrilla’s site at Preston New Road. Photo: Eilidh Robb
The details of fracking are deliberately complex. They aren’t easy to understand, they aren’t particularly interesting and they contribute to a narrative of: “that doesn’t affect me”.
Similarly, anti-fracking isn’t being picked up by the press in the same way that plastic is. There are no obvious individual steps to take to combat it, and, if you live in Scotland like me, it might not even be legal in your country.
So why does it matter?
Because this campaign sets a precedent for all future attempts by government to go over our heads and “do it anyway”. The resilience and persistence of the anti-fracking movement sends a clear message to the government that our democracy shall be valued, and that we are willing to do whatever it takes to make it so.
Direct action resistance doesn’t have to be about breaching the peace. In my experience, it was about a large group of passionate, inspiring and motivated individuals coming together to protect something bigger than themselves. It was about dancing on the side of the road, watching documentaries, sharing stories, and spreading love.
I can’t claim that I now enjoy discussing the fine details of fracking – who am I kidding? BUT…
A protest that supports our democracy, our environment, and sends a message to the government that #WeShallNotBeMoved, coupled with laughter, love and infectious energy… now THAT is exciting!!
If like me, fracking didn’t initially get you jumping out of your seat, I hope this reflection on my time at PNR might change your mind. If it didn’t, well… I’ll try harder next time!
- Elidh Robb is also a member of the UKYCC Gas and COP Working Groups. She is an environmental law student living in Glasgow and says she is obsessed with climate justice and the power of young people.
This opinion piece is an edited version of a post which originally appeared on the UK Youth Climate Coalition blog
Categories: guest post
DRILL OR DROP? 
Excellent guest post Elidh Robb, absolutely correct, I have always said that this entire fracking debacle is a catalyst for the growing anti democratic forces behind this thoroughly compromised tory “government”. We only have to follow the money to discover who they are.
This is now, and perhaps always has been a struggle to protect democracy and human rights in this country from the agencies that seek to overturn it.
This is everyone’s fight, not just those who object to fracking.
Well done and well said Elidh Robb
Just bunch of rebellious misguided youth who like social media attention.
Well summed up !!!
Oi – don’t forget us rebellious “misguided” (LOL) old folk!
Fine, fine, fine Refracktion. You are an unique rebellious misguided old timer who never use social media. Except on DoD of course. Lol.
Who are you today TW?
The dangers of fracking concern me, but I have to agree with your guest writer that this government is simply steam rolling it’s policies through regardless of every single concern being raised.
When you consider that a exploritory frack pad can be considered in the same way at planning stage to the erection of a garden shed in order to avoid local input and yet an fracking pad for production can be elevated to the status of a nuclear power station or HS2 for example, leads to only one conclusion.
They move the goal posts in order to ensure that no locals get to have any say in the process.
In my day it was the “evil” of removing free milk from school children.
Great to see such engagement. Wonder what the views will be after some years of paying taxes.
By the way, 0058ron, how “local” is Glasgow to Blackpool? I think it is about 195 miles, “local”
Reminds me of all the protests over building the motorways The government had to push that through. Now we couldn,t do without them.
Reminds me of the anti slavery movement and the Suffragette women’s rights to vote movement and the sacrifice they made to right the wrongs of the overbearing protectionist paternalistic government and ignorant predatory profiteering social and business systems.
Now we are a better, more balanced country and all that was done by protest.
We would all be a bloody sight worse off and many of us would not exist in our present form without everyone who actually gives a damn standing up against an heartless anti democratic invader and fighting for what is right whenever it becomes necessary to do so, and oh boy, is it necessary to do so now!
So don’t sit there and cynically pour out disrespect on anyone who would make your life better whilst you sit back and prevaricate and pontificate and give those who do actually give a damn and do something about it, give them some respect.
These ranti ranti old fart displays above are frankly embarrassing to us all.
They all need to get a job .Instead of living of the state .We need home grown energy not importing .How green is that
Reblogged this on hilarywhitehead and commented:
Thank you Elidh, much appreciated!
It is a pity that Elidh didn’t stay at Maple Farm a few weeks longer, she might have become a bit more educated – of course she is right though, this human rights issue is not just about fracking, which is why the INEOS appeal is now one of the biggest human rights cases in decades. However, like I said if she had stayed a while longer, she would have realised she had a dozen people around her who are working to shut our human rights down day in day out. Maybe you should take another visit Elidh now that I have opened your eyes open and see things through a narrow lens. Well done for taking the time to write the piece though.
Would you like to explain that further Joseph?
Happy to open this up a bit further rather than those on here who just want to close everyone’s rights down?
The controlled opposition working out of Maple Farm, the minority who through the police and Cuadrillas leader TLR do deals claiming to represent the majority, whilst simultaneously orchestrating the demise of the UKs majority. Like I said these people don’t care about doing deals over fracking protests they have a much bigger state and corporate agenda. People might try and call me a conspiracy theorist to discredit me but I have been at the forefront of this human right to protest front for many years and I have witnessed their discourse first hand. Which is exactly why none of them in Lancashire have challenged the injunction. They can’t because they were behind its creation. Just as TLR was behind trying to create a pen to cage everyone in to until we flawed her plan in the high court right in front of her. Problem is Ruth and Paul won’t report that will they.
Or maybe the time when she (TLR) asked for a longer injunction than even Cuadrilla wanted.
“Great to see such engagement” is respect. However well meaning, there is still no requirement for agreement. That’s democracy for you.
Of course there should be respect for a group who manage to find a way of completing a round trip of 390 miles without any use of fossil fuels!
Some who whinge continuously about democracy seem to want their own little dictatorship. It’s hardly new.
How can you travel 390 miles without any use of fossil fuels?
Why is your problem?
Do you breathe clean air 24 hours a day? Do you drink clean water? Eat clean food? Live in a clean unpolluted environment?
Do we complain if you do that? Call you a hypocrite? Beleive me, i am more than happy to do so if you want to make such a weak wooly logic chopping distinction such as we see here?
How long would you lot last without all these things? Seconds isn’t it? And it’s the same for everyone else isn’t it?
Then why do you wish to destroy that for everyone else?
Why is that?
Is it our fault that the oil and gas industry have monopolised Fossil fuel transport and heating to the point where almost no other alternative is left?
And now that is all that has been available?
But it’s not neccessary is it? It’s all about to change isn’t it?
We know the alternative sources that have been buried for so long don’t we?
Renewable energy sources are the only way forward, that has never been in dispute.
What we need to do now is release this jealously guarded stranglehold from around our throats and build a sustainable renewable technology for all to benefit from.
Not just maintain some miserable miserly get rich quick monopolists and exploiters in the manner to which they have, by mostly foul means, become far too accustomed.
Their days are over and they know it, which is why they can’t survive without overturning democracy and free speech and freedom to protest by enslaving all of us, you included.
The legacy is now too dangerous and unsupportable.
That’s what this is all about.
Hadn’t you noticed?
And all you can do is this cock-a-doodle-doo crowing about daring to use the only means of travel that has not been carefully buried and supressed by these few greedy little parasites who have held the strangulation grip around our neck for far far too long?
What a sorry sad [edited by moderator] display!
walk naked
Good question Michael. Going cross country on horse back is probably about as close as you could get, except for the horse feed production.
For those who wish to undertake such journeys to achieve laughter, love and infectious energy, there is also Glastonbury. But, that is a whole different financial outlay. Need to be a Labour politician to afford that now. Beats filling out your tax form on time, though. Until you get fined.
My Hybrid has clocked up 2200 miles in 6 months-mainly to the local hospital. I still have managed some laughter, love and infectious energy. But, not knocking it. Life is all about choices. You can chose to add to climate change by trundling round the country like hundreds of antis do, or “alternatively”, not.
Here’s one now.