In this week’s listings
- Decision expected on Ineos plans for shale gas exploratory drilling at Bramleymoor Lane in Derbyshire;
- First anniversary of Green Monday protests at Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site;
- Latest release of data in government public attitudes to fracking survey;
- Start of Lancashire lorry surfing trial;
- Regional anti-fracking strategy meeting for South Yorkshire and the East Midlands;
- EarthFirst summer gathering
- Plus meetings, gatherings and information events.
Diary for August 2018 and beyond. Please let us know here if you’d like us to add your events or if any details are wrong.
Monday 13 August 2018
Trial at Preston Crown Court of campaigners who took part in a lorry surfing protest lasting up to four days near Cuadrilla’s shale gas site in July 2017. 9am gathering outside the court. 10am trial scheduled to begin. Preston Combined Court Centre, The Law Courts, Openshaw Place, Ringway, Preston PR1 2LL.
First anniversary Green Monday at Preston New Road shale gas site. Speakers include former Green Party leader, Natalie Bennett and Asad Rehman, Executive Director of War on Want, previously head of international climate at Friends of the Earth. 10am-1pm, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE. Details
Frack Free Notts monthly meeting. 7pm-9.30pm, Lincolnshire Poacher, Mansfield Road NG1 3FR. Details
Tuesday 14 August 2018
Monthly gathering of Eastbourne and District Friends of the Earth. 7pm-9pm, Eastbourne Town Hall, Grove Road, Eastbourne BN21 4UG. Details
Frack Free Ecclesfield & Chapeltown meeting. 7.30pm, Ecclesfield Library, High St, Ecclesfield, Sheffield S35 9UA. Details
Frack Free Tinker Lane meeting. 7.30pm, Red Hart Hotel, Bawtry Road, Blyth S81 8HG. Details
Wednesday 15 August 2018
Women’s Call march and vigil. 9.30am-10.30am, Maple Farm, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE. Details
Earth First! Summer Gathering 2018. Five days of skill-sharing for grassroots ecological direct action on fracking, new roads and more. Runs until Tuesday 21 August 2018, Horsham. Details and link to tickets
Thursday 16 August 2018
Expected decision on Ineos plans for exploratory drilling at Bramleymoor Lane in Derbyshire. To be confirmed. Details
Publication of Energy and Climate Change Public Attitudes Tracker. Findings from Wave 26 survey published at 9.30am. Link
Earth First! Summer Gathering 2018. Five days of skill-sharing for grassroots ecological direct action on fracking, new roads and more. Runs until Tuesday 21 August 2018, Horsham. Details and link to tickets
Frack Free Misson weekly meeting. 7.30pm, The Angel Inn, Dame Lane, Misson, Nottinghamshire DN10 6EB.
Friday 17 August 2018
Black Friday outside Cuadrilla’s Preston New Road shale gas site. 10am, Preston New Road, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE. Details
Earth First! Summer Gathering 2018. Five days of skill-sharing for grassroots ecological direct action on fracking, new roads and more. Runs until Tuesday 21 August 2018, Horsham. Details and link to tickets
Saturday 18 August 2018
Knitting and crochet day by Frack Free Tinker Lane. 9.30am, Tinker Lane gates, A634 Retford Road, Nottinghamshire. Details
Second regional strategy meeting for South Yorkshire and East Midlands groups. 10am, The Wesley Centre, Blyth Road, Maltby, Rotherham S66 8JD. Details
Frack Free Ryedale stall at Rosedale Show. 10am, Milburn Arms Field at Rosedale Abbey
Solidarity Saturday at Preston New Road. 10am, Maple Farm, Little Plumpton, near Blackpool PR4 3PE. Details
Earth First! Summer Gathering 2018. Five days of skill-sharing for grassroots ecological direct action on fracking, new roads and more. Runs until Tuesday 21 August 2018, Horsham. Details and link to tickets
Reclaim the Power National Gathering at Earth First! Summer Gathering. 10am, Broadwater Lane, Nuthurst, Horsham RH13 6QU. Details
Sunday 19 August 2018
Multi-faith service and picnic led by Rev Deborah Hodgson. Gates to IGas Tinker Lane site, Retford Road (A634), Nottinghamshire DN22 8PA. Details
Earth First! Summer Gathering 2018. Five days of skill-sharing for grassroots ecological direct action on fracking, new roads and more. Runs until Tuesday 21 August 2018, Horsham. Details and link to tickets
Reclaim the Power National Gathering at Earth First! Summer Gathering. 10am, Broadwater Lane, Nuthurst, Horsham RH13 6QU. Details
Categories: Diary
DRILL OR DROP? 
Just an opportunity to draw your contributors attention to the World Health Organisation’s recent report on the health effects of indoor pollution, especially in the Third World..
“Around 3 BILLION people cook using polluting open fires or simple stoves fuelled by kerosene, biomass (wood, animal dung and crop waste) and coal.
Each year, close to 4 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to household air pollution from inefficient cooking practices using polluting stoves paired with solid fuels and kerosene.
Household air pollution causes noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
Close to half of deaths due to pneumonia among children under 5 years of age are caused by particulate matter (soot) inhaled from household air pollution.
Clearly indoor pollution is a problem caused by the burning of both fossil fuels and “renewable” or “organic” fuels. What is clear however is that the replacement of these fuels either by electricity or natural gas would make a significant contribution to both Third World economic development and also have a significant health benefit.