Protest outside S Lyon hauliers near Lincoln, 22 February 2019. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Anti-fracking groups took part in protests at six places across England today against the supply chain and funders of the shale gas industry.
Windsor
Model fracking rig in protest outside Centrica’s headquarters in Windsor, 22 February 2019. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Activists assembled a four-metre model of a fracking rig outside the headquarters of Centrica, which has committed £100m to Cuadrilla’s shale gas operation in Lancashire.
Reclaim the Power said this afternoon more than 50 people took part in the protest, which included 80m of piping, fake money and activists role-playing as industry executives.
One activist, Rob, said:
‘We’re coming to the end of one of the coldest months of the year, and millions of families around the UK are forced to choose between heating and eating, as British Gas and others announce yet another price hike this week. Meanwhile, their owners Centrica pumped $16m into expensive fracking operations. We need to move away from the Big Six cartel and demand a better system.’
Lincoln
At the time of writing, a two-person lock-on was continuing to prevent lorries entering or leaving a haulage company, which supplies the oil and gas industry.
Three people were initially arrested at the S Lyon and Son site, at Skellingthorpe, near Lincoln. They were charged under Section 42 of the Criminal Justice and Police Act 2001, accused of causing harassment, alarm or distress. Two people taking part in the lock-on were arrested at about 5.30pm and a further two were arrested outside Lincoln police station’s custody suite at around midnight.
Elizabeth Williams, who was at the protest to provide welfare support, said there were a maximum of 10 people at the protest during day. She said the police presence was disproportionate, with five police tactical support vans and a police car at the scene. She said:
“I was standing opposite the site on the verge with a banner. I wanted to provide reassurance to motorists that this was a peaceful protest, not the scene of a nasty accident. I was told by police to move on with my banner or be arrested.”
Ms Williams said the action had allowed cars to enter and leave the depot.
“I cannot believe that we are being accused of harassment. The staff at the company are laughing and joking. We were often the recipients of harassment and angry jibes.
Lincolnshire Police have confirmed that seven people were arrested and charged following the demonstration at Skellington, near Lincoln.
One person has been charged with common assault. Together with four others, he has also been charged with failing to comply with police requests to leave the area. All five have been bailed to appear at Lincoln Magistrates on March 13.
In addition, one person has been charged with assaulting an emergency worker. Together with one other, she has also been charged with threatening behaviour. The two have been bailed to appear at Lincoln Magistrates on March 14.
Cheshire
Protest at the Sibelco quarry near Congleton in Cheshire
Activists entered the Sibelco sand quarry near Congleton, scaling scaffolding at the quarry and holding a banner saying, Sibelco, Stop Supplying Oil + Gas Firms.
Leeds
Reclaim the Power, Extinction Rebellion and Frack Free Leeds took part in a demonstration outside the branch of HSBC in the city centre.
The bank has a 11% stake in IGas, which has shale gas exploration licences across the east midlands and north west England.
Cambridge
Protest outside HSBC bank in Cambridge, 22 February 2019. Photo: Reclaim the Power
Families held a picnic inside the HSBC bank in Cambridge, while outside there were banners saying, ‘Fossil Banks No Thanks’.
Bristol
Protest outside SSE depot in Bristol, 22 February 2019. Photo: Reclaim the Power
More than 50 people were reported to have taken part in an event at the depot of Scottish energy company, SSE. They objected to the company planning to build three new gas-fired power stations across the UK.
Terry, who took part in the SSE protest, said:
“Building new gas plants will not provide secure, long-term jobs or bring down energy bills; a thriving renewable energy sector will. New gas plants will also blow our carbon targets and lock us into a recklessly dangerous fossil fuel future.”
Jess Farmer, from the campaign group, Reclaim the Power, said:
‘Fracking companies like Cuadrilla are polluting local communities and ignoring the force of democratic opinion against them.
“We’re taking action today across the UK to highlight the crucial role Centrica and HSBC play in funding fracking, locking us into fossil fuel dependency and climate breakdown.
“It’s time for companies to realise that they cannot continue with business as usual. Local communities need clean, affordable and publicly-owned energy in warm, well-insulated homes. To tackle climate change we must put an immediate end to fracking and focus on creating a just transition away from fossil fuel that puts workers in polluting industries at the centre of the conversation.”
27/2/19 Report updated with details of charges arising from the demonstration near Lincoln
Categories: Opposition
DRILL OR DROP? 
Rob seems to have missed the warm weather experienced in the UK this month!
My gas usage is way down-but I will still have to pay my bit (part of £500m per year) to subsidise excessive electricity prices from just ONE wind farm.
A lot of eating could be managed on £500m a year.
Subsidies….what subsidies?
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2019/feb/23/eu-offers-lucrative-tax-breaks-to-firm-of-billionaire-brexiter
Sherwulfe
Indeed, though the article notes that ‘many ( of the tax breaks) are linked to policies designed to accelerate the transition towards renewable energy’.
I guess Mr Jim is as happy to relieve the EU of cash in order to subsidise renewable energy as he is to help them subsidise fossil fuel, just as long as he gets tax breaks.
Indeed, maybe that is why the EU spends more subsidising renewables, they are just shovelling into the pockets of companies such as INEOS?
The company also gets a rebate to provide a level playing field for energy hungry industries, but it is not clear in the guardian report whether all the tax breaks are linked to rebates ( which are linked to policies designed to accelerate the transition to renewable energy by subsidising it ).
But either way, I am sure Mr Jim is happy to get rich from chemicals, fossil fuel, renewables, fashion, cars or what have you.
The report also calls jim the ‘fracking mogul’. I think they have got a bit carried away, for a company without one fracked well in the UK. What will the observer call Francis Egan … maybe the god of fracking?
The UK has the biggest fossil fuel subsidies in the UK, as described in this article.
https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2019/jan/23/uk-has-biggest-fossil-fuel-subsidies-in-the-eu-finds-commission
This includes massive tax breaks and government money for fracking.
Oh, and there’s also the small matter of the impending climate catastrophe, which pro-frackers like Martin never seem to really care about.
Did you read the article Ellie:
“A significant part of the UK fossil fuel subsidies identified by the commission is the 5% rate of VAT on domestic gas and electricity, cut from the standard 20%.”
What do you think the VAT rate on renewables generated electricity and bio gas for domestic use are? The same 5%. But the renewables then get the FIT / ROC / CFD rate on top, all greater than 100% of the market rate. So which is being subsidised more PER equivalent unit.
What percentage of the price you pay for your diesel / petrol for your car is tax? 58p a litre or 87%. Plus 20% VAT. Looks like a great subsidy / tax break doesn’t it? Perhaps you don’t have a car or gas central heating or you are off grid. But most people do.
You are quite correct Ellie, below is a more direct report from Desmog and shows some of the hidden incentives for fossil fuel subsidies in UK.
We have had this discussion before haven’t we Paul?
What is often not mentioned is the UKEF funding loans to fossil fuel operations here and around the world which is yet another hidden subsidy that renewable energy does not receive, and then the withdrawal of tax breaks for wind and solar energy abd the lack of equivalent funding and stifling investment and research into renewable sources, funding for institutions and university grants and “influencing” fossil fuel support by direct connections with ex industry “experts” as we have seen.
Then there is government lobbying organisations who arrange “special” privileged access to key government MPs and bodies, NGOs and anyone with influence.
There is a whole hidden swathe of fossil fuel industry back door funded support that gets triggered whenever its needed. As we have seen only too clearly recently.
And then of course the 800% increase in taxes on solar panels….
Did you contact the source of that report by the way Paul? What did she say?
This is the Desmog report that part of the Guardian article was sourced from and details the UKEF:
read:https://www.desmog.co.uk/2018/06/04/uk-worst-g7-countries-hiding-fossil-fuel-subsidies-report/
Then we have the very timely scrapping of the price capping that was much vaunted as a boon only months before and then mysteriously torn up and thrown away.
The lists go on and on.
Not so cut and dried is it.
Price capping? I assume you mean on domestic energy bills – did you forget these include renewables – one of the reasons the prices needed capping….The
Desmog:
https://www.desmog.co.uk/2019/02/05/uk-support-overseas-fossil-fuels-inconsistent-1-5c-limit-academics-tell-mps
https://www.edie.net/news/9/Britain-spent–twice-as-much-on-overseas-fossil-fuels-as-renewables-/
Who is telling porkies? Desmog or edie? You or edie? Cut and dried?
Ellie is talking about in the UK.
So you agree with my comment and content – thank you.
“A significant part of the UK fossil fuel subsidies identified by the commission is the 5% rate of VAT on domestic gas and electricity, cut from the standard 20%.”
What do you think the VAT rate on renewables generated electricity and bio gas for domestic use are? The same 5%. But the renewables then get the FIT / ROC / CFD rate on top, all greater than 100% of the market rate. So which is being subsidised more PER equivalent unit.
What percentage of the price you pay for your diesel / petrol for your car is tax? 58p a litre or 87%. Plus 20% VAT. Looks like a great subsidy / tax break doesn’t it? Perhaps you don’t have a car or gas central heating or you are off grid. But most people do.
Dear me. A bit of an overemotional reaction there perhaps Paul?
Where do I agree with your comment Paul? Looks like quite the opposite to me. Or is that one of those “porkies” you mentioned? Never could stand the things myself, but apparently some favour them as the mass media fake news pre processed alternative to the reality of truth these days.
It is always fascinating to see how these responses to unwelcome truth is indicative of how the closer to the truth we get the more angry the response.
Never mind, we will leave the “porky pies” to the fossil fuel corporations since they perfected that ruse back in the 1980’s when Exxon and Shell supressed their own scientists conclusions that reliance on fossil fuels will create irreversible climate change and has done just that since.
That was also a Desmog investigative report. All true of course, maybe that explains such a reaction?
BTW, you didn’t answer Paul about the response from the lady who reported that 800% increase in tax on solar panels by the way Paul, perhaps you would like me to do your research for you again? It will be a pleasure Paul, anything to smooth the way to the truth must be a good thing mustn’t it?
UK loan finance of the fossil fuel industry here and abroad is still a UK government and tax payer subsidised practice Paul, and has a return effect to the UK, and hence is an indirect, but substantial support of the fossil fuel industry in UK too. That is clearly not just an overseas issue at all is it, it is UK based, funded and initiated here and returns here.
We are always told by the anti antis how little renewable energy is producing in the UK but when financing and government subsidies of fossil fuels are so clearly shown up, suddenly we are told it’s subsidised support for renewables too, but of course by your own reasoning, the balance is far in excess for the fossil fuel industry since the proportion of fossil fuels to renewables is so unbalanced in favour of fossil fuels, and equivilent funding and support for renewables is stifled, so that argument fails too doesn’t it.
Sorry old thing, no porkies just better more accurate information.
The climate change disaster has now hit the fossil fuel industry fan club and that has undermined support for the entire industry across the world and here in the UK.
Inevitably people are beginning to re evaluate everything about the fossil fuel industry that they thought was previously unapproachable, unimpeachable and sacrosanct. And that is why all these long concealed skeletons are falling out of the closet.
There are many more skeletons in the fossil fuel closet yet to reach the light of day, but the process is unstoppable now, even the children are saying so.
Sent from my Windows 10 device
“We are always told by the anti antis how little renewable energy is producing in the UK but when financing and government subsidies of fossil fuels are so clearly shown up, suddenly we are told it’s subsidised support for renewables too, but of course by your own reasoning, the balance is far in excess for the fossil fuel industry since the proportion of fossil fuels to renewables is so unbalanced in favour of fossil fuels, and equivilent funding and support for renewables is stifled, so that argument fails too doesn’t it.”
You are having maths problems again PhilC. We are agreed that domestic electricity and gas are rated at 5% VAT oil and gas / nuclear or renewables generated? Then add on the FITs / ROCS / CFDs – to renewables only.
So total cumulative VAT “subsidy” will be higher for oil and gas (and coal) than renewables because they generate more Kwhrs / heating than renewables, no problem agreeing to this.
And total FITs / ROCS / CFDs for renewable,soften 500% of the wholesale price, is greater than for oil and gas and coal as fossil fuels receive zero of these huge bungs.
The 800% increase in tax on solar panels is an incease in business rates to the norm i.e removal of subsidy which is fair enough as we keep hearing that renewables can compete on a stand alone basis now. It affects business rates therefore not domestic households and is minor in the scale of energy production and costs..
Like “porky pies” (lies), I tend to leave that to the people such as yourself that consider such onerous attempts as “having maths problems” being little more than a laughable substitute for adult “debate”.
However….
“The 800% increase in tax on solar panels is an incease (increase) in business rates to the norm i.e removal of subsidy which is fair enough as we keep hearing that renewables can compete on a stand alone basis now. It affects business rates therefore not domestic households and is minor in the scale of energy production and costs.”
Given equal investment and support, the renewal sources of energy in UK would be able to compete on an equal footing with fossil fuel resources, however, unfortunately, before the renewable resources were able to compete on an equal basis, something they could well have achieved, they were crippled and stifled financially and incentively by the far too early removal of support and investment incentives in the UK, whereas fossil fuel resources were encouraged and almost fanatically supported against public opposition at every available opportunity by that same government.
That was clearly done by government, presumably under the influence of massive lobbying by the fossil fuel industry, to prevent renewable resources ever reaching an alternative to fossil fuels.
Also, where is the Renewable Energy Minister? Where is the Renewable Energy Association?
Where is the Renewable Energy Commissioner spokesperson? Where is the Climate Change Emergency Minister? Where is The Climate Change Association? Where is the commitment towards transforming the UK energy resources to systematic transformation towards a totally renewable resources future?
Plenty of empty words and promises, yes, but action?
No, nothing at all that actually changes one tiny policy into a real change to a renewable future.
But the reverse? Yes, fossil fuels seem to be the only subject that actually recorded any real support.
Did you miss this PhilC? Been going a very long time although there was a name change a few years ago. Surprisingly they lobby Government… Note the sponsors:
https://www.renewableuk.com/default.aspx
“RenewableUK members are building our future energy system, powered by clean electricity.
We bring them together to deliver that future faster; a future which is better for industry, billpayers, and the environment. We support over 400 member companies to ensure increasing amounts of renewable electricity are deployed across the UK and access markets to export all over the world. Our members are business leaders, technology innovators, and expert thinkers from right across industry.”
I have even been to one of their wind farm seminars / courses albeit undercover….. they had a lot of problems answering some of my questions truthfully – and then refused to let me have the michrophone…
Did you also miss this?
“The Minister for Clean Growth and Climate Change, Claire Perry, also announced that further CfD auctions will take place every 2 years and that auctions will be supported by a budget of £557m. ”
https://www.renewableuk.com/news/410144/UK-Offshore-wind-capacity-set-to-double-following-Government-announcement-.htm
Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth
The minister is responsible for:
Industrial Strategy
carbon budgets
international climate change, including International Climate Fund
climate science and innovation
green finance
energy efficiency and heat, including fuel poverty
low carbon generation
energy retail markets
smart meters and smart systems
oil and gas, including shale gas
security of supply
electricity and gas wholesale markets and networks
international energy
energy security, including resilience and emergency planning
Ha! Ha! What a joke! No Paul i didnt miss all that, I just discounted it, but this is a very interesting report:
Callous or Calamitous? … the UK Climate Minister Pulls the Rug from Under 1.5°C. January 22, 2019
https://www.resilience.org/stories/2019-01-22/callous-or-calamitous-the-uk-climate-minister-pulls-the-rug-from-under-1-5c/
“The Minister then proceeds to toughen her preference for near-term Party politics over robust analysis and honest debate when, in bold, she orders the ‘independent’ CCC to inform on “long term” targets, and later in the letter, what needs to be done “by 2050”. Nowhere does she acknowledge the IPCC’s recent call for drastic reductions in emissions by 2030 if we are to have any chance of meeting our 1.5°C commitment.
But is any of this really unexpected? And perhaps more importantly, why have this government been allowed the space and time to embellish their climate rhetoric whilst forcing through high-carbon fracking, airport expansion and stifling solar pv and onshore wind.”
Dear Claire Perry Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth with an add on for Climate Change. Not for one second did i miss her….I blinked and she faded away without a word to the public in a puff of increased temperature.
Perhaps the clue to this increase to a long, very long term strategy, for 2050, is Claire Perry who is also Minister of State for Energy and Clean Growth, with responsibilities for:
Industrial Strategy (industry)
carbon budgets (carbon tax and exchange in other words and we know about budgets dont we, just figures plucked from thin air, sorry, thin CO2. incidentally i notice methane isn’t mentioned anywhere here)
international climate change, including International Climate Fund (note: International Climate Change International Climate Fund:
https://icai.independent.gov.uk/report/uks-international-climate-fund/
all overseas projects, not here in UK and was a five year fund 2011 to 2016, i dont see 2019 or even further to 2050 there)
Not i might add yet an independent Renewable Energy Minister. Nor a Renewable Energy Association. Nor a Renewable Energy Commissioner spokesperson equivalent to the very silent Natasha Engel. Not an independent Climate Change Emergency Minister (except as an add on for Claire perry). No Climate Change Association. Where is the commitment towards transforming the UK energy resources to systematic transformation towards a totally renewable resources future up to and beyond 2050?
It continues:
climate science and innovation (climate science you notice, not climate change stability or reversal, we may study the science but do nothing about it)
green finance (finance)
energy efficiency and heat, including fuel poverty (interesting how they threw away the insulation funding strategy after they handed it to cowboys who ransacked it for all they could get and as for fuel poverty they say themselves there is no energy poverty, but what there is, is financial poverty and that could be changed at the stroke of a pen to end poverty, but the government will not do that, in fact they have scrapped the domestic fuel cap and let the energy retailer charge the domestic public what they like)
low carbon generation (then why continue the support fossil fuels and overrule local objections?)
energy retail markets (finance again, we have seen how at the stroke of a pen this government scrapped the domestic fuel price cap)
smart meters and smart systems (they produce microwave radiation, akin to sitting next to a switched on powerful microwave oven without a door and with similar results)
oil and gas, including shale gas (speaks for itself, but contravenes the climate change problem and can you have a Minister that wears both hats? No of course you cant)
security of supply (admitted to be assured and not under threat)
electricity and gas wholesale markets and networks (assured and domestic cap removed and hence penalises the public and supports the suppliers, hardly an incentive for change)
international energy (admitted to be assured and not under threat unless Gavin Williamson upsets someone else)
energy security, including resilience and emergency planning (interesting one that, perhaps Gavin Williamson could upset the Americans, that would not be hard to do after all, just say he is going to send an aircraft carrier to the Pacific – now there is an ocean name worth contemplation?
An aircraft carrier i might add, that wont be ready for years yet because we sold or scrapped our own, and has no aircraft for it anyway because we sold all the Harriers to the Americans and the rubbish replacements aren’t even built yet.
Donald will have a fit and charge us double for oil and gas and that will give this government the excuse they have pushed for all along, which is to frack the bejesus out of the people of the UK.
Look at the wording, everything in that list is in the terminology of money and business, there is nothing to say that anything will change to benefit the population or reverse the collapse into irreversible climate change, or prevent climate change, only to make money from the business opportunities here and abroad that present themselves. Claire Perry seems reluctant to even support the 1.5 degree target.
Where is the Renewable Energy Agency? an independent Renewable Energy Minister with only one official hat, not batting for both sides but only ever supports one. No Renewable Energy Association. No Renewable Energy Commissioner spokesperson. No Climate Change Emergency Minister (except as a convenient cut and paste for Claire Perry). No Climate Change Association.
Where is the commitment towards transforming the UK energy resources to systematic change towards a totally renewable resources future before 2050?
Just words, and no real action to change anything about the energy producing infrastructure whatsoever.
As i have said before, its all about parity and when we see projects like the Swansea tidal project arbitrarily thrown out without attempting to better it and fund investment in renewable resources, and the early reduction in tax support for solar panel to nip that in the bud and the tiny amount of money set aside for renewable resources in comparison to the overwhelming support for fossil fuel energy resources, there can be only one conclusion. It all adds up.
Sorry old thing. This was fun, well a bit sad really.
Did you wear a disguise?
Clearly we speak different langauges and are from different planets PhilC. As I am from planet earth I wonder where you are from?
If Renewables UK is not a “Renewable Energy Association” then what is it.
Please don’t answer.
On the contrary, we both speak the same language, and we both live on Earth, but the difference is, i care for the place and i want to see a viable liveable and even a better environment for the entire planet for everyone and all future generations, we owe them that much.
What i wont do however, is to trash the place in the name of power and profit and to steal the planets resources from our own and future generations to come.
Its called a dichotomy, or yin and yang, or positive and negative, or good and bad, and perhaps ugly.
I know you want that too, but to be seen to protect the industry you support, you will say anything rather than admit you are wrong and we are heading to our own destruction.
It took me a while to catch on to that trend, i am naturally honest, but now i do the same as i see you lot do.
Precisely the same language, precisely the same planet, there is no planet “B”.
I just like the place I dont take it for granted, and i want my children and their children to have that privilege too, and wont see it trashed without speaking out.
I think that says it all, the rest is incidental.
Well good morning everyone, its the eighteenth frack free Sunday the 24th February 2019, and things are moving everywhere, politically here and overseas, look at Venezuela, and who this government supports, just remember Venezuela has more oil and gas reserves than Saudi Arabia and make up your own mind what that is about. here of course, socially everything looks in flux with even children striking for action to prevent further climate change.
We see the bitter rage of the pro frackers trying to jam all those long concealed fossil fuel skeleton worms back in the can and hoping for a bigger can. but perhaps there is no can big enough to contain all those long suppressed skeleton worms from crawling into the light of day?
We shall see.
I came across this song by sheer accident and just loved the sheer genius and cleverness of the lyrics, so i thought i would show it here, with the greatest of apologies to Sage Francis for altering some words here and there.
This is really remarkable and a little long and slightly altered to suit the times, mostly the words speak for themselves, from:
Sage Francis
“The Masters Are Back”
By the time the flags rotted off of their antennas,
They were questioning who the real threat is.
Big Brotherly love is the 21rst Century’s plague.
No matter how oiy the glove, question evidence displayed.
Don’t forget what two plus two equals.
Don’t let them upgrade your maths no matter what they have as proof of evil.
Remember when they went after the forsaken people?
You don’t recognize that same black mask as see through?
Attack of the eagles. If they don’t fall dead
Before they reach me, I’ll be damned if I don’t rap one on it’s bald head.
Frack what we’re force fed. All I ever wanted
Was a warm bed and a house that wasn’t assaulted.
I’d rather die for a cause than to die just because
We exhaust natural resources forced into wars,
Restoring wasteful ways, keeping other countries poor.
“Monkey see, Monkey do” I wonder what those fracking monkeys saw.
Keep rethinking the still-frames in your mind,
And guarantee they will change with time.
Your outline is pix-elated with poor resolution while
Downtime is simply wasted. You were born execution style.
Head first in a trial. I’ll second the motion
‘Til the jury’s bored to death and puts your neck in a notion.
The situation’s volatile. A protest problem child
Is speaking to show their scary clown costumes to make her father smile
So she truth bombs while rather than tell jokes.
This ain’t a false alarm, can’t you smell the smoke?
You’re in the line of fire where they buy and sell votes.
Our sense of liberty doesn’t ring true, stupid, that’s why the bell broke.
Trench coat Mafiosos propel stocks
At recruitment officers and cartel against cops
‘Til they hurdle infinite circles in small cell blocks.
Turtle upon turtle ’til they’re all Exxon/Shell shocked.
This so-called president got elected in a court room.
With the war efforts of pops he inherited a fortune.
We “talk, talk, talk…” so the veterans of war assume
The revolution stopped. This ain’t a protest tune.
“Hey, Bobby…the Masters are back. They’re up to no good just like the old days.
They played dead when you stood over their enclave, Bobby. They played dead when you stood over their enclave.
“Hey, Bobby…them b(@)stards are back. It’s our turn to stand over their enclave.
I’m a do it right this time…I’m awake…I’m a wait until their frackin’ spin decays.”
You can’t roam a lost land as the last existing dinosaur.
There’s no escaping ass kickings in these times of war,
Replacing apples with hospitals…where doctors are hostile,
Killing two pterodactyls with one fossil fuel.
I got you. If they don’t fall dead
Before they reach me, I’ll be damned if I don’t crack one on it’s bald head.
Frack what we’re force fed. All we ever wanted,
Was a warm bed…and house that wasn’t shunted.
Thumb through novels to have your fingerprints match,
The description of criminals committing innocent acts
Of compassion for tired civilians crawling with pistols,
While we fire million dollar warning missals.
Force the issues in the back of your head where eyes roll.
Brain wash yourself out of that mind control.
Or act a fool like you’re told.
But we won’t see no type of justice ’til that Wytch removes the blindfold.
This ain’t a “Love it or leave it,” it’s a “Change it or lose it.”
I’ll never sing the anthem of a nation who never faces the music,
Chasing an ever-elusive caveman
In space ships that makes trips to the futures that are name-brand.
Fracking progress…but we ain’t advanced
Enough to change the posture of our ape stance?
They’ve got the key to the city but they prefer the break-in entry.
Duck and weave, I’m shedding light in their shadow box to make it empty.
“Hey, Bobby…the Masters are back. They’re up to no good just like the old days.
They played dead when you stood over their enclave, Bobby. They played dead when you stood over their enclave.
“Hey, Bobby…them b(@)stards are back. It’s our turn to stand over their enclave.
I’m a do it right this time…I’m awake…I’m a waitin ’til their frackin’ spin decays.”
Attack of the eagles. If they don’t fall dead
Before they reach me, I’ll be damned if I don’t crack one on it’s bald head.
Frack what we’re force fed. All we ever wanted
Was a warm bed…
There’s nothing scarier than the human stories I tell ghosts,
Chilling accounts with my tongue frozen to bed posts.
The catharses of carcasses whenever threats are close,
Shows a heartlessness that doesn’t register on stethoscopes.
Sell your hopes for a homeland security chart,
‘Til your sense of self is broke and no man’s pure in the heart.
Preventive detention for the folks who never left home.
Tensions have grown into a 24/7 red zone.
Scare tactics…have got you under control,
The fear factors of a colour code. The uppers know
They can’t hold you down without having anchors attached.
“It’s all the same.” Nah, balls and chains on ankles don’t match.
So drag your torso back to the off road.
We may have lost the fashion battle but we ain’t lost the wardrobe.
Go window shopping for your next free meal,
’cause when we start the revolution all you’ll probably do is steal.
“Hey, Bobby…the Masters are back. They’re up to no good just like the old days.
They played dead when you stood over their enclave, Bobby. They played dead when you stood over their enclave.
“Hey, Bobby…them b(@)stards are back. It’s our turn to stand over their enclave.
I’m a do it right this time…I’m awake…I’m a wait until their fracking spin decays.”
Have a great Sunday with family and friends, the sun is shining here so we are off for a walk and then out to lunch i hope you all have a good day.
Ellie, i only know one pro-fracker who disagrees with the evidence showing CO2 emissions is a major driver for climate change. For the avoidance of doubt, most of us who think fracking in the UK is a good thing do so because we know that it’s the safest way to extract gas, it has lower CO2 emissions that importing it and we are going to be reliant on gas for at least 20 years so it’s better to produce our own rather than buy it from overseas. Many of us also spend a lot of our time working on projects to reduce CO2 emissions; indeed one person who comments on this page received an MBE partly due to his work on CO2 storage. The people chaining themselves to the gates are deluding in thinking that they are doing more for the environment than many of us who are pro-fracking.
Oh we do Ellie. Sorry but patronising others will not wash. What I care about is the nonsensical solutions to climate change that are proposed by some for others to pay the price for, and then find they were a load of tosh.(Remember dieselgate? If not, ask reaction.)
Meanwhile, UK imports of oil and gas will continue to increase, and much of that will come from fracking in the USA. So, the Americans can tax those exports to kindly UK and they can utilise that tax to help some eat and heat in USA. Rob would be in his element.
“Massive tax breaks and government money for fracking”????
Err-no. Tiny in comparison to some alternatives. Wind turbines that used to provide £150k net profit each/year, whether producing, or not! Now, that is a tax break! No wonder they were gleefully accepted by some wise and now more wealthy land owners. Or, take a look at the good old alternative scheme to burn wood pellets in N.Ireland. Not only a commercial nonsense, but came close to creating a really nasty political conflict.
Now, if you want a really effective move, lets convert all diesel trains and buses to hydrogen. Technology exists, other countries are doing much of the development work already. Only thing is to sort where all that hydrogen could come from. (Well, no it isn’t because that is already sorted-but, you don’t like the answer.)
I will keep my mind open on that, Ellie. Others can read the Guardian.
I invested several thousand pounds in a small hydro project, about 1% of the cost for a 100kw generator. The only reason the project was viable was the subsidy we got through the feed-in-tariff. The scheme can sell every unit of electricity for 41p, this can then be sold on for 14p. Now that is a subsidy. We have looked at other sites in the area but none are viable because of the FIT changes. When you talk about the oil and gas industry being subsidised please remember that it has been a MAJOR contributor to government revenues over the last 30 years.
David – most people won’t know what the wholesale price of electrcity is at less than 5p / kwhr. Your hydro is making serious money from the tax payers – us….Even the 12p/kwhr on my green energy contract is dwarfed by this.
A reminder of some of the spending’s of an inexperienced UK shale start up company.
‘Cuadrilla and its partners have burnt through at least £60 million in their Lancashire shale gas operations before even beginning fracking’.
https://www.thetimes.co.uk/article/cuadrilla-spends-all-centricas-funds-dhrsr682t
There is the failed Preese Hall well costs, the cost of being forced to shut down the Becconsall site with it’s extensive seismic monitor stations (all of which are now shut down), the cost of the failed Annas Rd site, the Singleton site, and the cost of having Roseacre refused and the 9 year delay of starting.
And still no commercial gas.
What a fantastic portfolio to present to get more investment.
Almost as fantastic as Tesla, John.
15 years and still finding profit a mirage. Dividends? No chance. Fines for misleading the market, senior staff leaving on a regular basis and others being made redundant in a desperate bid to keep the thing going. Product being produced declared by Mr.Musk as still too expensive for the majority -including reaction.
Yep, tosh, seems to be apt.
‘Almost as fantastic as Tesla, John.’
Looks like Tesla is a ‘tad’ ahead of Cuadrilla
Not a tad ahead in terms of making a profit John!
Maybe both will one day, maybe neither.
Start up costs are common to both. Your “enthusiasm” to promote such costs only apply to fossil fuel is understandable, but inaccurate.
Pictures of factories are not a recipe for success-take a look at Swindon.
Damn
I missed the Skellingthorpe protest. It would have been a nice chance to chat.
The trouble is tho ( in the Co Op ) is that the skellingthorpe public are some of the drivers, but seen as fat capitalists in the cartoon shown. So a few were upset, as trucking is not making people as rich as some industries ( which then fed into a brexit discussion, and a perceived political stitch up ), so time to go.
Looking for the protests against Greater Manchester County Council???
They have £Billion pound invested in fracking…
Any protests???
Maybe I missed the news…
Looks like an industry on it’s last legs? All forecasts showing increasing global demand for oil and gas into late 2030’s (oil) and 2040’s gas. Only 550 exploration wells being drilled offshore next year? And increasing year on year. Clearly the protests the other day are having a major impact.
https://www.offshore-mag.com/articles/2018/12/offshore-drilling-market-recovery-expected-in-2021.html
[Image removed over possible copyright issues]
‘Looks like an industry on it’s last legs?’
Let’s have a look at the country we live in.
BEIS 2017
‘Use of gas as a primary fuel is 17% lower in 2025 than in EEP 2016 because of the reduced final consumption of gas described previously and lower gas consumption for electricity generation. However demand met by renewables and waste is 26% higher in 2025 compared to EEP 2016.’
Click to access Updated_energy_and_emissions_projections_2017.pdf
With home grown North sea gas on the rise and the UK gas needs reducing I doubt that expensive inaccessible UK shale has got any chance especially with the continuing growth of renewables.
Global picture JP. Not UK. The article is not for you – it is for those on this BB concerned about global climate change and their forecast of imminent collapse of oil and gas demand. Ribble Valley / onshore UK shale irrelevant to the big picture.
John. Could you tell us where you are getting the idea that North sea gas is on the rise?
Interesting that you have to look elsewhere to see that some of these souls are now charged with assault. Must be poor journalism.
Could you supply some links for this please, Martin
Reported by Lincolnite. You will find a link within Igas associated news.