A sculpture of Chief Seattle at Memphis Zoo. Photo: Dave Barger / flickr CC.
Silence in the midst of noise
Wendy Pattinson writes about the witness of Friends in North West England against fracking
The issues around fracking and other forms of new and intensive fossil fuel extraction can be divisive, with serious moral and ethical dimensions which Quakers are engaged with. Meeting for Sufferings considered the matter from the perspective of climate justice and issued their discerned statement in February 2017:
For some years Quakers in Britain have worked to advocate for climate justice in our central work and Meetings. In 2011 we committed to “speak truth to power” on sustainability issues. We have faith that we can tackle climate change and build a more sustainable future, but we know this is only possible if fossil fuels remain underground.
At this time we are particularly concerned about the expansion of fracking for shale gas. The UK needs to be investing in efficient and renewable energy, and reducing demand, not in additional fossil fuels. Fracked gas is not the low-carbon solution some suggest that it is and is incompatible with tackling the climate crisis. It is destructive of the environment, land and communities.
Quakers call for a ban on new and intensive forms of fossil fuel extraction, known as “unconventional” techniques, including fracking for shale gas and oil, and underground coal gasification.
Concerns
The issues are complex and fall into two main categories: environmental and social/economic.
Environmental concerns include: those around fossil fuels and climate change referred to in the statement above, pollution of groundwater by chemicals used in fracking, gas emissions such as methane (a powerful greenhouse gas) released into the atmosphere, earthquakes, use of water, the storage and disposal of effluent, infrastructure with many sites developed and used only for a short time, traffic and noise.
The economic and social concerns are closely linked. The businesses developing sites are, I believe, of doubtful viability. They appear to be set up around paying dividends to shareholders and may have a dubious relationship with the banks. There are concerns that these businesses are unlikely to be around to clean up the mess they make, as sites are only productive for a short period, and any jobs created are unlikely to benefit local communities and instead use transitory workers.
The development of sites, also, could lead to the ‘urbanisation’ of rural areas. Fracking is unlikely to bring down fuel bills or reduce inequality.
The matter is further complicated by the fact that many of us depend heavily on imported fossil fuels, so we need to be mindful of destructive practices relating to their extraction worldwide. Rejecting these technologies in Britain while continuing to use fossil fuels could simply mean that their extraction, and the damage it would bring, would occur elsewhere. There are moratoria, for example, on these technologies in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Lancashire
Two years ago Lancashire County Council, having consulted local people and taken evidence, turned down applications for exploratory fracking wells at two sites. However, the decision to refuse permission for the site at Preston New Road near Blackpool, on The Fylde, was overturned on appeal by the secretary of state for communities and local government.
From opposing this development through the planning process, resistance to the development of this site and technology has been continued by local people and campaigners from further afield. Prominent among the protesters, who prefer to call themselves protectors, are the ‘Nanas’, who oppose fracking in recognition of the impact it is likely to have on the world of their grandchildren – thus thinking of the impact on the second generation, and a step towards the seventh generation in a saying attributed to Chief Seattle (1786-1866), the Suquamish and Duwamish Native American Indian leader.
Friends in the area have also been concerned and some have joined the protests from the early stages. I’m not much of an activist but had been following what was happening. I eventually managed to join the protest at Preston New Road with two other Friends on a stormy day in June. There is now a group of Friends from our Area Meeting and beyond who go there regularly. We are a visible Quaker presence in our customised T-shirts, high-visibility vests and colourful banners.
Silence amidst noise
A key part of our presence as Quakers is our holding Meeting for Worship there. On Saturday 7 July there were more than a hundred protesters, a PA system playing music, horns tooting, bustle, chatter, and traffic passing in both directions as we gathered, joined by some other protesters, on a refuge area in the middle of the road.
Amidst all that noise we settled into a deep, gathered silence. Did the noise make our silence deeper? Or was it our sense of connection with all the lovely, concerned people around us, striving to protect the future of land, water and planet for future generations? All I know is that the worship was very deep.
Being involved
There are different ways of being involved in the protest. The most basic one is simply being there, prayerfully bearing witness. We have been told by other protesters that they really value our quiet presence.
When a lorry is about to come onto the site, some go to the gate and do what they can to obstruct its passage, getting moved out of the way by police, but many Friends prefer not to do this.
One Friend joyfully waves a placard saying ‘Honk for Support’ and smiles at motorists as they drive by in the twenty miles per hour zone. If they support our action they are able to convey this by honking or waving, but they can also convey negative feelings about the protest. The important thing is that these people matter and are taking part.
The national struggle to stop fracking goes on, with a current focus here in Lancashire. We urge any Friends, who feel able, to consider supporting protests, either here or in your local area, in any way you can. In a Meeting, some Friends may feel able to protest in person and those who don’t feel able to could contribute by writing letters, making banners or baking food to share.
Friends can also support organisations working against fracking; one is mounting a judicial challenge that requires funding and another has set up a fund to pay protesters’ fines.
Further information: lyndyv@googlemail.com
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