UK Gov and Pro-Fracking Propaganda

**Shabbychic** · 08-Sep-15, 11:48

It has been revealed that the UK Government has spent over £50k of taxpayers money on pro-fracking films. They are being used to promote fracking, with nothing being mentioned about risks to both public health and the environment.

At the same time as David Cameron is cutting support to solar and wind energy, he's happy for cash to be shelled out on films to promote shale gas, and at the taxpayers expense.

**sids** · 08-Sep-15, 12:39

Maybe they hope to get the money back in revenue and national prosperity from cheaper oil.

**theone** · 08-Sep-15, 13:57

Loads of gas, loads of money for the country. If developed properly as it can be, the revenue from oil and gas trapped in shale rock could be immense.

The SNP government don't seem too opposed to fracking at Grangemouth either.

**Shabbychic** · 08-Sep-15, 14:01

What fracking is all about. The SNP do not run, nor have anything to do with that site.

**rob murray** · 08-Sep-15, 14:08

Originally Posted by Shabbychic

What fracking is all about. The SNP do not run, nor have anything to do with that site.

SOrry but sturgeon was in secret talks with the head of the company that owns grangemouth, INEOS, who are into fracking, who also has licences for shale gas exploration across 700 square miles of land in central Scotland and wants to invest £640m in fracking, so with oil prices tanking, the government would need to investigate fracking, issue in headlines is money from fracking in scotland should stay in scotland, not "there will be no fracking in SCotland".

**theone** · 08-Sep-15, 14:10

If fracking is so bad, why are the SNP not against
it in Scotland?

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a...g#.Ve7dTBBwbqA

http://m.heraldscotland.com/news/134...d_to_fracking/

**BetterTogether** · 08-Sep-15, 14:34

I can't see a problem with the government spending money on something they are actively supporting.

Does seem a bit hypocritical when we are building storage facilities to keep gas in extracted by fracking in other countries.

Bit of nimbyism going maybe.

We don't mind using the oil and gas extracted by fracking elsewhere but don't want to do it ourselves, I wonder if we transferred that attitude to other industries whether it would be considered ethical or acceptable.

**Shabbychic** · 08-Sep-15, 14:41

Originally Posted by theone

If fracking is so bad, why are the SNP not against
it in Scotland?

http://www.morningstaronline.co.uk/a...g#.Ve7dTBBwbqA

http://m.heraldscotland.com/news/134...d_to_fracking/

The SNP have declared a moratorium on granting planning permission for “unconventional” oil and gas projects that blocked all schemes north of the Border under development. I believe this ban will last however long it takes to carry out a full public consultation on the extraction of shale gas and research into its impact on the environment and public health. This does not imply they are for fracking, nor that they are planning to give the go ahead any time soon, if ever.

**sids** · 08-Sep-15, 17:51

Originally Posted by theone

The SNP government don't seem too opposed to fracking at Grangemouth either.

It would be tragic to see that lovely fishing village despoiled by greedy industry.

**theone** · 08-Sep-15, 18:07

Originally Posted by Shabbychic

The SNP have declared a moratorium on granting planning permission for “unconventional” oil and gas projects that blocked all schemes north of the Border under development. I believe this ban will last however long it takes to carry out a full public consultation on the extraction of shale gas and research into its impact on the environment and public health. This does not imply they are for fracking, nor that they are planning to give the go ahead any time soon, if ever.

Nor does it imply they are against fracking.

With no official stance, we can only examine the evidence available and that is provided the previously quoted articles.

**cptdodger** · 08-Sep-15, 23:19

So, no nuclear, the oil in the North Sea with the best will in the world will not last forever. Coal mines all but closed. Wind power, not sure how successful that's been. Tidal energy, maybe. But what's left? we are going to have to get our power from somewhere.

**squidge** · 09-Sep-15, 07:10

The removal of subsidies from wind, solar etc means it's likely that investors will look elsewhere - pushing investment away from renewables towards fracking and nuclear , stalling research and development, making it harder to set up projects. We have seen a number of Community Energy projects in Scotland, small scale, local projects providing solutions to local energy issues. There are some still in the pipeline. I am concerned that these will be disadvantaged, or have to stop altogether.

Whether you think nuclear and fracking are wonderful or not, there is no doubt that they are 'big business' models, there is no room in either of those industries for small scale community projects that we see with renewables.

It's also worth noting that houses in areas in Scotland designated as suitable for fracking are already finding it more difficult and more expensive to get home insurance and nothing has even started yet!

**BetterTogether** · 09-Sep-15, 07:46

I doubt very much small scale community projects will help keep the lights and heating on for the millions of people who live in larger towns and cities.

**bekisman** · 09-Sep-15, 14:27

Originally Posted by Shabbychic

It has been revealed that the UK Government has spent over £50k of taxpayers money on pro-fracking films. They are being used to promote fracking, with nothing being mentioned about risks to both public health and the environment.

At the same time as David Cameron is cutting support to solar and wind energy, he's happy for cash to be shelled out on films to promote shale gas, and at the taxpayers expense.

Wot? £50,00 of taxpayers money, that's terrible, but not quite as bad as the £1.3 million spent on the 'Scotland's Future' by Holyrood?