For the second time in a month, anti-fracking campaigners have targeted the proposed fracking site in Hesketh Bank, Lancashire. Rising Tide activists from Bristol made the long journey up north with their bikes and have stormed the rig, climbing on to drilling equipment and halting works. As SchNEWS goes to press the three plucky protesters are settling down in hammocks and warm clothes for a night atop the rig in 4 degree temperatures. A man and a woman were arrested on site, on suspicion of aggravated trespass and are now in custody. A banner drop was made from the drill, only to ripped down by a Cuadrilla cherry picker - but those on the rig have vowed to stay for as long as possible to disrupt operations.
See http://www.frack-off.org.uk, www.risingtide.org.uk/bristol, and https://twitter.com/#!/BrisRisingTide for more info.
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In America, the fracking issue remains top of the climate agenda, and has become a symbol of people vs. corporations in many ways. Over 100 cities and numerous states have banned any fracking operations until more research into the damaging effects of the process have been done.
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Not one to be left out of the latest energy extraction fad, no matter how polluting, is China. In a recent government announcement, the country has pledged to employ the technique as part of an effort to reach an output of 450 million tons of oil and natural gas by 2030, a 62% increase on 2010.