Fracking is a term that is almost part of our daily parlance now. A story in today’s edition of the journal.ie (see link: http://www.thejournal.ie/senator-says-we-should-allow-fracking-to-create-jobs-332350-Jan2012/) reveals that Independent Irish Senator Feargal Quinn, a former supermarket tycoon, has come out in support of fracking in the Irish Republic for the purposes of job creation and in the hope that billions of euros worth of natural gas will flow.
It is an issue dogged by controversy as there is a cancer scare associated with it, unproven as of yet. Anti-fracking protesters are regularly congregating in halls across America, England (Blackpool) and other places around the globe including Fermanagh.
In order to get to the bottom of the allegations, claims and counter claims on this controversial issue I am joined by the leading authority on fracking in these lands, Dr Alastair Ruffell.
Dr Ruffell (pictured below), a reader in the School of Geography, Archaeology and Palaeoecology at Queen’s University Belfast, outlines in detail the process of fracking and evaluates any potential health and environmental risks flowing from it.
4 Comments
One of the first reasoned and clear overviews on fracking. Stripped of hyperbole and over-reaction. Many Thanks.
Some of the silliest questions ever asked around the technology of fracking i’ve ever heard. No questions on where the vast volumes toxic water residue will be stored after the fracking occurs, nothing on how it will effect our tourist market, no mention of countries who have banned fracking, just simple questions that require simple answers. Eamon mentioned his “ignorance” several times during this interview – he really shouldn’t have, his lack of knowledge was quite apparent. Unless one is prepared to ask intelligent questions that challanges someone from a pro fracking perspective the interview will be a complete waste of time, just like this one was. Eamonn, they say if you get the name of an early riser you can lie in bed till dinner time – i’d think hard on those words!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTDml0kDlEI. There are risks and not enough scientific rigour yet applied to this and indeed it isn’t long term…….. am not yet convinced of the good Dr’s arguments simply because we need to factor in the makers of quick bucks and the need for greater research and regulation.
Plenty of anti-fracking protesters congregating here and there – don’t see too many victims – oops, sorry, they’re either crippled or dead.