Category: Media

Same shit – different shovel! The NWETF gets a reboot

Same shit – different shovel! The NWETF gets a reboot

We learned this week that Lancashire for Shale, a new pro-shale group funded by local businesses and industry, held its launch reception yesterday evening (25th July 2016) for Lancashire firms at the White Tower restaurant in Blackpool to call on local and national decision-makers to get behind onshore natural gas...

DECC Public Attitudes  Tracker  – Wave 14 shows support for shale dwindling

DECC Public Attitudes Tracker – Wave 14 shows support for shale dwindling

DECC Public Attitudes Tracker – Wave 14 released in August 2015 shows that public support for shale gas extraction continues to weaken. Perhaps the most significant finding is that “support for fracking appears to be linked to awareness…The only group to be more supportive are those that haven’t heard of...

Those DEFRA Redactions exposed

Those DEFRA Redactions exposed

Last night DEFRA released the previously redacted report on the impacts of fracking on the rural economy. Whilst much of the report tells us nothing we didn’t already know, what is fascinating is the extent to which the redaction illustrate the Government’s desperation to remain “on-message” as far as shale...

Cut and Run Sir?

Cut and Run Sir?

A couple of days ago I posted regarding the astroturfing efforts of the industry-funded front group the North West Energy Task Force. I was particularly interested by the claim made by local farmer, John Loftus who said: Based on the jobs it has already created around my farm, shale gas...

Another hilarious lesson in why you should pick your advocates carefully

Another hilarious lesson in why you should pick your advocates carefully

Well the pro-frackers are treating us to a succession of “car-crash” interviews of late aren’t they? Last week it was The Rambling Reverend scaremongering about imminent blackouts if we don’t get fracking underway (ignoring the slight logical problem that an industry which wouldn’t in any circumstances be able to contribute...

A hilarious lesson in why you should pick your advocates carefully

A hilarious lesson in why you should pick your advocates carefully

On Thursday 22nd January Lancashire County Council announced that it’s officers had recommended rejection of Cuadrilla’s 2 applications for development wells in Roseacre and Preston New Road. Local media went into something of a frenzy getting reactions from Cuadrilla and from the various anti-fracking groups. In the interests of balance...

A question of seismicity

A question of seismicity

A lot of drivel is pumped out about seismicity. We are continually being told by Academics like Prof. Mike Stephenson at the BGS that we are foolish to be concerned about seismicity because the tremors are too weak to do any damage. If questioned they tend to qualify the statement...

The FT refutes the IOD job predictions citing new evidence from AMEC

The FT refutes the IOD job predictions citing new evidence from AMEC

A while back we published a critique of the Institute of Directors predictions that fracking would result in 74,000 jobs. https://www.refracktion.org/index.php/dan-byles-and-the-74000-jobs-joke/ We argued that the basis of the calculations was childishly simplistic, and we asked how an MP like Dan Byles could put his name to supporting them. We were...