Green MEP Keith Taylor is taking a new film about Fracking to South East England.
The film, called ‘Drill Baby Drill’, examines the effects of Fracking – the controversial technique used to extract shale gas from the ground- on people’s lives in Poland and Pennsylvania. Organisers say that the film will offer a glimpse of what is to come in the South East if fracking takes off.
The film comes to South East England at a crucial time in the debate about shale gas extraction, after the Government announced plans to promote fracking with cash incentives for communities and tax breaks for drilling companies.
With fracking across in Southern England looking increasingly likely, and firms being granted licenses to search for gas, residents will get a chance to see the effects of fracking on local communities elsewhere.
Keith Taylor, the Green Party’s MEP for the region is hosting the film series. He said: “The government is hell-bent on carving up our countryside in this new dash for gas. This film illustrates some major concerns around fracking. It shows us that local communities have had their water contaminated and their air polluted. It also shows the ruthlessness of fracking companies who are willing to drill at any cost despite opposition from local communities. But the film also tells an inspirational story of communities that have, and will continue to, fight against fracking and win.”
The screening of the film comes only a few weeks after the British Geological Survey revealed evidence of larger shale gas deposits in the UK than had previously been thought.
Mr Taylor said: “The fact that there is more shale gas in the UK than we thought doesn’t mean that we should burn it. Indeed if we’re serious about meeting our climate change obligations than we should be directing more money towards community owned renewables rather than giving tax breaks to corporations wanting to frack in our countryside”
Please see www.drillbabydrill.eu for more info
Keith Taylor will be available for broadcast interview or debates in advance of the screenings and on the day of each screening.
The full list of Screenings (click on link for free tickets):
Friday 12th July: The Empire Cinema, Sandwich http://drillbabydrillsandwich.eventbrite.co.uk/
Saturday 13th July: The Gulbenkian Cinema, Canterbury http://drillbabydrillcanterbury.eventbrite.co.uk/
Sunday 14th July: The Hanover Pub, Brighton http://drillbabydrillbrighton.eventbrite.co.uk/
Monday 15th July: Victory Hall, Balcombe http://drillbabydrillbalcombe.eventbrite.co.uk/
Tuesday 16th July: Quakers Meeting House, Oxford http://drillbabydrilloxford.eventbrite.co.uk/
Wednesday 17th July: RISC, Reading http://drillbabydrillreading.eventbrite.co.uk/