So what can you do?
So now we have you all fired up, what can you do?
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Contact Your Elected Representatives
MEP's, MP's and Local Councillors including Parish Councillors are all elected by us the people. They are there to be our advocates and to represent our views within the parties and groups they work within.
Don't presume they will know anything about fracking, don't presume they will be in favour of fracking, don't presume anything.
Write polite and respectful letters informing them of your concerns. Ask them to detail what policies are in place and what views are held within the groups and organisations they represent.
Find Your MEP, MP or Local Councillors - Click Here
Find your MP and what they are doing in parliament - Click Here
Or see our resources section for printable lists - Click Here
NGO's, Charities, Political Parties and Unions
LABOUR PARTY
In September the Labour Party will be voting for their next Leader and Deputy Leader. Before that the candidates will be attending a series of Hustings across the country. It's an opportunity to ask questions about fracking and climate change. Unfortunately many (if not all) of the hustings are fully booked.
Nevertheless, Labour is allowing people to still apply (in case of cancellations) and submit a question. Ours is: "As shale gas will not bring down gas prices or significantly affect UK energy security, and after 10 years of fracking in USA where evidence of contamination is now emerging, will you listen to the electorate and campaign to ban fracking?"
We invite everyone to all apply and submit a question. You do not have to be a Labour party member. Let's BOMBARD them. The link is here:
http://www.labour.org.uk/blog/entry/your-local-leadership-husting
Deadline 20 June?
LABOUR PARTY: 2
Andy Burnham, one of the candidates for leader of the Labour Party, has called for a moratorium on fracking. We, as individuals, should write to Labour to express our delight at Andy Burnham’s call for a moratorium - and maybe say that, therefore, we shall support him as leader of the Labour Party (whether you do or not).
If you have Labour MP/MEPs/Councillors:
https://www.writetothem.com
(and don't forget to ask your MP to pass your message on to Andy Burnham)
If you are aged 14 to 26 – write to Young Labour:
http://www.younglabour.org.uk/contact
If you are a member of the Labour Party: write to Harriet Harman (chair/leader of the Labour Party)
http://www.harrietharman.org/contact
If you have a Labour Group in your constituency: http://www.rotherhamlabour.org/contact-us/
http://www.laboursheffield.org.uk/contact
http://www.yorkshireandhumberlabour.org.uk/contact
LABOUR: 3
Caroline Flint, Labour MP for the Don Valley constituency, is the current opposition shadow for Energy and Climate Change. She is also a candidate for deputy leader of the Labour Party.
Tell her that you will not be supporting her as deputy leader of the Labour Party because you are against unconventional gas.
You might also ask her why she (or her office) blocked the Frack Free South Yorkshire twitter feed.
Phone: 01302 623330
Email: caroline.flint.mp@parliament.uk
Twitter: @CarolineFlintMP
Write: Meteor House, First Avenue, Auckley, Doncaster DN9 3GA.
GMB UNION
GMB Union and UKOOG have agreed a joint charter on shale gas, focusing on safety, skills and supply chain development. The charter underlines a joint commitment to ensure:
1. That gas is recognised as essential to British industry and households,
2. Gas has a key role in both the UK’s future energy supply and the move to a low carbon energy future,
3. An increased understanding about the importance of gas and the long history of exploration and production onshore in Britain,
4. The establishment of an Industry Safety Forum to build on the already strong regulatory and safety foundations in the sector,
5. Skilled jobs are created and local communities benefit through the employment and training opportunities this brings,
6. British manufacturing and other supply chains have the opportunity to benefit from the development of the shale gas industry.
Full story is here:
http://www.gmb.org.uk/newsroom/gmb-ukoog-agreement-on-shale-gas
FFSY says, in reply:
1. True, gas is recognised as essential to British industry and households, but we don’t need ‘unconventional’ gas. Instead we should stop exporting gas to Europe and switch more industry and households onto renewable energy and improve our energy efficiency.
2. True, gas does have a key role in the UK’s future energy supply but the United Kingdom Energy Research Centre says shale gas will have “no significant effect” on our energy security.
3. In Britain we have NO history of high volume hydraulic fracking or shale gas.
4. Establishment of an Industry Safety Forum is an excellent idea, as we have NO safety foundations in the sector. There has been only one high volume hydraulic fracturing (in 2011) which caused two earthquakes and compromised the well casing resulting in abandonment of the well. GMB must protect its members by ensuring (a) there is a heath and safety officer on site at each and every well location, (b) the operator has sought COSHH advice on all chemicals your members will potentially be exposed to, and (c) secret chemicals are challenged.
5. A greater number of long term sustainable skilled jobs can be created through the employment and training opportunities that climate jobs in the UK can bring.
6. British manufacturing and other supply chains have a greater opportunity to benefit from the development of a sustainable renewable energy industry.
Main contacts:
National:
Gary Smith, GMB National Secretary 07710 618909
Email: gary.smith@gmb.org.uk
Yorkshire and Derbyshire Region:
Regional Secretary: Tim Roach
Grove Hall, 60 College Grove Road, Wakefield WF1 3RN
Tel: 01924 882255;
Email: tim.roache@gmb.org.uk
Website: http://www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk/.
Chesterfield:
GMB Chesterfield Office, 34 Glumangate, Chesterfield S40 1TX
Tel: 0845 337 7777;
Email: sue.boyd@gmb.org.uk
Sheffield:
GMB Sheffield Office, Thorne House, 188/190 Norfolk Street, Sheffield S1 1SY
Tel: 0114 276 8017; fax 0114 273 9601
Email: sheffield.office@gmb.org.uk
GMB braches:
http://www.gmbyorkshire.org.uk/branches/
LANCASHIRE
Anyone ever had or considered a holiday or day trip to the Blackpool / Fylde area?
Anyone fancy writing to the North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce to tell them how much you love the area but will NOT holiday there ever again if they allow fracking?
North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Head Office 9-10 Eastway Business Village, Olivers Place, Fulwood, Preston, Lancashire PR2 9WT Tel: 01772 653 000
North & Western Lancashire Chamber of Commerce Fylde Coast Office, 1 Lockheed Court, Amy Johnson Way, Blackpool, Lancashire FY4 2RN Tel: 01253 347 063
Same email for both: info@lancschamber.co.uk
Deadline: 20 June 2015.
The National Trust, Women's Institute, Ramblers, Unison and Cancer Research to mention but a few, all have powerful voices. They lobby government on behalf of members and donors.
Write to them if you are a member or donor, ask them what stance they take on fracking. Raise your concerns and let them know that you want them to speak out on your behalf.
DON'T FORGET, IT WAS ORGANISATIONS LIKE THIS THAT SAVED OUR WOODLANDS FROM BEING SOLD TO GREEDY PRIVATE INTERESTS.
