Shell are wanting to frack the Karoo for gas. What this means is that thousands of square kilometres of land in the Karoo will be littered with gas drills. These drills use millions of litres of water each time they are “fracked” and this is about the least off our worries. Thousands of litres of highly toxic chemicals are also pumped into each well and are pumped into the ground to a depth of about 5km.
What does this mean to you or me? The gases which are emitted from the wells are highly toxic to animals, plants and humans resulting in an untimely death for most who are exposed to these emissions.
To us in Port Elizabeth it means that the water which supplies the Gamtoos Valley and the Sundays River valley, which are major food growing areas will be polluted with highly toxic chemicals.
Find out more about the potential effects of fracking in the Karoo and Port Elizabeth by taking up the invite from Gillian Nutt (041 365 5256) to attend a presentation by Graaff-Reinet attorney, Derek Light and Nieu Bethesda farmer Dougie Stern at the Newton Park Library on 4 October 2011.
Derek Light is the lawyer representing the farmers. Stern and and Middelburg farmer Lukie Strydom travelled to the US in June 2011 with funding from the national farmers’ co-op BKB to investigate fracking there.
Stern will show a DVD taken in America of the disasters caused by fracking. The length of the DVD is about 45 minutes.
Derek Light will talk for about 30 minutes on the concept of fracking. There will be time for questions.
- Venue: Newton Park Library
- Date: Tuesday 4 October 2011
- Time: 7.00 pm for 7:15 pm
- Donation: R20.00
Tea and coffee will be available (included in the cost).
Be informed before you go and read more articles on fracking.
