Shale gas protests keep up pressure
Thousands take to streets demanding end to controversial drilling plans that could poison water supplies
ANTI-shale gas protesters joined demos across the country to highlight fears that drilling and exploiting for the gas could poison groundwater for generations.
There were 5,000 on the streets in Cahors (Lot), and 8,000 in Nant in Aveyron with Green Euro-MP José Bové along with many councillors and the presidents of Aveyron and Hérault conseil generals to protest against the approvals given for large-scale exploration projects across the south of France.
Earlier, on Saturday, protesters took over UMP general secretary Jean-François Copé’s town of Meaux (Seine-et-Marne), and Donzères, the Drôme stronghold of energy minister Eric Besson as well as Rousson (Gard).
Mr Bové said they were demonstrating despite promises from Prime Minister François Fillon and Ecology Secretary Nathalie Kosciusko-Morizet that the drilling permits would be countermanded and controversial US hydraulic fracturing or “fracking” drilling techniques would not be used in France.
His call came after Mr Fillon left the door open for future exploitation by ordering a scientific investigation into the possibilities of exploiting the so-far unproven resources without damaging the environment.
On May 10 the National Assembly will study several draft bills, including one from leading UMP MP Christian Jacob, calling for the permits to be made null and void. Mr Bové called for a massive street demonstration on the same day to show people’s determination not to allow the “fracking” techniques to poison the country’s vast underground water resources.
He said that parliament should be looking at reforms to the 1956 Code Minier which regulates exploration underground and does not provide safeguards or even public consultation against shale gas exploration or other projects that could cause harm underground.
The Cahors protest included many expats from the Lot, Lot-et-Garonne and the Dordogne and included what was said to be the world’s longest protest banner, at 75m long.
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Photo: S.Letur
