There is outrage over Shell’s proposal to use hydraulic fracturing (fracking) to extract gases below the surface in the Karoo. This method of extracting gas for energy has been well documented as destructive to the environment as well as endangering the lives of people and animals living in the area. Water sources become highly toxic and in some cases tap water has been seen to explode into flames when exposed to an open source of fire. The land in which fracking has taken place can become toxicated and cannot be used for livestock, agriculture or even human habitation due to the health risks it poses. At the conference in Cape Town to discuss the proposed fracking of the Karoo a large public attendance broke into angry opposition to the proposal.
The South African government is in the process of approving the proposal by Shell to use the Karoo area in the Cape for hydraulic fracturing. By doing so, the government would be openly consenting and supporting the environmental destruction of this beautiful area. This must be stopped.
The Cape Party is promoting mass civil action against the government to prevent them from giving rights to Shell to hydraulic fracture in the Karoo. When one considers the nature of the South African governments dealings in the past one has to question why Shell’s proposal is even being considered (the public still awaits a full expose into the beneficiaries of the R64 billion Arms Deal.)
The government’s blatant disregard for the Cape, and their circumvention of the will of the people would be impossible in a Cape Republic.
If justice would be followed as it should, then a referendum should be held by the people of the Karoo to decide if rights should be given to Shell to use hydraulic fracturing on their land. Based on the considerable evidence detailing the destructive effects of this it is within simple reason that the Karoo would vote in unanimous rejection of such a proposal. The South African government, however, seems to be completely out of touch with the people of the country they are supposed to serve.
Watch the ‘Gasland’ trailer detailing the dangers of hydraulic fracturing Watch the ‘Gasland’ trailer detailing the dangers of hydraulic fracturing
Follow the link to Greenpeace Africa below to take a stand.
Support TKAG, a Karoo based action group opposing hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo
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