Monthly Archives: November 2015

It’s going to be a big month for the climate!

Next week, Governments are coming together in Paris to sign a new global agreement to tackle climate change.

This is probably the most important international summit ever. It will determine what kind of future we are shaping for our children and our planet. It’s a chance for political leaders to agree to end carbon pollution from fossil fuels by the middle of the century. This is critical if we are to keep global temperature rises below 2°C.

You can support the campaign for a strong climate agreement, and for climate-friendly policies locally. There are two great meetings taking place this week – unfortunately they clash so you will have to choose just one of them – and a national march and rally on Sunday.  And please sign the petitions on this page and forward the details to your friends.

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Anti-drilling campaigners at the Holmwood site

There will be a public meeting this Wednesday to discuss the protection of public water supplies and the environment at Leith Hill.

Exploratory oil drilling is planned to begin next year at Bury Hill Wood, Holmwood, a beauty spot near Leith Hill which is within both the Green Belt and the Surrey Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.  Read the rest of this entry >>

A comprehensive health study published in October summarises research showing how fracking for gas and oil harms human health.

The report, written by Physicians for Social Responsibility and Concerned Health Professionals of New York, highlights health risks ranging from air and water pollution to a newly emerging problem:  leakage of methane and toxic gases from natural gas compressors, pipelines and other infrastructure.

This fully referenced, 150-page report brings together findings from scientific and medical journals, government and industry reports, and journalistic investigation.

Download Compendium of Scientific, Medical and Media Findings Demonstrating Risks and Harms of Fracking (Unconventional Gas and Oil Extraction), Third Edition, October 14, 2015, or read it online: http://www.psr.org/assets/pdfs/fracking-compendium.pdf

More than 70 people turned out on a rainy Saturday in Oxted for a great community meeting on fracking.

As well as a couple of short films, we were treated to a series of informative and inspiring short talks.

Brenda Pollack, the South East Regional Campaigner from Friends of the Earth, who supports many local anti-fracking groups across the region, gave a brief introduction to what fracking is and why many people oppose it due to  the risks of air and water pollution. She pointed out that research shows that unconventional wells are four times more likely to fail than conventional ones and that research coming in from countries where fracking has been happening is showing that there can be health impacts.  Read the rest of this entry >>