HOLLYWOOD STAR MARK RUFFALO IMPLORES EU: NO GREEN DEAL WITH FRACKED GAS

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Food

Food & Water Europe, Friends of the Earth Europe

Brussels, 5 February 2020 One of the world’s most famous actors and activists, Mark Ruffalo, who plays “The Hulk”, has today weighed into Europe’s climate debate, urging members of the European Parliament in Brussels to vote against a list of priority EU energy infrastructure projects next week, as it could subsidise 55 new fossil fuel projects, including those that facilitate the import and transport of US fracked gas.

Ruffalo was speaking in Brussels this afternoon [1] about his new film Dark Waters, and had a private meeting with European Parliament President David Sassoli.

Mark Ruffalo said in a statement:
“I’m in Brussels to screen my new film Dark Waters and advocate for protecting our precious water from toxic chemicals. I’m urging the European Parliament to vote down a list of 55 fossil fuel infrastructure projects, many of which would import fracked gas from the US to Europe. This not only contradicts the European Green Deal but also exacerbates climate change at a time when the world needs Europe to be a climate leader.

“Supporting fracked gas projects runs counter to the laudable actions of several European countries that have banned fracking including France, Bulgaria, Ireland, Austria, Germany and areas of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. Fracking is not safe in those countries, it’s not safe in the United States, and the European Parliament should not import US fracked gas.”

He earlier made a personal video statement on his social media [2] urging members of the European Parliament to be true climate leaders by voting against the so-called ‘Projects of Common Interest’ (PCI) list and instead investing in renewable energy projects.

MEPs are due to vote next week in Strasbourg on a motion to reject the EU’s list of priority energy projects. If the list is approved, fossil fuel corporations will be eligible to receive funding from the European Union to build these projects. Many of these projects could be used to import damaging fracked gas from the United States. [3]

Colin Roche, climate justice coordinator for Friends of the Earth Europe reacted:
“The Hulk is right, there can be no truly Green Deal with more fracked gas. It’s now up to all MEPs to reject the EU’s list of priority energy projects which gives immense backing to yet more fossil fuels.”

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Contact:

Colin Roche, climate justice coordinator, Friends of the Earth Europe, [email protected], (+32) (0)2 893 21

Frida Kieninger, campaign officer, Food & Water Europe, [email protected], (+32) (0) 2893 1045, (+32) (0)487 249 905

Robbie Blake, Communications team, Friends of the Earth Europe, [email protected], (+32) (0)2 893 1010

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[1] Ruffalo told a packed audience of MEPs today:

“You are going to vote on 55 fossil fuel projects for gas, liquefied natural gas [brought] to the European Union. Fracked gas is going to be taken from my community, it is going to poison our people, and it is the antithesis of moving forward a Green Deal. It is absolutely totally against the idea that you are moving forward with the Green Deal if you back these 55 projects. And what we are asking you to do, from my community which will be poisoned by your need for our natural gas projects, is to dump those projects, scrap them, and put that money into real renewable energy, clean energy projects. You are wasting your money. I promise you, we are going to fight that gas leaving our country, and we are already in the process, so you are wasting your money.”

[2] https://twitter.com/MarkRuffalo/status/1224853323242708993?s=20

[3] EU Commission backs 55 controversial new fossil fuel projects https://www.foeeurope.org/EU-commission-backs-55-controversial-new-fossil-fuel-projects-311019

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