International Civil Society Groups Ask the European Parliament to Support the Human Right to Water

Brussels – More than forty civil society organisations from all over the world sent a letter today to Members of the European Parliament encouraging them to support the Human Right to Water in the vote on the Directive on the Quality of Water for Human Consumption that will take place in the plenary in Strasbourg next week.

Marcela Olivera, coordinator of the Inter-American Network for the Defense and the Right to Water (La Red VIDA) said: “The vote at the European Parliament will have a huge impact on access to water for all in Europe, but will also contribute to shape global policies on water. The European Parliament has a great responsibility to push Europe to lead the way to implement the Human Right to Water and to show its commitment to achieve goal number 6 of the UN Sustainable Development Goals.”

The signatory organisations asked members of the European Parliament to support the Alternative Compromise Amendments to article 13 of the mentioned directive that would result in a real commitment to provide access to water for all in the EU. The compromise amendments would also be a big step forward in the effort to stop plastic pollution, as they would encourage restaurants and bars in the EU to provide free tap water, encourage municipalities to install public fountains and encourage public administrations to stop selling bottled water.

Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Watch added: “In addition to affirming the human right to water, members of the European Parliament can use this opportunity to move Europe closer to its goal of tackling plastic pollution from bottled water. Europe is importing US fracked gas to produce plastic, which is devastating the global environment and local communities alike. Avoiding bottled water in restaurants and public buildings like the European Parliament would be strong signal in the right direction.”

Note:

The letter can be found here

Contact:

David Sánchez, Food & Water Europe, +32 (0) 485 842 604 , dsanchez(at)fweurope.org

Cuadrilla Performs First Fracking Operation in the UK Since Destructive Fracking-Induced Tremors in 2011

Brussels – Today, UK energy firm Cuadrilla began its first fracking operation in Preston New Road, Lancashire. Despite ongoing protests, blockades, a permanent camp, and a 2015 vote of the county council rejecting fracking in Lancashire, the government allowed the fracking firm to go ahead.

The UK’s go ahead with fracking coincides with the Global Days of Action against Gas and Fracking – the Gasdown-Frackdown, taking place around 13 October. With a growing movement, groups across the planet take action demanding a fossil free future, standing with the people of Lancashire and fracking-affected communities around the world.

“Today’s first fracking operation in the UK in over seven years illustrates the UK government is heading in the completely wrong direction on climate change, while denying the rights of affected communities,” says Wenonah Hauter, Executive Director of Food & Water Europe and Food & Water Watch. “The effects of climate change are already here. This summer’s drought had devastating results on European crop yields and threatened to lead to a UK food supply crisis. Unnatural disasters are occurring around the globe. It is deeply cynical that amidst these events we still talk about fracking in a country completely unsuitable for any form of it. The rights and health of people in Lancashire cannot be sacrificed for corporate interests.”

This summer, Cuadrilla completed its second shale gas well, ironically at the same time as a hosepipe ban was announced for parts of England due to an ongoing water shortage. “Pumping millions of litres of water underground in order to extract gas seems completely out of touch with reality and thwarts efforts necessary to keep global temperatures below 1.5 – the aim of the Paris Climate Agreement – and measures necessary to keep our planet liveable,” says Frida Kieninger, Campaigns Officer at Food & Water Europe. “It is more than unsettling to see that after all the environmental, climate, social and economic issues we have seen linked to fracking, it still plays a significant role in Europe’s energy policy.”

Even in Europe where fracking has been banned or restricted in several states, these bans often do not exclude all forms of fracking and do not block fracked gas from entering the EU, shipped in small volumes at the moment in the form of Liquified Natural Gas (LNG).

There is a growing movement of NGOs, researchers and grassroots activists protesting against these developments. Around 13 October the Gasdown-Frackdown, the Global Action Days against fracking and gas take place, where actions across the planet show a movement against fracking and gas that does not accept another generation of fossil fuel dependency.

Contact: Frida Kieninger, Food & Water Europe, email: [email protected], tel.: +32 487 24 99 05

This is the Global Gasdown-Frackdown 2018: Thousands taking actions in over 50 cities

GASTIVISTS AND FOOD & WATER EUROPE @Gastivists, @FoodWaterEurope

Email: [email protected]

Press Release En Espanol

See Photos

COMMUNITIES FROM SIX CONTINENTS TAKE ACTION AGAINST GAS AND FRACKING

On and around October 13th, over 90 groups from six continents came together in a united fight against the gas, fracking and plastics/petrochemicals industry for the Global Gasdown-Frackdown Day of Action.

Over a thousand people took action across North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Different groups and organisations demonstrated the many ways in which gas and fracking harm air and water quality, communities’ health and the climate. Among many others, there were anti-fracking debates in Peru, a protest against a planned LNG terminal in Germany and a stunt against plastic pollution caused by hydrocarbons in the UK, actions in Indonesia against gas drilling, a health impact webinar series,  an anti-fracking carnival in the UK and rally against fracking in Western Australia. Groups across the world joined together in the international fight against gas and fracking, demanding real climate solutions – our communities and our climate cannot afford another generation of fossil fuels.

Communities across the world are suffering from aggressively imposed gas infrastructure. Local democracy is often overruled, land rights dismissed, water sources poisoned and the environment polluted. This is under the false pretence that gas is a climate solution, a ‘bridge fuel’. However, when the entire supply chain is taken into account, it is no cleaner a fuel than oil and coal.

On and around October 13th, communities across the world united to take action, demanding a fossil-free future and real solutions.

Quotes

Osazee Prince Edigin, from ASEC in Nigeria, says “Our connection to the global movement is to signal our government, the multinationals and their collaborators that our struggle to end gas and fracking and the need for transition to clean and renewable sources of energy is a global movement that is not peculiar to Nigeria. It will vibrate louder and stronger.”

“Having a global Gasdown-Frackdown shows we’re not alone. That other people as well are putting up a fight for what they love- be it their land, water, health or the climate. And that’s always encouraging” says a spokesperson from NoTAP Belgium, protesting against TAP a planned mega pipeline carrying gas from Azerbaijan to the EU.

One of the actions that took place was an event informing about socio-environmental impacts of fracking in Monterrey, Mexico. Teresa Garza, from Movimiento en Defensa de la Madre Tierra y de la Vida says: “I’ve seen the reaction of those who find out what fracking is and what it means. It is impossible to be indifferent. I think information is a good first step to fight against this horrid activity.”

In Brussels, several environmental NGOs met to show unity against gas. “The recently published IPCC report shows the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and the need to phase out all fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas. We can’t afford to keep burning gas if we want to preserve a planet liveable for future generations. This action day, uniting different struggles across the world is a strong sign of resistance and hope”, says Frida Kieninger from Food & Water Europe.

GASTIVISTS AND FOOD & WATER EUROPE

Frida Kieninger

Food & Water Europe

+32 487 24 99 05

Kjell Kühne

Gastivists

+52-1-9671053425

Notes:

Website for Gastivists:https://gasdown-frackdown.org/

Website for Food & Water Europe: https://www.foodandwatereurope.org/
Selection of images from actions in following pages

Activists constructed their own pipeline at the port in Barcelona – much less damaging to the environment!
Over 600 people gathered in Perth demanding a state-wide ban of fracking in Western Australia.
Action for Socio-Political and Economic Change (ASEC) walked through the streets in Benin, Nigeria, demanding a swift transition to renewable energy.
Samba band at the Gasdown Frackdown Carnival in Sheffield, UK, where hundreds of people came together for a day of workshops, music and dancing.
Cardboard Pipeline delivery to the Lisbon offices of the European Investment Bank to demand they stop financing gas infrastructure, by Climaximo.
Local farmers and activists gather at a rally in Bali, Indonesia.
Treetop Banner drop by ClimateJustice Greifswald in Germany, who stand up against the Nordstream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany.

Miles de personas participan en acciones en más de 50 ciudades en el Global Gasdown-Frackdown 2018

GASTIVISTS y FOOD & WATER EUROPE @Gastivists, @FoodWaterEurope

Correo electrónico: [email protected]

Comunicado de prensa en inglés

COMUNIDADES DE SEIS CONTINENTES SE MOVILIZAN CONTRA EL GAS Y EL FRACKING

Alrededor del 13 octubre, más de 90 grupos de seis continentes participarán en el Día Global de Acción Gasdown-Frackdown, mostrando una lucha unida contra la industria del gas, del fracking y petroquímica.

Se están organizando más de mil personas en acciones en América del Norte, América del Sur, África, Europa, Asia y Oceanía.

El Gasdown-Frackdown conecta luchas contra el gas y el fracking a nivel internacional, subrayando el daño que hacen a la calidad del aire y del agua, a la salud de las comunidades y al clima. Entre muchos otros, hubo una acción de víctimas de lodos tóxicos originados por extracción de gas en Indonesia, una manifestación en Australia Occidental, teatro callejero en Ámsterdam, una manifestación en Nigeria, un taller vía internet (webinario) sobre los impactos en la salud causados por la extracción de gas y un carnaval anti-fracking en el Reino Unido. Grupos de todo el mundo se han unido en una lucha internacional, exigiendo soluciones reales para nuestro clima – la gente y el clima ya no toleran una generación más de combustibles fósiles.

Miles de personas por todo el mundo sufren los impactos de infraestructuras gasísticas impuestas agresivamente sobre las comunidades locales. Con frecuencia no se respeta la democracia local, se anulan derechos sobre las tierras, se envenenan fuentes de agua y se contamina el medio ambiente. Todo esto con el falso pretexto de que el gas es una solución para nuestro clima, un combustible necesario a medio plazo. Sin embargo, considerando la cadena de suministro completa, el gas no es un combustible más limpio que el petróleo o el carbón.

Alrededor del 13 de octubre, comunidades en todo el mundo se han unido para realizar acciones descentralizadas, exigiendo un futuro sin combustibles fósiles y soluciones reales.

Citas

Osazee Prince Edigin, de ASEC in Nigeria, dice “Nuestra conexión con el movimiento global es una señal para nuestro gobierno, las multinacionales y sus colaboradores de que nuestra lucha para parar el gas y el fracking y la necesidad de una transición a fuentes de energía limpias y renovables es un movimiento global y no solo nigeriano. Se oye más fuerte.”

Que ocurra un Gasdown-Frackdown global demuestra que no estamos solos en esa lucha. Nos muestra que otras personas también están luchando para cuidar lo que aman: sus tierras, su salud, o el clima. Y eso te da ánimo”, contó el portavoz de NoTAP Bélgica, grupo que protesta contra el TAP, un megagaseoducto que traerá gas desde Azerbaiyán hacia Europa.

Una de las acciones es un foro regional sobre los impactos socioambientales del fracking en Monterrey, México. Teresa Garza del Movimiento en Defensa de la Madre Tierra y de la Vida: “He visto la reacción de quienes se enteran de lo que es y lo que implica el fracking; imposible permanecer indiferentes.”

En Bruselas varias ONG ecologistas se juntarán para demostrar su unión contra el gas. “El informe del IPCC que acaba de ser publicado subraya la emergencia que existe en limitar el calentamiento global a +1.5 grados y la necesidad de eliminar la producción y el consumo de todas las energías fósiles, el carbón, el petróleo y el gas. No podemos seguir quemando gas si queremos preservar el planeta para las generaciones futuras. Este día de acción que reúne a varias luchas alrededor del planeta es una gran señal de resistencia y de esperanza”, afirmó Frida Kieninger de  Food & Water Europe.

 

GASTIVISTS y FOOD & WATER EUROPE

Frida Kieninger

Food & Water Europe

+32 487 24 99 05

Kjell Kühne

Gastivists

+52-1-9671053425

Más información:

Página Web de Gastivists: https://gasdown-frackdown.org/

Página Web de Food & Water Europe: https://www.foodandwatereurope.org/

– Selección de imágenes de acciones en las páginas siguientes –

Más fotos disponibles en nuestra página de Facebook, o vía correo electrónico a: [email protected]

Activists constructed their own pipeline at the port in Barcelona – much less damaging to the environment!
Over 600 people gathered in Perth demanding a state-wide ban of fracking in Western Australia.
Action for Socio-Political and Economic Change (ASEC) walked through the streets in Benin, Nigeria, demanding a swift transition to renewable energy.
Samba band at the Gasdown Frackdown Carnival in Sheffield, UK, where hundreds of people came together for a day of workshops, music and dancing.
Cardboard Pipeline delivery to the Lisbon offices of the European Investment Bank to demand they stop financing gas infrastructure, by Climaximo.
Local farmers and activists gather at a rally in Bali, Indonesia.
Treetop Banner drop by ClimateJustice Greifswald in Germany, who stand up against the Nordstream 2 pipeline from Russia to Germany.

 

COMUNIDADES DE SEIS CONTINENTES SE MOVILIZAN CONTRA EL GAS Y EL FRACKING

GASTIVISTS y FOOD & WATER EUROPE @Gastivists, @FoodWaterEurope

Correo electrónico: [email protected]

PR in English

COMUNIDADES DE SEIS CONTINENTES SE MOVILIZAN CONTRA EL GAS Y EL FRACKING

Alrededor del 13 octubre, más de 80 grupos de seis continentes participarán en el Día Global de Acción Gasdown-Frackdown, mostrando una lucha unida contra la industria del gas, del fracking y petroquímica.

Se están organizando docenas de acciones en América del Norte, América del Sur, África, Europa, Asia y Oceanía.

El Gasdown-Frackdown conecta luchas contra el gas y el fracking a nivel internacional, incluyendo una acción de víctimas de lodos tóxicos originados por extracción de gas en Indonesia, una manifestación en Australia Occidental, teatro callejero en Ámsterdam, una manifestación en Nigeria, un taller vía internet (webinario) sobre los impactos en la salud de la extracción de gas y un carnaval anti-fracking en Reino Unido. Se han sumado activistas de la lucha contra la contaminación por plástico que también está ligada con los combustibles fósiles y el fracking. Exigimos soluciones reales para nuestro clima – la gente y el clima ya no aguantan una generación mas de combustibles fósiles.

Una de las acciones es un foro regional sobre los impactos socioambientales del fracking en Monterrey, Mexico. Teresa Garza del Movimiento en Defensa de la Madre Tierra y de la Vida: “He visto la reacción de quienes se enteran de lo que es y lo que implica el fracking; imposible permanecer indiferentes. Creo que la información es un primer paso para una lucha efectiva contra esa calamidad. Me alegra estar cerca de una organización seria y responsable, que trabaja en conexión con otros países propiciando la participación ciudadana en foros como este.

Que ocurra un Gasdown-Frackdown global demuestra que no estamos solos en esa lucha. Nos muestra que otras personas también están luchando para cuidar lo que aman: sus tierras, su salud, o el clima. Y eso te da ánimo“ contó el portavoz de NoTAP Bélgica, grupo que protesta contra el TAP, un mega gaseoducto que traerá gas desde Azerbaiyán hacia Europa.

En Bruselas varias ONG ecologistas se juntarán para demostrar unidad contra el Gas. “El informe del IPCC que acaba de ser publicado subraya la emergencia que existe en limitar el calentamiento global a +1.5 grados y la necesidad de eliminar la producción y el consumo de todas las energías fósiles, el carbón, el petróleo y el gas. No podemos seguir quemando gas si queremos preservar el planeta para las generaciones futuras. Este día de acción que reúne a varias luchas alrededor del planeta es una gran señal de resistencia y de esperanza” afirmó Frida Kieninger de  Food & Water Europe.

Miles de personas por todo el mundo sufren los impactos de infraestructuras gasísticas impuestas agresivamente sobre las comunidades locales. Con frecuencia no se respeta la democracia local, se anulan derechos sobre las tierras, se envenenan fuentes de agua y se contamina el medio ambiente. Todo esto con el falso pretexto que el gas es una solución para nuestro clima, un combustible necesario a medio plazo. Sin embargo, considerando la cadena de suministro completa, el gas no es un combustible más limpio que el petróleo o el carbón.

Alrededor del 13 octubre, comunidades en todo el mundo organizarán acciones descentralizadas, exigiendo un futuro sin combustibles fósiles y soluciones reales.

 

GASTIVISTS Y FOOD & WATER EUROPE

Frida Kieninger

Food & Water Europe

+32 487 24 99 05

Kjell Kühne

Gastivists

+52-1-9671053425

Notas:

Página Web de Gastivists:https://gasdown-frackdown.org/

Página Web de Food & Water Europe: https://www.foodandwatereurope.org/

COMMUNITIES FROM SIX CONTINENTS TAKE ACTION AGAINST GAS AND FRACKING

GASTIVISTS AND FOOD & WATER EUROPE @Gastivists, @FoodWaterEurope

Email: [email protected]

Comunicado de Prensa en Español

COMMUNITIES FROM SIX CONTINENTS TAKE ACTION AGAINST GAS AND FRACKING

On and around October 13th, over 80 groups from six continents will stand together in a united fight against the gas, fracking and plastics/petrochemicals industry for the Global Gasdown-Frackdown Day of Action.

Dozens of actions are planned across North and South America, Africa, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

Different groups and organisations show the many ways in which gas and fracking harm the environment, air and water quality, communities’ health and the climate, with a multitude of activities; Anti-fracking debates in Peru, a protest against a planned LNG terminal in Germany and a stunt against plastic pollution caused by hydrocarbons in the UK, actions in Indonesia against gas drilling, a health impact webinar series,  an anti-fracking carnival in the UK and rally against fracking in Western Australia, are just some of the events of this year’s Global Gasdown-Frackdown. It connects the international fights against gas and fracking, demanding real climate solutions – our communities and our climate cannot afford another generation of fossil fuels.

One of the actions taking place is an event informing about socio-environmental impacts of fracking in Monterrey, Mexico. Teresa Garza, from Movimiento en Defensa de la Madre Tierra y de la Vida says: “I’ve seen the reaction of those who find out what fracking is and what it means. It is impossible to be indifferent. I think information is a good first step to fight against this horrid activity. I am happy to be near a serious and responsible organization that works with networks with in countries supporting citizens participation in forums such as this.”

“Having a global Gasdown-Frackdown shows we’re not alone. That other people as well are putting up a fight for what they love- be it their land, water, health or the climate. And that’s always encouraging” says a spokesperson from NoTAP Belgium, protesting against TAP a planned mega pipeline carrying gas from Azerbaijan to the EU.

In Brussels, several environmental NGOs will meet to show unity against gas. “The recently published IPCC report shows the urgency of limiting global warming to 1.5 degrees and the need to phase out all fossil fuels, coal, oil and gas. We can’t afford to keep burning gas if we want to preserve a planet liveable for future generations. This action day, uniting different struggles across the world is a strong sign of resistance and hope”, says Frida Kieninger from Food & Water Europe.

Communities across the world are suffering from aggressively imposed gas infrastructure. Local democracy is often overruled, land rights dismissed, water sources poisoned and the environment polluted. This is under the false pretence that gas is a climate solution, a ‘bridge fuel’. However, when the entire supply chain is taken into account, it is no cleaner a fuel than oil and coal.

On and around October 13th, communities across the world are taking action, demanding a fossil-free future and real solutions.

GASTIVISTS AND FOOD & WATER EUROPE

Frida Kieninger

Food & Water Europe

+32 487 24 99 05

Kjell Kühne

Gastivists

+52-1-9671053425

Notes:

Website for Gastivists:https://gasdown-frackdown.org/

Website for Food & Water Europe: https://www.foodandwatereurope.org/