A new documentary released today highlights the local resistance to shale gas exploration in Poland. The film, produced by The Ecologist Film Unit with help from Friends of the Earth Europe and Food and Water Watch Europe, tells the story of farmers and residents in the region surrounding Gdansk who are worried about the dangers of shale gas extraction in their area.
The controversial fuel extraction technique has been linked to severe pollution with devastating environmental and human health effects in the US, in Canada and in Australia. As well as high greenhouse gas emissions – shale gas has emissions from extraction and production that are comparable to those of coal – there is a particular danger of local water pollution and air contamination. This was notably acknowledged in September 2012 by two studies from the European Commission and recognised in November 2012 by the European Parliament through the vote of two reports about shale gas and its impacts on health, climate, environment and the energy sector. As a result, public opposition to shale gas extraction is high in Europe. A recent Eurobarometer poll released by the European Commission found that 74% of Europeans polled would be concerned if a shale gas project was planned for their area.
The documentary also shows the attempts by the fossil fuel industry to counteract this opposition, including by commissioning a local priest to bless one of the drilling pads in return for donations.
“Despite the Polish government’s glossy propaganda Polish people have not bought the alleged benefits of shale gas and, like the rest of Europe, are rightly sceptical about the benefits the gas industry claims it will bring,” Antoine Simon, from Friends of the Earth Europe, says.
“The European Parliament and European Commission recently questioned the European dash for gas and highlighted the numerous high risks associated with the extraction of shale gas. Concerned communities in Poland and across Europe are taking action against this dangerous experiment on health and the environment.”
The controversial fuel extraction technique has been linked to severe pollution with devastating environmental and human health effects in the US, in Canada and in Australia. As well as high greenhouse gas emissions – shale gas has emissions from extraction and production that are comparable to those of coal – there is a particular danger of local water pollution and air contamination. This was notably acknowledged in September 2012 by two studies from the European Commission and recognised in November 2012 by the European Parliament through the vote of two reports about shale gas and its impacts on health, climate, environment and the energy sector. As a result, public opposition to shale gas extraction is high in Europe. A recent Eurobarometer poll released by the European Commission found that 74% of Europeans polled would be concerned if a shale gas project was planned for their area.
The documentary also shows the attempts by the fossil fuel industry to counteract this opposition, including by commissioning a local priest to bless one of the drilling pads in return for donations.
