Gasland: Stop fracking with our lives

In the build up to Earth Hour on Saturday night, the campus organisation SEACC SF screened the Oscar-nominated documentary, Gasland. The South East African Climate Consortium Student Forum bought the rights to the movie, which highlights the true nature of hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking’. This technique is used to mine natural gases and the documentary uncovers the disastrous effects this process has had on the lives of American citizens living near the drilling stations.
The documentary, written and directed by Josh Fox, is shot in a poetic and experimental way and contains a montage of people whose health, water and livestock have suffered from the chemicals used in the process and the natural gas released into the air and water.
The crowd in Eden Grove Red, gasped as footage was shown of drinking water which had so much gas in it that it ignited in the presence of a flame. There are shocking revelations of the way companies are bulldozing their way into communities without being monitored by any state or environmental organisations.
The documentary is pertinent to South Africa, as a number of international oil companies are planning to prospect the Karoo for natural gas.
If they are successful, they will use the fracking process to obtain the natural gas, at great risk to the environment and the lives of people and animals.
SEACC SF sent a petition around after the screening, which they plan to present to Parliament next month. There it will be taken forward by DA shadow environmental minister, Gareth Morgan. They hope not only to gain the support of Grahamstown residents, but to raise a national opposition to hydraulic fracturing.
SEACC SF bought the rights to Gasland for $75, which converts to around R509, at current exchange rates. Anyone interested in getting involved, or making a donation, can contact Patrick Curran on g06c0565@campus.ru.ac.za or Alex Lenferna on seaccsf@gmail.com.

Published in Grocott's Mail on 1 April 2011.

Go beyond the hour

Switch off all your lights. Huddle around a table with a candle and play scrabble, monopoly or snakes and ladders. Tell ghost stories. Make your own lanterns. Lie on a blanket in the garden and watch the stars or run around with sparklers. These are all things that you can do when you switch your lights off on Saturday night, from 8.30 to 9.30pm for Earth Hour.
Earth Hour is an international event organised by the WWF to support our planet by creating awareness about climate change. This event has been happening annually since 2007, with 128 countries participating last year. To participate, switch off all your lights and electrical appliances for the hour. This year, people are encouraged to go beyond the hour by making lifestyle changes and limiting electricity usage.
SEACC SF, GRASS and Astro Soc will feature performances by Drum Soc, BUA poetry society and Voices of Glory in the Botanical Gardens. The evening will kick off at 6pm with a screening of the documentary, 'Gasland', at Eden Grove Red, followed by a short presentation on the proposed hydraulic fracturing in the Karoo. Moving across to the Botanical Gardens, Earth Hour celebrations will continue from 8:30pm until late. Entrance is free and everyone is welcome. Bring your own drinks and a picnic.