This week ‘Rathlin Energy’ begin the latest phase in their bid to extract fossil fuel gas from the bedrock under the North Coast of Ireland. A survey plane will take off from Enniskillen and survey the mineral make-up of the land from Limavady, across Coleraine and Ballymoney, to Moyle district including Ballycastle. Previous exploration for shale gas has been carried out in the area already under a previous licence, but the current survey is the first major activity under the controversial licence granted specifically for the extraction of gas by hydraulic fracturing (fracking).

Alongside this, ‘Rathlin Energy’, with the assistance of the notorious Weber Shandwick PR company, are beginning what they describe as ‘[a]n extensive awareness campaign involving schools, farming and equine organisations and other relevant parties...’ The need to organise resistance to this detrimental prospect has never been more pressing. The North Coast largely consists of designated ‘Areas of Special Scientific Interest’ and ‘Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty’, not to mention an economy based almost entirely on agriculture and tourism. Fracking is in no way sustainable here.

A campaign to prevent fracking from destroying the community and environment of the North Coast is under-way. If you want to get involved or can offer any help what-so-ever, please contact  notofracking@gmail.com. For more information see  http://www.notofracking.com/.