Today (22nd July 2012), anti-Fracking activists from the 'Frack Off' group unfurled a banner saying STOP FRACKING while world-famous Tiger Woods was preparing a shot at the Golf Open championship in Lytham St. Annes, near Blackpool.

Just like golf, fracking is both local and international; it has already been banned in France, Bulgaria, Switzerland and parts of the USA, but Cuadrilla Resources, an American company, still have plans to frack near Lytham St Annes in Lancashire where the Golf tournament is held this year. Nobody wants gas-ridden flammable tap water, or toxic chemicals in the air, and activists hope to draw attention to the dangers of this practice. No golfers were harmed in the unfurling of this banner.

Unfortunately, hydraulic fracturing (or 'fracking') is not as infamous as it should be. It is a method used to free trapped gas by cracking rock using pressurised fluid. This 'fracking fluid' consists of water, sand and toxic chemicals. Millions of gallons of water are used to frack each well, only some of which returns to the surface. It's a last ditch attempt to suck the last fossil fuels from the planet and in the process causes untold environmental damage.

Ground water contamination, earthquakes, air pollution, toxic spills and a litany of other dangerous effects have been linked to the process in the USA and now fracking is coming to the UK. Cuadrilla Resources hopes to drill 800 wells in Lancashire alone over a 16 year period. Across the UK there will be thousands. If the industry gains momentum it will be unstoppable and the environmental and human impact will be devastating.

To find out more and to get involved visit  http://www.frack-off.org

For a map showing the areas that will be fracked see  http://frack-off.org.uk/new-homepage/bad-guys/locations/

Pictures to follow!