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Conventional oil and gas extraction present their own dangers, as recent oil spills and gas explosions have proven.
The big corporates in the sector claim to have learned their lesson particularly about safety and environmental considerations, but as they make their claims they quietly continue to develop fracking, a way of extracting gas through horizontal drilling in shale rock. Where this has been done in the US, underground waters have been polluted, water supplies have been so contaminated with methane gas that the water can be set alight, and there is a major problem of the disposal of contaminated fluids as well as the possibility of explosions. Because much of the drilling is on land, landscapes are scarred and wildlife habitats damaged.Due to the extreme hazards of the process, the US Environmental Agency is conducting a major review. Environmentalists in many countries have asked their governments to resist calls to begin fracking there until the results of the review are known, but in the UK, at least, fracking begins in Blackpool this summer.
Because gas extraction through fracking could deliver enough power for the world for the next two hundred years, it is claimed, it is possible that the drive to switch to renewable energy sources will be halted in its tracks. I try to remain detached, but today, as I learned about fracking for the first time, I was saddened to think of the impact it would have (indeed, is having) on our planet. If it becomes the energy solution of choice it will be short term opportunism by our leaders driven by big business at the expense of Gaia, and it is not an attractive or edifying sight.
Last night I went out to a big lake nearby to help, with other volunteers, toads cross the road around it to reach the water. Between us we collected hundreds, and it gave us all great pleasure to be doing this, for us, important work. It was a starlit night, bats were flying over the water and the there was much splashing and calling from the ducks and geese on the lake, as well as croaking from the toads. It is a well regarded annual event here, and the local people do not mind that the road is closed for three weeks at night to protect the toads and enable us to move them. There was much interest in what we were doing, and children helped look for the toads and walkers wanted to know how many we had seen and to participate in their own way. It was simple, easy and enjoyable, a group of people coming together to help nature and the community.
As I contrast what we did last night and with what intent - and the same sort of thing happens in many places all over the world, of course -, with the development of fracking, I see duality in action, starkly. Will we ever learn?
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I am a spiritual teacher, channel and writer with a special interest in esoteric philosophy and the world in transition, who loves nature and wildlife. My aim is to help your human and soul journey through spiritual wisdom, spiritual connection and the raising of consciousness.