GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - In response to the proposed regulations about the exploration and production of onshore oil and gas requiring hydraulic fracturing published by Minister of Forestry, Fisheries and the Environment, Barbara Dallas Creecy, on 11 July, the Baviaans Land and Agrarian Reform Forum (BLARF) deemed it necessary to intensify their campaign against fracking in the Karoo.
BLARF is registered Community Based Organisation (CBO) comprising of environmental activists, upcoming farmers and producers, indigenous leaders, women and youth that have been working in collaboration with the Support Centre for Land Change (SCLC) to promote land and environmental justice in Willowmore.
BLARF reconvened their Frack Free Fridays after it was discontinued in 2018 when Shell withdrew from shale gas exploration in the Karoo.
At the time, Shell initially claimed that they could extract about 485 trillion cubic feet of gas in the Karoo, but this figure later diminished to less than 30 trillion cubic feet. Shell also claimed that the fracking operations would create between 300 000 and 700 000 jobs – a figure that was regularly quoted by the South African Government. However, subsequent studies by the South African Government indicated that only about 3 000 jobs would possibly be created, of which a maximum of between 15% and 35% would be for local South Africans.
The purpose of the Frack Free Fridays is to raise awareness around the adverse impact of fracking on the environment, and how this destructive practise may impact on the lives and livelihoods of communities. Vice-chairperson of BLARF, John Rank, highlighted the contribution of fossil fuel exploration, production and consumption to the climate crisis that adversely impacts on production and exacerbates the food crisis. Elgirnon (Pankie) Stuurman, indigenous Rastafarian leader, explained the importance of indigenous plants in traditional healing and how fracking will impact on the availability of these plants.
Those interested in joining the BLARF campaign against fracking in the Karoo should contact the BLARF chairperson, Andrew Diedericks, on 078 108 0245.
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