Celebrities join call to stop fracking terminals

For Immediate Release

NGO's both sides of the Pond Call on Government to Stop the Shannon fracked gas terminal
Celebrites Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore join the plea

50 environmental, climate, medical and justice organsiations from both North America and Ireland have written to An Taoiseach today requesting that Ireland does not propose support for the Shannon LNG fracked gas terminal at the European Commission meeting on Friday October 4th. The letter is also co-signed by actors Mark Ruffalo and Michael Moore which calls on Ireland not to create futher demand for fracked gas from American communities.

“Taoiseach Leo Varadkar must learn that climate leaders don’t support fracking,” said longtime anti-fracking advocate and actor Mark Ruffalo. “If he allows for the approval of this dangerous Shannon LNG fracked gas import facility and other infrastructure at Friday’s EU meeting concerning Projects of Common Interest, he will be both silencing the voice of democracy in Ireland and supporting fracking in America for decades to come.”

The letter states that 'Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is disastrous for climate change, dangerous, and relies on fracking in the U.S. that harms people and the environment'

Health professionals and scientists in the United States have been documenting the public health harms of fracking and related infrastructure for years now. The vast majority of more than 1,500 peer-reviewed scientific studies demonstrate that drilling, fracking, and infrastructure including LNG are dangerous and harmful. In recent months, a renowned newspaper in Pennsylvania, the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has investigated and found least 67 diagnoses of extremely rare cancers in children in just 4 rural, heavily-fracked counties of the state.

Julia Walsh Campaign Director of Frack Action said “Ireland rightly banned fracking 2 years ago based on damage this it inflicts on the environment and public health. I’ve come here to speak for those of us in the United States fighting for a national ban on fracking and to represent the communities who have been devastated by it. We are asking the Taoiseach and the Irish government not to import US fracked gas, which will lock us into fracking and it’s impacts to public health and the climate,”

Kate Ruddock Deputy Director Friends of the Earth welcomed the debate in the Dáil today on this important issue, and commended the TD's who expressed their opposition to this project. However, Kate expressed disappointment that a vote was not called on whether or not this project should recieve state support.

It is expected that Minister Bruton will propose the Shannon LNG fracked gas terminal and the reversal of the Moffit interconnector will be included on the Projects of Common Interest list tomorrow, and will thus become one of Ireland's highest priorty projects with access to special planning permissions, permits and grant support.

A copy of the Letter can be viewed here.

ENDS