Media Release
March 28, 2013

Climate change is the number one issue facing humanity, as emissions of CO2 and other global warming gases continue to increase at an alarming rate despite efforts to curb the use of fossil fuels. Already the impacts of climate change are being felt around the world with glaciers and sea ice melting, extreme droughts, intense storms and rising oceans. Of particular concern to British Columbians is the rapid increase in shale gas development through a practice known as fracking, with plans to build liquefied natural gas plants in Kitimat and export the gas to Asia.

In order for Shuswap residents to learn more about climate change and fracking, two local organizations, KAIROS-Salmon Arm and the Shuswap Environmental Action Society are sponsoring a public forum on Tuesday, April 9th at 7pm at the United Church Hall, 450 Okanagan Ave. SE, Salmon Arm. Two expert speakers, Joe Foy and Eoin Madden from the Vancouver-based Wilderness Committee will be giving presentations at this event.

Joe Foy is the Wilderness Committee’s National Campaign Director and has been the driving force behind many of the group’s successful projects since 1987. Eoin Madden began his career in Ireland as a criminal lawyer and after completing a post-graduate degree in climate change he moved to B.C. and is now the Wilderness Committee’s Climate Change Campaigner.

With deposits of conventional gas and oil dwindling, the industry is keen to develop less accessible deposits of ‘tight oil and gas’ using hydraulic fracturing or ‘fracking.’ This involves blasting millions of gallons of fracturing fluids, including sand, water, and toxic chemicals, into wellbores two miles deep that then angle or deviate horizontally another kilometer underground. The rock is broken up through use of extreme pressures.

Proponents of fracking tell us this technology has been around for 60 years. “Not so”, says Anne Morris of KAIROS-Salmon Arm. “It is only in the last decade that a combination of four new technologies has enabled industry to access gas and oil trapped between layers of shale rock. The problem is that this fracking technology has grown so quickly there has been insufficient time to do the scientific study on its environmental and health impacts, or on the impact of the inevitable accidents,” she says.

“There is also concern that fracking causes chronic leaks of methane, a potent climate change driver. Many scientists believe that rapid shale gas development will exacerbate global climate change and could tip the world into climate chaos,” said Jim Cooperman, SEAS President.

“Over the past decade the practice of fracking has crept into BC and has gained a dangerous foothold – without the people of B.C. having ever been asked if they wanted this highly polluting industry or not. It is time to turn a bright light on what is happening to fresh water resources and to the changing climate – while we still have the time and ability to act,” said Joe Foy, Wilderness Committee National Campaign Director.

Climate change is already happening, and at a much faster rate than was expected. But a worst-case scenario can still be avoided if government leaders listen to the World Bank, the UN Energy Agency, and a coalition of the world’s largest investors who are calling for urgent action now to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. “At this crucial moment in time, we should be replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy resources rather than developing a new source of greenhouse gas emissions,” explained Cooperman. “Shale gas development is absolutely the wrong way to go,” he added.

“Groundwater contamination caused by shale gas fracking operations is also a big concern. Nearly 1,000 cases of groundwater contamination have occurred in the U.S., and scores of contamination problems have been reported in Alberta as well. This has led a number of jurisdictions to ban or impose a moratorium on fracking,” explained Morris.

The forum will be a great opportunity for the public to learn more about the controversial practice of fracking and the most recent information about climate change.  Both of these topics are likely to be important issues for the upcoming election. All Shuswap MLA candidates will be invited to attend and be provided time to comment on these concerns.

For more information, contact:

Anne Morris, KAIROS-Salmon Arm, 833-5773

Jim Cooperman, SEAS, 679-3693

Joe Foy and Eoin Madden, Wilderness Committee, 604-683-8220