Skip to main content

To: Blackpool and Fylde College

Blackpool and Fylde College - Divest from fossil fuels

We want Blackpool and Fylde College to cancel the plans to train Cuadrilla employees ahead of proposed fracking activity in Lancashire. We want them to end the acceptance of funding from Cuadrilla and focus on training students in engineering green alternatives to fossil fuels instead.

Why is this important?

By working with Cuadrilla, Blackpool and Fylde College took a decision to support an industrial activity which is extremely controversial, both locally and nationally. The decision to work in partnership with Cuadrilla was not discussed with the student body, despite it having an impact on the local community and the future of the Fylde Coast.

Colleges and universities are in a position to make a stand for alternative energy sources and should train students to engineer ecologically healthy solutions to the energy crisis. Financial decisions should not be put before ethical, long term choices, particularly choices which enable the go-ahead of such a contentious activity.

Blackpool, United Kingdom

Maps © Stamen; Data © OSM and contributors, ODbL

Partner

Updates

2014-02-15 17:28:43 -0500

Blackpool and the Fylde College has now removed the links to these board meeting minutes from the governance page of their website.

November mins:

Members were aware of the shale gas exploration currently underway on the Fylde Coast and the possibility, if extraction were to prove possible and following resolution of environmental concerns, of the creation of much needed and high value employment in the area and associated opportunities to provide training. The College wanted to be responsive to this possibility and the Principal had arranged to meet with the Chief Executive of Cuadrilla in January 2012 to discuss how the College could meet the Company’s training needs.

https://www.blackpool.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/board_mins_nov11.pdf
https://www.blackpool.ac.uk/sites/default/files/documents/board_mins_jan12.pdf

2014-02-12 09:28:22 -0500

With thanks to Reverend Peter D - here is a link to the individuals and families in the US who have been harmed as a result of fracking activity (4,828 individuals currently):

http://pennsylvaniaallianceforcleanwaterandair.wordpress.com/the-list/

2014-02-12 01:51:06 -0500

500 signatures reached

2014-02-11 13:47:34 -0500

The scientific studies which show the effects, to date, of fracking:

http://journalistsresource.org/studies/environment/energy/fracking-shale-gas-health-effects-research-roundup

"In active gas-extraction areas (one or more gas wells within 1 km), average and maximum methane concentrations in drinking-water wells increased with proximity to the nearest gas well and were 19.2 and 64 mg CH4 L-1 (n = 26), a potential explosion hazard; in contrast, dissolved methane samples in neighboring nonextraction sites (no gas wells within 1 km) within similar geologic formations and hydrogeologic regimes averaged only 1.1 mgL-1 (P < 0.05; n = 34)."

2014-02-10 17:51:57 -0500

That's 300 signatures in the first 24 hour hours. Clearly a lot of people feel strongly about this. Please continue to share the petition. Thank you.

2014-02-10 10:31:24 -0500

100 signatures reached

2014-02-10 08:04:16 -0500

Almost at 100 signatures already! Please share the petition across social media. It's important that the college knows how we feel about this issue. Thank you.

2014-02-09 22:03:59 -0500

50 signatures reached

2014-02-09 18:36:47 -0500

25 signatures reached

2014-02-09 18:22:22 -0500

https://www.facebook.com/FrackFreeBlackpool

For more information on local, national and worldwide responses to fracking please join Frack Free Blackpool.

2014-02-09 18:06:15 -0500

10 signatures reached