The musician does not think shale gas exploration can ensure energy security

Jun 2, 2014 13:18 GMT  ·  By

Sir Paul McCartney is no big fan of fracking, and he is anything but shy when it comes to letting other people know how he feels about this method of exploiting natural gas reserves.

In fact, Paul McCartney hates fracking so much that he has agreed to spearhead a new green-oriented campaign intended to convince high officials in the United Kingdom to reconsider their plans concerning shale gas exploration.

More precisely, it appears that the former Beatle, together with 150 other celebrities, scientists, and environmental groups, is now asking that a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing be implemented in the United Kingdom without delay.

For those unaware, fracking boils down to injecting pressurized liquid in the underground, causing it to fracture and thus gaining access to oil and gas reserves that would otherwise remain out of reach.

This practice is argued to make a region more prone to earthquakes, and several investigations have also uncovered evidence that it can cause groundwater sources to become contaminated. Hence, environmentalists wholeheartedly oppose it.

As part of the “We Need to Talk About Fracking” campaign spearheaded by Sir Paul McCartney, a series of debates is to be held in as many as five cities across the United Kingdom, Business Green tells us.

Anyone who has time to spare and is interested in the issue can pick and choose which of these debates they might want to participate in. The end goal is to establish whether fracking is the way to go when it comes to ensuring energy security.

Those who can't take part in these debates but who nonetheless would like the country to impose a moratorium on hydraulic fracturing can still take a stand by signing an online petition on the official website for the “We Need to Talk About Fracking” campaign.

“There is substantial evidence showing that fracking causes water stress and risks water contamination and soil contamination, earth tremors and a threat to human, wildlife, bird, fish and livestock health,” the petition reads.

Furthermore, “We know that this technology will not bring down fuel bills and will not provide a jobs boom but it has the potential to leave a damaging environmental legacy for future generations.”

“We the undersigned believe that the government must suspend fracking immediately while a genuinely independent, balanced and thorough public debate is held into the potential dangers this industry holds for the UK.”

By the looks of it, the petition has until now been signed by quite a lot of celebs including Yoko Ono, Helena Bonham-Carter, Alan Carr, Jude Law, Russell Brand, and Thom Yorke.