Christians pray at sites threatened with fracking

Christians from a range of denominational backgrounds went on an anti-fracking road trip yesterday, stopping to meet and pray with communities threatened with fracking. Members of Christian Climate Action from across the UK visited three sites in Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire where planning permission has been sought or already granted for either seismic testing or exploratory drilling. At each site they met with local people who are opposing fracking and prayed for the protection of creation and that fracking will not happen.

Ruth Jarman, one of those who attended, said: "Surrounded by beautiful countryside, it was easy to give thanks and praise for God’s creation, but it was hard to imagine a 60 metre high drilling rig towering over the fields. It is a mistake to explore for more oil and gas when scientists tell us that we must leave 90% of all known reserves in the ground in order to maintain abundant life on earth as we know it. It felt right to be here. We prayed for strength and perseverance for the local opposition groups, and for the repentance and conversion of humanity as we seek to learn to live within our means in God’s earth."

The sites visited were:

· Bramleymoor Lane near Eckington in Derbyshire. This is the first site in Derbyshire were planning permission has been applied for a shale gas exploration site.

· Tinker Lane near Blyth in Nottinghamshire. In May 2017 Nottinghamshire County Council granted planning permission for an exploratory well. It is the second site in the county to be granted such permission.

· Shirebrook Wood near Shirebrook in Nottinghamshire. The wood is a local beauty spot and one of a number of council-owned sites where permission is being sought for seismic testing.

Christian Climate Action is a community of Christians supporting each other in acts of public witness and non-violent direct action, as a way of following Jesus in the face of climate breakdown.

For more information see: https://christianclimateaction.wordpress.com