Great News  - In early January Clare County Council voted to amend its county development plan to stop hydraulic fracturing for gas in the county. Hopefully this will lead other counties to follow Clare County Councils wisdom and protect future generations and provide them with clean drinking water. In Ennis people know what it is like to go without clean drinking water for a prolonged period and are well educated. More information on Clare County Council's decision from Clare FM online and the Clare Champion online.

UPDATE End January 2012: 5 counties have now amended their county development plans to ban hydraulic fracturing for gas. These are Clare, Leitrim, Roscommon, Donegal and Sligo. (Leitrim voted for a 5 year moratorium).

60 Minutes piece on dangers of Natural Gas Fracking

County Clare may also become the first carbon neutral county in Ireland with the recent announcement that West Clare Renewable Energy Ltd., a co-operative of local landowners, is to develop a windfarm of 29 3MW turbines on Mount Callan, providing enough electricity for the entire county and part of Limerick. Clare now looks set to lead the way in sustainable living in Ireland. More info on Ireland's biggest community owned wind farm here.

Blue Gold

Fresh drinking water is running out. It is predicted in the future that wars may be fought over clean drinking water and the rights for same. The term 'blue gold' has been coined for the current and future potential of fresh drinking water in world markets. The human body is 55-60% water. You may have noticed that a litre bottle of water can be more than the price of petrol or diesel equivalent to buy. Like fuel that too is set to rise in the future conventional marketplace. Simple solution, rainwater harvesting !

Further Information on Fracking

Jessica Ernst, a 54 year old scientist with 30 years petroleum industry experience, is suing the Alberta government, Energy Resources Conservation Board (ERCB) and EnCana for negligence and unlawful activities. Ernst alleges that industry contaminated a shallow aquifer with natural gas and toxic industry-related chemicals. (11/12/11)