Europe’s Anti-Fracking Activists May Be Way More Sinister Than You’d Think (Russian stooges)

The National Review's The Corner ^ | June 19, 2014 | Patrick Brennan

[2ndDivisionVet]

As the debate over how to regulate fracking — and whether to permit the process at all — rages in the U.S. and Europe, there are powerful interests that can benefit from blocking its expansion, namely, existing oil and gas producers, such as the Gulf States and Russia. There have been plenty of rumors that the governments of such places have supported anti-fracking activists, but now NATO has more or less officially accused Russian intelligence agencies of supporting anti-fracking NGOs in Europe. The FT reports:

Russian intelligence agencies are covertly funding and working with European environmental groups to campaign against fracking and maintain EU dependence on Russian gas, the head of Nato has claimed.

Answering questions after a speech in London, Anders Fogh Rasmussen, Nato secretary-general, said improving European energy security was of the “utmost importance” and accused Moscow of “blackmail” in its dealings with Europe. “I have met allies who can report that Russia, as part of their sophisticated information and disinformation operations, engaged actively with so-called non-governmental organisations – environmental organisations working against shale gas – to maintain European dependence on imported Russian gas,” Mr Rasmussen, former Danish prime minister, told an audience at Chatham House, the international affairs think-tank. . . .

Mr Rasmussen did not detail the nature of his suspicions about Russian involvement with environmental groups.

The 28-nation EU bloc depends on Russia for about a third of its oil and gas needs but has significant shale gas reserves that could permanently curb its high dependence on imports.

A Nato official, speaking on condition of anonymity, told the Financial Times that the alliance believed Russia was engaged in “a campaign of disinformation on many issues, including energy”.

“The potential for Russia using energy supplies as a means of putting pressure on European nations is a matter of concern. No country should use supply and pricing terms as tools of coercion,” they said. “We share a concern by some allies that Russia could try to obstruct possible projects on shale gas exploration in Europe in order to maintain Europe’s reliance on Russian gas.”

[2ndDivisionVet]

Makes sense.

[wideawake]

For the same reason that Arabs fund anti-fracking movies in the US.

Russia prefers to fight dirty.

[henkster]

Where do the environmentalists get their money to hire armies of well-paid lobbyists and lawyers?

Gee, Bob, I don’t know....

[BobL]

Happened NON-STOP during the Cold War and was quite effective. Only difference now is that there’s actually a report on it.

After the Soviet Union fell, they stopped doing that (at least for a decade). But the people they had been paying actually believed that garbage and went on autopilot, taking over the Democrat Party.

[nathanbedford]

As a conservative who lives in Bavaria, I can from personal experience attest to the near unanimity of opposition to fracking here in Europe.

Very recently there was a proposal to drill for water within walking distance of my home which became the focus of a grassroots campaign that successfully prohibited it. There were house to house canvassers, usually husband-and-wife teams, who came armed with pictures of burning faucets etc. etc. who were very earnest and, in my view, grossly misinformed.

But my point is that they found a receptive audience and virtually no contrary opinion. My neighbors believe the video which circulates on the Internet showing the burning faucets and they receive virtually no contrary information.

I have no direct knowledge of Russian infiltration of the movement but I hold an overall view that green is the new red.

[2ndDivisionVet]

BANANA (Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything) has replaced NIMBY.

[nathanbedford]

This Ghia inspired reactionary desire to return to the cave is not limited to oil and gas or building, it applies to hormones and genetically controlled crops. In every instance the opposition to technological progress seems to be across the board.