Press Releases: Europe

Shale gas, shale oil and coal bed methane have arrived in Europe under the banner of energy security, and more worryingly, environmental protection. However, the reality is that shale gas and the process of hydraulic fracturing (or ‘fracking’) represent a dangerous experiment on both the health of European citizens and the environment, while the economic viability is debateable.

Joint Statement: We, a coalition of environment and health NGOs, have grave concerns about hydraulic fracturing (fracking) of shale gas, shale oil, and coal bed methane (CBM) in Europe.

Press Release: Brussels, April 24, 2012 – A coalition of environmental and health NGOs warned the European Parliament today that hydraulic fracturing (‘fracking’) of shale gas, shale oil, and coal bed methane represent an dangerous experiment on the environment and human health.

Press Statement: Brussels – “Food & Water Europe is deeply alarmed by MEP Boguslaw Sonik’s draft report on the environmental impacts of shale gas and shale oil extraction. Mr. Sonik papers over the genuine risks that fracking poses to our water, our climate and our quality of life. Doing so serves the corporate agenda of fossil fuel companies, not the general interest of European citizens. We urge MEPs to vote against this report in its current form.”

Press Statement: Brussels – “Two and a half months earlier than last year’s dry spell, as new areas of England are joining regions already suffering from drought issues this week, it is disappointing to see that once again the emphasis has been placed on household users and hosepipe bans instead of focusing on the role of water management in the country.
One of the best ways to ensure that water is managed as a common resource, and that both farmers and householders get what they need in dry spells, is to look at water use holistically through public management. Water should not be commoditized for private gain, but stewarded for the long-term public good, in good times and bad.”

Press Statement: “Discards are an obvious place to start, but they are a symptom of far bigger problems underlying fisheries policy. Fixing what’s wrong with EU fisheries means any reform of the Common Fisheries Policy must tackle much more difficult issues like privatising public resources through Individual Transferable Quotas (IFQ’s) and ensuring that limits on overall catch are based on reliable science instead of politics. Furthermore, without considerably improved enforcement, a notional end to discards, or any other revisions, would be little more than hot air.

Press Statement: Brussels – “Food & Water Europe is disappointed that Poland has failed for eight years to implement the European Union’s Water Framework Directive. Poland was recently reprimanded by EU Commissioner for the Environment Janez Potocnik on its inability to establish a national monitoring programme on the health of its surface waters and groundwater. This is particularly worrying given Poland’s plans to encourage shale gas extraction on a large scale.”

Brussels – Solving the tragedy of almost 900 million people around the globe lacking access to safe water, and 2.6 billion lacking access to sanitation requires innovative solutions to fixing inadequate and underfunded infrastructure. But a new report released today by the consumer advocacy group Food & Water Europe highlights how public-public partnerships have successfully and inexpensively provided these critical resources to communities around the globe. Public-Public Partnerships: An Alternative Model to Leverage the Capacity of Municipal Water Utilities, shows that municipalities can forge partnerships with one another to efficiently deliver drinking water and wastewater service while ensuring that these resources are kept under public control.

Press Release: Critics of the triennial World Water Forum are encouraged by the failure on the part of forum organizers to attract large numbers to this year’s event taking place March 12-17 in Marseille.

Press Briefing: On Thursday, 9 February multinational food retailer Ahold will receive the signatures of 26.000 people across Europe demanding an end to greenwash projects like the Round Table for Responsible Soy (RTRS). Hugo Byrnes, director of product integrity at Ahold and the company’s representative in the soy roundtable, is invited to accept the signatures at 13.00 in front of his office.

The petition was kicked off in six countries in 2011 and targeted supermarket chains and food companies around Europe like Ahold, Aldi, Arla, Carrefour, Colruyt, Coop, Delhaize, Marks & Spencer and Unilever. International environmental groups including Friends of the Earth International, Action Aid, Global Forest Coalition and Food & Water Europe supported the action.