Europe, June 20, 2014
To: Mr. Anders Fogh Rasmussen (Secretary General of NATO)
Subject: Your comments on Russia’s involvement in European anti-fracking groups
(Open letter)
Dear NATO Secretary-General Rasmussen,
We the undersigned are groups of citizens and environmental organizations that
are concerned about fracking and shale gas drilling and that campaign against the
development of unconventional fossil fuels like shale gas in Europe. We were
astonished to read your comment about us in several European media outlets:
“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”.
Such allegations are not new but, until now, existed only as unsubstantiated,
perfidious rumors.
As NATO’s work heavily depends on detailed and precise intelligence-gathering,
we hope that your extra-ordinary claim about the European anti-fracking movement is
backed up by extra-ordinary evidence. We therefore call on you, as the secretarygeneral of an important regional military organization with global reach, to either offer
proof for these accusations or to publicly apologize for this false statement.
Furthermore, we would like to draw your attention to the fact, that the European
authorities, such as the European Commission, have already published several
studies demonstrating the high risks involved in the fracking industry—as have
leading scientists around the world. Does Secretary General Rasmussen believe that
these institutions and individuals are all Russian dupes?
Ironically, as widely recognized, fracking for shale gas will neither reduce Europe’s
dependency on Russian gas supplies nor will it lead to lower gas prices. Anti-fracking
groups across Europe agree that Europe’s increasing reliance on imported fossil
fuels like natural gas is a concern, and we are therefore convinced that an ambitious
development of renewables and serious investment in energy efficiency is the best
way to reduce our reliance on Russian fossil fuels. We would welcome a serious and
informed discussion on the topic of energy security.
Anti-fracking groups are raising awareness about the risks of shale gas
development for the climate, air, water and public health. Social movements like ours
have a key role toplay in nurturing a public debate about the future of European
climate, environmental and low-carbon energy policies. The precautionary principle,
the principle of preventive action, the ‘polluter pays’ principle are written into the
Lisbon Treaty. Preserving, protecting and improving the quality of the environment
and combating climate change are key objectives of the EU.
Labeling the European anti-fracking movement as infiltrated by Russian agents
undermines the legitimate public debate about the risks and impacts of fracking and
undermines our democratic institutions.
This is not the first time that we have been accused of being Gazprom spies or
“working against the public interests of the state”. We will no longer tolerate a
defamation or criminalization of our important work. If there are indeed groups that
oppose fracking and that are secretly working with Russia against the interests of the
European people, we would also like to know who they are.
Therefore, we look forward to receiving proof of your accusations. Or a public
apology.
Yours sincerely,
Several groups, active in the European anti-fracking movement, support the contents
of this open letter.
Signatures / Firmantes :
The European anti-fracking movement / Movimiento europeo contra la fractura hidráulica
1. Food & Water Europe
2. BI Lebenswertes Korbach e.V. (Germany)
3. BI Fracking freies Hessen (Germany)
4. Schaliegasvrij Nederland
5. Confederación de Ecologistas en Acción (Spain)
6. Asociatia România Fără Ei, Romania
7. Supported by Josh Fox
8. Attac France
9. Activists Without Borders / Activisti Fara Frontiere [Romania]
10. Les Amis de la Terre / Friends of the Earth France
11. Collectif citoyen, Pézenas, Castelnau de Guers et environs ( France )
12. Collectif du Céressou ( France)
13. Fracking Free Ireland - Brussels (Belgium)
14. Collectif GAZPART-02 Soissons- (France)
15. Collectif Stop gaz de schiste Anduze (30-France)
16. Collectif Non au gaz et huile de schiste (47-France)
17. Collectif Gaz de Schiste Non Merci - Clapiers (34-France)
18. Fracking Free Clare
19. Not For $hale
20. Heaven Or sHell, Sweden
21. Climaxi, Belgium
22. Asociatia “Valea Soarelui” / Sun Valley Association (Romania, Mures)
23. Friends of the Earth Scotland
24. Koalice Stop HF, Czech Republic
25. Asociatia “Mişcarea de rezistenţă din Pungeşti”, Romania
26. Fracking Free Ireland (FFI)
27. Keep Ireland Fracking Free (KIFF)
28. Collectifs Isérois STOP GHRM 38 ( France)
29. Collectif Hainaut 59 (France)
30. Collectif Roynac 26 (France)
31. Collectif Citoyen du Narbonnais Non Gaz et Pétrole de Schiste (France - 11)
32. Collectif d’Anduze (30) France
33. Collectif Montpellier littoral contre les huile et gaz de schiste (France-34)
34. Collectif Bassin de Thau (France - 34)
35. Collectif de Sète (France - 34)
36. Collectif “Eco’lectif Dégaze de Gignac et Environs”( France -34
37. Collectif 07 Stop au Gaz et Huiles de Schiste (France-07)
38. Collectif “Non gaz de schiste” Florac ( France - 48)
39. Collectif 91 non au gaz et petrole de schiste (France)
40. Collectif Ile-de-France contre les pétrole et gaz de schiste (France)
41. Collectif stop gaz de schiste Roquedur-Le Vigan (France - 30)
42. Collectif de Campagnan (34 - France)
43. Collectif stop gaz de schiste 69 (France)
44. Collectif Basta! Gaz Alès (France - 30)
45. Collectif Vigilance Plaine d’Alès Camis-gaz (France - 30)
46. Collectif Houille-ouille-ouille 59/62 (France)
47. Collectif Orb-Jaur non au gaz de schiste (France - 34)
48. Fundacja Strefa Zieleni / Green Zone Foundation (Poland)
49. Centrum Zrównowazonego Rozwoju / Center for Sustainable Development (Poland)
50. Network Zlupieni.pl (Poland)
51. Fundatia Speranta Sf. Stefan (Romania, Mures)
52. GISC Barlad / Group for Initiative of Civil Society Barlad (Romania)
53. Asociația Grupul de Intervenție Civică, România / Civic Intervention Group, Romania
54. Collectif STOP GDHC d’Alsace et de Lorraine
55. Asociaţia România Vie, România / The România Vie Society, Romania
56. Comunitatea “Uniţi Salvăm”, România / The “United We Save” Community, Romania
57. Asociatia SPEhRo Romania
58. Asociatia “Amicii Bucovinei” Romania
59. IG Schönes Lünne (Germany)
60. BI FrackingFreies Hamburg (Germany)
61. BI gegen CO2-Endlager e.V. (Germany)
62. IG Fracking-freies Artland e.V. (Germany)
63. Fracking Free Bulgaria
64. Collectif pays cigalois (France)
65. Collectif Montpeyroux (France 34)
66. Collectif Arboras (France 34)
67. Asociatia DobroGeea, RomaniaEast Kent Against Fracking (UK)
68. Instytut Spraw Obywatelskich / The Civil Affairs Institute (Poland)
69. IG Gegen Gasbohren Hamminkeln/Niederrhein (Germany)
70. Aktionsbündnis No Moor Fracking (Germany)
71. Bore Free Eastry (UK)
72. Collectif du Minervois
73. BI Frackingfreie Zukunft- Herzogtum Lauenburg (Germany)
74. Collectif Non au pétrole de schiste - Bocage Gâtinais (France 77-89-45)
75. Arbeitskreis Fracking Braunschweiger Land (Germany)
76. BI kein frack in WF (Germany)
77. Collectif Piémont cévenol ( France)
78. Stowarzyszenie Ekologiczne EKO-UNIA ( Poland)
79. Orezeanu Agath
80. Federación de Ecologistas en Acción de la Comunidad de Madrid (Spain)
81. Asociatia Euroarmonia ( Romania)
82. Veronica Bala (Romania/Belgium)
83. Ecologistas en Acción de La Rioja (Spain)
84. Fundația Culturală Harry Tavitian (Constanța, România)
85. Fracking Free Bulgaria (Bulgaria)
86. Zelenite (Bulgaria)
87. Roseacre Awareness Group ( UK)
88. Asociatia Centrul pentru Studii si Initiativa Civica ( Arad, Romania )
89. Ecologistas en Acción de Palencia (Spain)
90. Asociación Terra SOStenible (Spain)
91. Collectif Causse Méjean - Gaz de Schiste NON ! (Lozère - France)
92. Les Dindons de la Farce (France)
93. Mişcarea civică “Revoluţia curată” - The civic movement “Clean Revolution”, (Sibiu,
România)
94. Collectif Garrigue-Vaunage (France)
95. Iniţiativa Civică Buziaş - I.C.B. (Buziaş, România)
96. Grupul de initiativa civica “Vienna Against Fracking”.
97. Ecologistas en Acción de Sanlúcar de Barrameda (Spain)
98. Asociaţia România Civică (România)
99. BI Gemeinsam gegen Gas- und Probebohrungen am Niederrhein (Germany)
100. Aktionsbündnis No Fracking Mülheim an der Ruhr (Germany)
101. AMFÖ - Aktiosgruppen Mot Fossilgasutvinning på Öland (Sweden)
102. AG Postfossil (Germany)
103. Ecoloxistes n’Aición d’Asturies (Spain)
104. Plataforma Asturiana Antifracking (Spain)
105. Frack Free Greater Manchester (UK)
106. Frack Free Irlam & Cadishead (UK)
107. Davyhulme and Trafford Frack Free (UK)
108. Concerned Communities of Falkirk (Falkirk Against Unconventional Gas) (Scotland)
109. Federación de Ecologistas en Acción de Cádiz
110. Federació d’Ecologistes en Acció de Catalunya (Catalonia)
111. Bund für Umwelt und Naturschutz Deutschland - BUND - Friends of the Earth Germany
112. Frack Free Surrey (UK)
113. Weinviertel statt Gasviertel
114. NOFracking Bodensee-Oberschwaben (Germany)
115. Entrepueblos (Spain)
116. Entrepobles (Catalonia)
117. Entrepobos (Galicia)
118. Herriarte (Basque Country)
119. Stowarzyszenie Eko-Inicjatywa/Eco-Initiative Association (Poland)
120. Polska Zielona Sieć / Polish Green Network (Poland)
121. Plataforma contra el fracking de Guadalajara (Spain)
122. Ecologistas en Acción de Guadalajara (Spain)
123. REAF – Ribble Estuary Against Fracking (UK)
124. Residents Action on Flyde Fracking (UK)
125. Canonbie & District Residents Association (UK)
126. No FiBS - No Fracking in Balcombe Society (UK)