AIBU to think women are against fracking because of the science not because they don't understand!

[deeedeee]

'Many women are against fracking because they “don’t understand” the process due to a lack of education in science'.

That's what Prof Averil MacDonald, who works for the UK oil and gas industry, says is the reason women are against fracking.

There is clear scientific evidence of the hugely negative environmental, social and climate change impacts of fracking, but she clearly does not want to listen to that!

What could possibly have clouded Prof MacDonald's views on women's scientific judgement? Oh, wait a minute! She chairs the industry body industry body UK Onshore Oil and Gas which represents the views of the fossil fuel companies.

Read more here www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/women-dont-understand-fracking-due-to-lack-of-education-industry-chief-claims-a6705166.html

I don't just think it's the planning regime that is protecting industry - it's far broader than that. Prior to the Summer of 2013 I would have considered the failing as being part of a system that functions with a degree of success but also with some limitations.

However the number of failings within the whole process from the original planning announcement right up until the drilling was over and Cuadrilla left, the sense of powerlessness from both members of the community and people following policy within the planning and permitting agencies and then add how people who objected to Cuadrilla being there were portrayed by the media and handled by the police, caused my perspective to change.

If you work within the sector and you, as a professional, believe that the onshore permitting regimes need to be tightened up, and yet still the government is cutting back resources within these departments and easing the route for onshore oil exploration (infrastructure bill), surely you must question why?

Because NIMBY's should not be able to derail nationally important projects, be they fracking, wind turbines, HS2, heathrow etc.

Better a nimby than a numpty Carol

That's a rhetorical question, isn't it?

That MacDonald person is being very unreasonable. I mean, seriously. I don't need "education in science" to be against fracking ... only some education in scientific thinking and how to tell whether there are conflicting interests.

“I always cheer up immensely if an attack is particularly wounding because I think, well, if they attack one personally, it means they have not a single political argument left.

No, I took offence at the term NIMBY carol.

It implies that I, and other people who argue against fracking are, small minded, unintelligent and uninformed. So really is along the line of Averil MacDonald's comment - not really very helpful at all.