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Janet [28 March 2011 16:21]
I don't believe that there's any way that fracking could be perceived as being viable for the Karoo, or any other area in the world for that matter. It's invasive, water-intensive and highly dangerous, regardless of what might be proposed and said to sugar-coat it. Even a 1/100 chance of contamination of water or air is not acceptable. Farming in the Karoo, the ecology, the people and the animals all depend on the little bit of water that we have in this area. Our country is already suffering a general scarcity in water resources, it's outrageous to think that we should or would risk our water to support and permit a controversial and dangerous mining method for NON-renewable energy. The money, resources, time and energy for fracking should be put into exploring renewable energy such as solar and wind energy! The risks of fracking on our water, people's health, and air quality (chemical pollution is ALWAYS a bad thing!!) does not balance out with the short-term benefits that gas mining offers.
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Feiko [26 March 2011 21:56]
I am Dutch and I shame myself for the misbehaviour of Shell in South Africa, Nigeria and other countries. It could possibly help if you let Geenpeace know what happens in the Karoo ([email protected]). Greenpeace fights companies that act in unlawful ways and don't respect the population and the environment. It is a primary Dutch organisation, but it acts world wide. I wish you the best in your struggle for your rights!
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Hennie [26 March 2011 8:49]
Shell, go try and do your fracking in Holland and see what your fellow country men will say - LEAVE OUR SOUTH AFRICA AS IT IS!!!! We will not benifit - only Shell will Next step boycott Shell...
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JvO [25 March 2011 18:30]
LEAVE THE KAROO ALONE!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is our beautiful country side and home, and to allow shell anywhere near it would be devastating!!!! "Stop fracking up the karoo"!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Malcolm [25 March 2011 14:44]
I fully support the suggestion to boycott all Shell products. If they have no regard for the countryside or impact it will have on nature and the inhabitants, why should we contribute to their profits by using Shell.
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Tim [25 March 2011 8:21]
Nooo,we shouldn` boycott Shell unles we are hundred percnt satisfied that ou action will yield the desired results! How do you boycott a multinational that is JSE listed;global and don`t depend on ordinary people for business. What should have happened and should happen now is for the constitutionalisation of corporacy to which this is what any new government will tell you that your first priority is to drag corporacy into your constitution,or semantics or ideologies! If that would have been th case thn Shell woul have followed the law in its bid!
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Mark [24 March 2011 16:41]
I think that everyone in South Africa and indeed worldwide should boycott Shell garages if they insist on carrying on with this destructive fracking which will destroy the water table of our beautiful Karoo. Lets hit them in their pockets because that appears to be the only language that they understand.
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jseus [24 March 2011 13:13]
go home greedy yankee doodle doo. when the sh@t hits the fan they will be nowhere to be seen just like in wall street with the housing pyramid.
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Werner du Plessis [24 March 2011 11:34]
Shell, or any other company, that really believe themselves when they say the following : 1. Fracking would not leave a permanent scar in the area they mine. 2. Fracking would not bring risks into the area that WAS NOT THERE BEFORE. 3. They would leave the area a better place when they're finished. 4. They will help the farmers in the area to deal with losses that occured as result of fracking. THEY LIE! The so-called benefit for the community and job creation should also be looked at, everyone claims that jobs will be created if they need permission to start something, but how longterm will it be and what happens to people when they stop the projects. People will be brought into the area if locals can't provide enough labour, these people will be left in squatter camps outside towns when the "frackers" leave, who will be responsable for this? I can go on for hours, point is : If you can't assure that the "benefits" you bring will make a longterm contribution in the area and its inheritance, STAY OUT!
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Dr C Pretorius [22 March 2011 19:55]
Like all neo-colonialists, Shell will strip our country of it's beauty and leave nothing, except for the 'black whitemen's' stuffed pockets.
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Greyscale [22 March 2011 12:36]
"can't plan for every eventuality"? The karoo doesn't have much water to begin with and now they want to tamper with that without planning for 'every eventuality? This is disgusting!!! Leave the Karoo alone!
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