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 secretary-general 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 to
play 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:
- Food & Water Europe
- BI lebenswertes Korbach e.V. & BI Fracking freies Hessen, Germany
- Schaliegasvrij Nederland
- Ecologistas en Accion, Spain
- Heaven Or sHell, Sweden
- Les Amis de la Terre / Friends of the Earth France
- ATTAC, France
- Activists Without Borders
- Climaxi, Belgium
- Friends of the Earth Scotland
- Koalice Stop HF, Czech Republic
- Asociatia „Romania fara ei” (Romania without Them) & Miscarea de Rezistenta din
- Pungesti (Pungesti Resistance Movement), Romania
- Fracking Free Ireland / Brussels
- Supported by Josh Fox (Gasland), United States
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