Actors (and sisters) Emma and Sophie Thompson have released an episode of ‘Frack-Free Bake Off’, after breaking a court injunction to film the BBC parody on a controversial UK fracking site. The spoof spin-off is a protest against the potential fracking of land in Lancashire, which the Thompsons, Greenpeace, and fellow protesters briefly occupied before being confronted by the landowner and police.
Police appeared to let the protest go ahead, however, as seen in the videos released throughout the day.
The land is leased to fracking company Cuadrilla, whose drilling license has been rejected by Lancashire County Council after opposition from locals. The company are appealing the case.
they were satisfied with Cuadrilla’s plans for drilling and fracking and also with measures relating to air quality, greenhouse gas emissions, earthquakes, water use and visual aspects.
The landowner made his support of the dangerous and pollutant work going ahead on his land, with his response to the protest:
https://youtu.be/yHXWfkdp65o
The role of humour in protest is an important one, as discussed by bell hooks and Hari Kondabolu in their recent on-stage conversation on comedy and politics. As hooks reminds us, comedy is integral to intervention, to engagement, and for helping people to heal. She declares that within that it is paramount to maintain integrity, respect and vision. So in other words, we should totally take the piss while fighting to protect the health of the British people and our countryside.
Get involved!
Write to your MP demanding that fracking licenses be overturned.
Email Greg Clark about the Lancashire appeal at [email protected]
Image via Greenpeace
