[Anglican Communion Environmental Network] Anglicans and Episcopalians are being encouraged to inform themselves and join in the debate about the controversial and growing practice of drilling for natural gas known as hydraulic fracturing, or fracking.

In an open letter to the Anglican Communion, Canon Dr Jeff Golliher has called on its members to learn about fracking and to be proactive in their own contexts.

“Fracking involves deep vertical and then horizontal drilling in order to extract natural gas,” he said, “Drilling can extend for distances measured not in feet/meters, but miles/kilometers.  It requires millions of gallons/liters of water per well, mixed with chemicals that are known to be toxic…consequences of this drilling method [include] the risk of contaminating drinking water and the impact on climate change (fracking wells can release methane, a greenhouse gas much worse than carbon dioxide).”

He advises Communion members to explore the facts, contact local concern groups and discuss the issue with their bishop.

Dr. Golliher–who is advisor to the Anglican Communion Environmental Network (ACEN) and the Program Director for the Environment and Sustainable Communities at the Anglican Communion Office at the United Nations in New York–has published his letter at  http://acen.anglicancommunion.org/news/index.cfm/2013/5/17/With-Love-for-God-and-Concern-about-Fracking
and http://carbonfast2013.wordpress.com/