NI 468 - December, 2013

Fracking - the gathering storm

A note from the editor

Ah December! Month when citizens of the Western world can feel under an absolute, sometimes despairing, obligation to ‘be festive’. And what do we offer our readers? Why, an edition on fracking, of course.

The subject of the December mag makes a brief appearance in editorial considerations as the end of the year looms into sight. Proposed topics are met with groans of ‘That’s really going to cheer them up!’ In the end, we just go with what we think is important, December or not.

In our lowdown on fracking, a controversial form of fossil fuel extraction, there are some glimmers of hope. Chief among them being the sheer number of campaigns against the practice wherever it is proposed. Where fracking is concerned, it seems that despite the disinformation peddled by the oil and gas industry and mouthpiece politicians, large numbers of people are quite capable of making up their own minds.

We had festivities of a different sort on 31 October, Halloween. We celebrated 40 years on the media landscape with a glittering panel of activists and thinkers who debated ‘What it means to be an internationalist today’ with an engaged and lively audience. Watch it at: nin.tl/174ezUq

At times like these particularly I am reminded of our larger audience – you, our readers. Thank you for believing in us through the years and supporting us with your subscriptions. Thank you to those of you who have taken the further step of becoming a Friend of New Internationalist. We couldn’t do what we do without you.

This month our Worldbeater column features Mr European Austerity, also known as Olli Rehn. He may not have a high media profile himself but the campaign of cuts over which he has presided is front page news on an almost daily basis.

With the intractability of the Syrian conflict in mind, disillusion with the UN’s inability to find some way out is tempting. Our Argument on whether it is time to junk the UN Security Council gives pause for thought.

Dinyar Godrej for the New Internationalist co-operative.
www.newint.org

NI 468 - December, 2013

Fracking - the gathering storm

A note from the editor

The big story

The lowdown on fracking and why communities around the world are so against it. The myths, the science, the history, the empty promises, the facts – all in this handy primer written by environmental researcher Danny Chivers.

Features

The fracking process explained visually.

Pundits foresee an altered world order brought on by fracked gas and oil. Dinyar Godrej thinks the changes could play out quite differently to the most common predictions.

Indian railway stations are a magnet for impoverished children looking for a better future. What usually awaits them is abuse and exploitation. Terina Keene on an initiative helping them find a way out.

Reports on the fightback from Argentina.

Reports on the fightback from Australia.

Opinion

Lecturer and writer Phil Leech and researcher Richard Gowan go head to head.

Agenda

On the eve of the Commonwealth summit in Colombo, Lewis Garland reports on the insidious disempowerment of the country's Tamil community.

Amy Hall reports on a man's battle to become the world's first climate-change refugee.

Regulars

What is the accommodation between tradition and modernity, wonders Wame Molefhe.

Tough love, harsh truths, austerity cuts – it’s all in a day’s work for the European Commission's ‘archangel of fiscal sobriety’.

The Palestinian actor tells Frank Barat why fame will not change him - or his passion for justice for his people.

Dean Peacock , the director of Sonke Gender Justice Network, is determined to engage men and boys in women’s rights. By Janey Stephenson.

Film, Book & Music Reviews

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