Should we dash for Gas via Fracking or use more Green and Sustainable less toxic options? 3

Question: Is Fracking (Hydraulic fracturing)  for Gas nothing more than the delusion caused by an addiction?

Like all addictions, our fossil fuel craving tempts us to ignore inconvenient truths that threaten our next fix.
The simple reality for shale gas in Europe is that no serious, independent authority, from the International Energy Agency down, thinks fracking will provide enough gas to dent its price in Europe.

As the government’s own advisers set out today, over-reliance on gas exposes consumers to far higher hikes in bills.

Proponents of fracking point to the economic benefits from vast amounts of formerly inaccessible hydrocarbons the process can extract.

Opponents point to potential environmental impacts, including contamination of ground water, risks to air quality, the migration of gases and hydraulic fracturing chemicals to the surface, surface contamination from spills and flowback and the health effects of these.

For these reasons hydraulic fracturing has come under scrutiny internationally, with some countries suspending or even banning it.

Last year France put a ban on fracking. Though, they have shale oil reserves, they decided not to allow fracking because of the danger the method poses to drinking water.  It was a victory for environmental groups in the country.

In November 2012, France agreed to allow research into alternative methods to removing shale oil other than fracking.

What do you think?

Comments welcomed.

Thanks.
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More info from FoE Scotland:
http://www.foe-scotland.org.uk/whatsitallabout

Sources:
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Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hydraulic_fracturing

the Guardian UK
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2012/dec/13/shale-gas-fracking-davey

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/damian-carrington-blog/2012/dec/05/osborne-autumn-statement-2012-gas-environment-green-economy