Fracking ‘Nazi’ film shown at public meeting
The video, a scene from the war film Downfall, had been overdubbed so Adolf Hitler appears to rant about people on the Fylde coast rising up to oppose to the controversial shale gas exploration process.
The five-minute long film was met with laughter at the meeting at St Annes community centre where Gayzer Frackman, from the pressure group Frack Free Fylde, gave a lecture.
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Hide AdBut Fylde Council leader, Coun David Eaves, has described the video as “a disgrace”.
And Tina Rothery, from another anti-fracking group Residents Action on Fylde Fracking (RAFF), distanced her group from the video – which has received almost 300 hits on YouTube.
She said: “We all have different audiences. What Gayzer attracts and what we attract are different crowds.”
St Annes Town Council member Coun Carol Lanyon said: “From my personal point of view I find it distasteful.
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Hide Ad“It’s not to say I’m in agreement with fracking, but I think there’s a better way to go about it (opposing the process) than tasteless satire.”
However, Mr Frackman has defended his decision to show the video at the meeting, which was attended by around 40 people.
He said: “You’ve got to have a little bit of humour every now and then. It’s satire and that’s been going on for years.”
Downfall is a German language film which depicts the final 10 days of Hitler’s rule.
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Hide AdMr Frackman says he found the fracking version of the film while searching for something else on internet video site YouTube, and does not know who created it.
A link to Frack Off’s website appears beneath the video, but the group has denied it is responsible.
During his speech to the meeting Mr Frackman also accused the Government of “pandering” to big oil and gas companies over plans to drill at sites on the Fylde, and hit out at claims the process could lead to cheaper energy bills for householders.
Fracking is the process whereby chemicals and water are forced deep underground at high pressure to release gas
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Hide AdMr Frackman said: “The only people going for (fracking) are the Government, fracking companies and their shareholders.
“When they get the shale out, we won’t be getting it – they’ll be selling it to the highest bidder.”
Energy firm Cuadrilla has several potential drilling sites on the Fylde coast.
Cuadrilla has declined to comment on the issue of the video.
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Hide AdHowever a spokesman for the company said: “While we are at the exploration stage in our work to unlock Lancashire’s considerable shale gas potential, we are confident that natural gas from shale could play an important part in Britain’s energy mix.
“A growing number of reports show that shale gas could help to replace gas imports, improve energy security and create well-paid jobs in the sector.
“Gas is a commodity and, like all commodities, increasing supply, in particular supply located close to domestic demand, will exert downward pressure on price.”