One of the world’s most famous actors
and activists, Mark Ruffalo, who plays 'The Hulk', has today weighed into
Europe’s climate debate, urging members of the European Parliament in Brussels
to vote against a list of priority EU energy infrastructure projects next week,
as it could subsidise 55 new fossil fuel projects, including those that
facilitate the import and transport of US fracked gas.
"#Fracked
#gas
is going to poison our people. It's the antithesis of moving forward a #EUGreenDeal"
Hulk star @MarkRuffalo
tells MEPs.
>>Dump the #PCIList
and its 55 polluting gas projects. #NoRoomForGas
pic.twitter.com/jEqjie4ykA
— Friends of the Earth (@foeeurope) February 5, 2020
Europe should not import
US fracked gas
Ruffalo was speaking in Brussels this
afternoon about his new film Dark Waters, and had a private meeting with
European Parliament President David Sassoli.
Mark Ruffalo said in a
statement:
"I’m in Brussels to
screen my new film Dark Waters and advocate for protecting our
precious water from toxic chemicals.
"I’m urging the
European Parliament to vote down a list of 55 fossil fuel infrastructure
projects, many of which would import fracked gas from the US to Europe. This
not only contradicts the European Green Deal but also exacerbates climate
change at a time when the world needs Europe to be a climate leader.
"Supporting fracked
gas projects runs counter to the laudable actions of several European countries
that have banned fracking including France, Bulgaria, Ireland, Austria, Germany
and areas of Belgium, the Netherlands, and Spain. Fracking is not safe in those
countries, it’s not safe in the United States, and the European Parliament
should not import US fracked gas."
World needs Europe to be
climate leader
He earlier made a personal video statement on his social media urging members of the
European Parliament to be true climate leaders by voting against the so-called
‘Projects of Common Interest’ (PCI) list and instead investing in renewable
energy projects.
The world needs Europe to lead on #climate!
Members of the European Parliament, please vote next week against #PCIlist
w/ fracked gas infrastructure projects. #EuropeanGreenDeal
should only support renewable & energy efficiency projects!@IratxeGarper @ManfredWeber @CiolosDacian pic.twitter.com/4vUrYtuy3F
— Mark Ruffalo (@MarkRuffalo) February 5, 2020
MEPs are due to vote next week in
Strasbourg on a motion to reject the EU’s list of priority energy projects. If
the list is approved, fossil fuel corporations will be eligible to receive funding from
the European Union to build these projects. Many of these projects could be
used to import damaging fracked gas from the United States.
Colin Roche, climate
justice coordinator for Friends of the Earth Europe reacted:
“The Hulk is right, there
can be no truly Green Deal with more fracked gas. It’s now up to all MEPs to
reject the EU’s list of priority energy projects which gives immense backing to
yet more fossil fuels.”
The Hulk smashes the #PCIlist!
After discussing his new film #DarkWaters,
actor/activist @MarkRuffalo
urges MEPs to reject 55 new #fossil
gas projects in next weeks plenary vote.https://t.co/IZsCPuO8AP@pcanfin @SchaldemoseMEP
@mgracacarvalho
@WeissPernille
@spietikainen
pic.twitter.com/XXR17d1M9i
— Food & Water Action Europe
(@FoodWaterEurope) February 5, 2020