Christchurch New Zealand Earthquakes: Fracking Links? Poem by Terence George Craddock

an unprecedented unexpected earthquake
struck Christchurch New Zealand in
a region of no previous fault line activity

strangely a series of tremors destroyed
much of old historical central Christchurch
never built to withstand an earthquake

between September 2010 and late December 2011
Christchurch experienced earthquakes a series of tremors
two significant events September 4,2010 an earthquake

with a magnitude of 7.0 to 7.1 struck
designated as the Darfield earthquake
it was caused by right-lateral movement

along a previously unknown regional strike-slip fault
in the western section of the beautiful Canterbury Plains
February 22,2011 tragedy a large destructive aftershock

with a magnitude of 6.3 unlike first main shock
this aftershock was generated by oblique thrust
faulting along a new different undiscovered fault

a major earthquake centred 6.7 kilometres
(4.2 mi) south-east of the central business district
caused widespread damage across Christchurch

killing 185 people New Zealand's fifth-deadliest disaster

in April 2012 the Christchurch City Council
voted to declare the city a fracking-free zone.
resource consents required for fracking would

be lodged with Environment Canterbury
the regional council with jurisdiction
over any local underground discharges

yes a fracking-free zone is largely symbolic

Environment Canterbury said the regional
council had no specific rules relating to fracking
but there were existing policies that would

apply to applications for fracking
Christchurch became the first city in
New Zealand in 2012 to declare itself

a 'fracking-free zone'

after a probable link between earthquakes
and hydraulic fracturing was demonstrated in England
oil fracking advocates claim there is no link


Terence George Craddock (Afterglows Echoes Of Starlight)
Copyright © Terence George Craddock