Fracking fury is fairly foolish

Sir, – There are two things that we should learn from the recent interruption of test fracking in Lancashire on account of a 0.8 magnitude earthquake.

Firstly, the deep scientific ignorance of the people who make policy.

An earthquake of magnitude 0.8 is so small that it is almost certain that only seismographic sensors could detect it.

In fact, it is so small that it really doesn’t merit being called an earthquake at all.

The size of earthquakes are measured according to what scientists call a logarithmic scale, thus a 2.0 has more than 30 times the energy of a 1.0, which itself has about twice the energy of 0.8.

Furthermore, earthquakes in the range 2.0 to 2.9, which are respectively between 60 and over 2,000 times as powerful as the Lancashire “earthquake”, would only be felt slightly by people and would not damage buildings.

Secondly, the fact that in Britain fracking can be interrupted on account of an earthquake (vibration might be a better word) of

magnitude 0.5 is testament to the pernicious influence of the Green movement.

The Greens have fought tooth and nail to stop fracking, which would fight fuel poverty, lead to energy security for Britain and allow us to loosen our ties with Saudi Arabia.

It is high time that Green superstition was no longer able to stand in the way of the future. Otto Inglis. 6 Inveralmond Grove, Edinburgh.