Greenpeace set up quarantine zone around the probe Chevron in Pungesti

UPDATE 24:00 – After 15 uninterrupted hours, the blockade ended. All activists were evacuated, during which media access was prohibited by the police.

UPDATE 4:34 p.m. – blockade continues, after more than 8 hours of protest. Activists were legitimate by the police received summons to leave the place, but they remain in position.

25 Greenpeace activists from seven countries (Romania, Hungary, Austria, Czech Republic, Poland, Slovakia and Germany) have protested peacefully and said today quarantine zone around the probe Chevron Pungesti blocking the zone and banned hydraulic fracturing for extracting shale gas. The activists formed a human chain to enter the perimeter Chevron were linked fence surrounding the probe and banners with messages: "Pungesti Quarantine Area anti–Chevron", " hydraulic fracturing NOT ", " Stop the abuse of Pungesti ".

In April, the company installed the first probe Chevron for shale gas exploration, despite local protests, which lasted for months. The company plans to install wells and in neighboring villages and they received the environmental agreements: Păltiniş (Băceşti), Siliştea (Pungeşti), Popeni (Găgeşti ) and Puiesti where Vaslui County Council that has granted the building permits.

So far, 11 local councils in Vaslui County, namely: Alexandru Vlahuțã, Bãcani, Coroiești, Dumești, Gherghești, Pochidia, Perieni, Pogana, Puiești, Tutova and Vinderei, have adopted the decision to ban shale gas exploration and exploitation.

Both technology and technology exploration and extraction of shale gas through hydraulic fractionation are extremely dangerous and polluting, with consequences that persist in soil, water and the organisms that live in the affected areas. The protest action is a response to the unprecedented measure taken by the Romanian Government on restricting the rights of a community.

"On October 16, 2013, the Romanian Government through its institutions and allowed to establish" special security zone "in Pungesti the expense of protecting the environment and its inhabitants. To obtain "cheap gas" Government defends corporate interests instead to defend the rights of its citizens.

Greenpeace has set up special quarantine area Anti–Chevron because of the dangers to which it is subject to population hydraulic fracturing methods.

This process leads to poisoning of groundwater and surface poisoning subsoil, air and increased seismic risk. This virus of economic development at any cost, without regard for the will of the people and protect the environment minima rule, must end.

People and the environment are more important than those of corporations gain. Industrial exploitation of shale gas can not be at the expense of life of hundreds of thousands of people concensionate perimeters. We require termination of any such initiatives against environmental and citizens' will. "Said Laurențiu Ciocîrlan, coordinator of Greenpeace campaigns in Romania.

All Chevron Romania received three concession agreements for petroleum exploration and development – operation for perimeters Adamclisi Costineşti and Vama Veche is located in Constanta.

Greenpeace CEE Romania, along with other non-governmental organizations have challenged in court the four petroleum concession agreements for exploration / development / exploitation of shale gas through hydraulic fracturing, Chevron concluded the obtaining for perimeters Vama Veche, Adamclisi Costineşti respectively Bārlad.

Hydraulic fracturing is prohibited in Bulgaria, France (moratorium), 15 U.S. states, parts of Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Argentina, Spain, Italy, Switzerland, Austria.

In Romania, several local councils have given decisions to prohibit fracturing, issued under local government law environmental policy decision and the development of the administrative unit. They were challenged by prefectures and are pending in the courts of Vaslui, Iasi, Arad, Bihor and Suceava.

In America, on 30 June 2014, the highest court of the State of New York ruled that local authorities can issue decisions to ban hydraulic fracturing in their right legal basis for regulating the use of land in urban and economic regulations. This decision put in a positive light judgments of Local Councils of Romania to ban fracturing.