More than 200 actions took place in more than 20 countries spanning six continents, all calling for a ban on fracking. From Australia to India, France to Argentina, South Africa to Canada, and all across the United States, people took action in their communities -- demanding that their elected representatives protect their communities and our planet from fracking and associated activities and work to move towards a clean energy future.

The impact of fracking on the environment is substantial. Each well requires up to nine million gallons of water that is combined with chemicals and sand to be pumped into the Earth. This contaminated water can find its way into the water supply or return to the Earth's surface to contaminate the ground.

The Global Frackdown anti-fracking demonstrations come on the heels of an anti-fracking protest in New Brunswick turning violent with RCMP using para-military style tactics to arrest protesters. The blockade of a shale gas company's seismic exploration trucks by Mi'kmaq of the Elsipogtog nation and local supporters near Rexton, New Brunswick, started on September 30th and was peaceful until raided in the early morning of October 17th.