The fracking debate hit Nottingham last night - with fashion royalty Dame Vivienne Westwood fronting a public discussion on the controversial topic.
"We Need To Talk About Fracking" is a five date touring panel debate about the divisive process in which shale gas is extracted from rock beneath the earth to use as fuel.
Talking to the Post ahead of the event at the Nottingham Conference Centre, in Burton Street, the 73-year-old designer said she was glad that her celebrity status could be used for a cause in which she feels so passionately.
"It's why I'm here", she said.
"It might make a difference and I know that. You have to try and do your bit if you have a public voice because you are well-known."
Westwood, who has a boutique in Flying Horse Walk, in the city centre, added: "I am trying not to be emotional about it and talk about things with a level head.
"We need to start thinking about everything in a different way and realise that what is good for the economy is good for the environment and what is good for the environment is good for the economy.
"But moreover, what is good for the environment is good for people and what is good for people is good for the environment."
More than 100 people had signed up in advance to attend the free event which featured panellists including shale expert Paul Mobbs, Westwood's son and social activist Joe Corre and US resident Liz Arnold.
Miss Arnold, 30, who lives in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has first-hand experience of fracking.
The electrician said: "I am very much against fracking because they have been doing it for a decade where I live and it has been really horrific.
"I will be showing a video about a farmer called Terry Greenwood who died of brain cancer last night- we are starting to see cancer clusters appear because of the fracking."
The tour which began in Glasgow on Monday, will be travelling to Manchester, and Swansea before finishing in London next Monday where Jon Snow will chair a special debate.
Mr Corre , who is heading up the Talk Fracking initiative said: "Let's be clear our position is that we are against fracking however there's no point just being against something, especially considering recent polls show that 50 per cent of people don't know what fracking is.
"Fracking does not make financial or environmental sense.
"There are real alternatives like solar energy and off-shore wind farms which are also very interesting."
He added: Will this fracking technology really deliver energy security or a toxic legacy for future generations? "We need to talk about it and the time is now."
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