an anti-fracking movement has emerged both internationally with involvement of international environmental organizations and nations such as france and locally in affected areas such as balcombe in sussex where the balcombe drilling protest was in progress during mid-2013. the considerable opposition against hydraulic fracturing activities in local townships in the united states has led companies to adopt a variety of public relations measures to reassure the public, including the employment of former military personnel with training in psychological warfare operations. according to matt pitzarella, the communications director at range resources, employees trained in the middle east have been valuable to range resources in pennsylvania, when dealing with emotionally charged township meetings and advising townships on zoning and local ordinances dealing with hydraulic fracturing.