7 Seized in Anti-Drilling Protest (Greenpeace)

[sabra]

Source: NY Times

Charges have been filed against seven members of Greenpeace who boarded an offshore drilling support ship in a Louisiana port and painted anti-drilling slogans in crude oil on the vessel’s side on Monday afternoon.

The ship is docked in Port Fourchon, La., an area affected by the BP oil spill in the gulf, and is to sail to the Arctic this summer to support Royal Dutch Shell’s company’s exploratory drilling plans there, Greenpeace said. Activists rappelled down the side and painted the phrase “Arctic Next?” on the vessel. They also lowered a sign saying “Salazar: Ban Arctic Drilling” before being seized by the port police.

Interior Secretary Ken Salazar was visiting the area at the time and was the intended recipient of the message, a Greenpeace spokeswoman said.

Amid the furor over BP’s so-far unsuccessful effort to stanch the well blowout in the gulf, plans continue apace for Shell to drill offshore in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas. The company has been granted several permits and could begin drilling as early as this summer.

The activists were charged with unauthorized entry of “critical infrastructure” and of an inhabited dwelling, according to the Lafourche Parish sheriff’s department. Both counts carry a maximum penalty of six years in prison.

The activists were released on bail early Tuesday morning.

Read more: http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/25/7-seized-in-anti-drilling-protest/

[tekisui]

1. knr for Greenpeace!

[ShortnFiery]

2. May Our Higher Power Bless Them and Their Efforts to Protect Marine Life

:loveya: Greenpeace! :yourock:

[flamingdem]

3. great nt

[Trillo]

4. “critical infrastructure”?

The Gulf of Mexico and our oceans are much more important critical infrastructures than the side of a ship.

[NCarolinawoman]

5. Bruce Babbitt, Clinton's Interior Secretary, would agree with Greenpeace.

He was interviewed by Chuck Todd this morning. He wants all deep water offshore drilling stopped now. He mentioned, in particular, the plans to drill in the arctic.

He aid there should be no new permits on anything because a failsafe system has never been developed. He went into some other suggestions for the Obama administration. I haven't checked to see if a a transcript from this interview has been put up. I hope there will be one.

[ladjf]

6. Thank you Greenpeace for you efforts on our behalf. nt

[zumba da geek]

7. Maybe

someday it will be 7000 arrested. If ever there was a time to take it to the streets, this is it.

[mbperrin]

8. Thank you, Greenpeace!

You speak for me.

[happygoluckytoyou]

9. WOULD BE BOILED IN OIL..... but all the oil is in the gulf killing wildlife !!