Greenpeace activists force Arctic oil rig to stop drilling

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

An Arctic oil rig was forced to stop drilling by environmental activists demanding to know how its owner would respond to an oil leak on the scale of last year's Deepwater Horizon spill.

Edinburgh-based Cairn Energy said drilling was suspended at its Leiv Eiriksson rig off the coast of Greenland after 18 Greenpeace protesters breached a restricted area. The activists launched from the Greenpeace ship Esperanza in five inflatable speedboats from outside a 500m exclusion zone set up by Danish authorities.

Campaigner Ben Ayliffe said: "Cairn Energy is hiding its oil spill response plan, so we're going to the one place where there must be a copy of it. It's obvious why Cairn won't tell the world how it would clean up a BP-style oil spill here in the Arctic, and that's because it can't be done.

"Experts say the freezing temperatures and remote location mean a deep water blow-out in this stunning pristine environment would be an irreversible disaster. If they published the plan, the dangers of investing in such a high-risk venture would be laid bare. We have to draw a line in the ice and stop the Arctic oil rush."

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2011/jun/04/greenpeace-activists-force-arctic-oil-rig-stop-drilling

[Odin2005]

1. YAY!

[Scuba]

2. Here's their plan...

<img src="" title="Hosted by imgur.com" />

[trud]

6. that's more horrible than my imagination n/t

[chervilant]

3. hmm...

Anyone else concerned about the dearth of news reports on the ongoing BP disaster in the Gulf?

[Name removed]

4. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[dixiegrrrrl]

5. How many of "us" are hired onto that rig?

[Doremus]

7. How many jobs will be lost if there's a spill?

Ask the fishermen, restaurants, processing plants and all the others who make, er, MADE, a living on the Gulf.

Which scenario do you think loses more jobs? :eyes:


One of the things that's totally screwed up with our society today is the apparent complete absence of foresight. And an insatiable need for instant gratification. Adults have become like spoiled little children.

[Overseas]

8. K&R and Many Thanks !

[PuffedMica]

9. It is time to get off of fossil fuels and start producing clean, renewable energy

To allow more drilling only enables our addiction to petroleum further. Now is the time to endure the hardship a minor crude oil shortage and pour research into new energy sources. Peak oil is going to make alternative energy sources a necessity in the future, we can get ahead of the curve now by switching to wind and solar.

[JackRiddler]

13. R to you.

[PuffedMica]

10. K&R

[saras]

11. It's pretty fucking despicable that Greenpeace has to be the ones stopping them

Where *is* their oil spill response plan?

BP had an elaborate plan, designed by what most thought were competent people. Part of the criticism of BP is that the plan was not followed and devices that were part of the plan (the BOP) weren't maintained properly.

No cleanup plan? They've got no business poking around up there then. It's that simple.

[John_Adams]

12. If they mounted one of these on their rig, they could carry on with their work unabated.

[freshwest]

15. DU has a sarcasm icon if you want it.

[Nihil]

16. That poster was deadly serious.

Sad isn't it?

[freshwest]

17. That would be kinda freepy, if you ask me. Thanks for your reply, though.

[unkachuck]

14. Go Greenpeace!....n/t