In an interview with Bloomberg yesterday, Statoil spokesman Oerjan Heradstveit suggested that the intended start date for the project may have to be delayed due to the protest, which has brought international attention to Norway’s northernmost drilling project.
Speaking from the rig, Elmer Vestidas, a Greenpeace Arctic activist from the Philippines said:
“I’ve spent a pretty cold night outside on this rig, but we Filipinos are tough. I’m here because Statoil’s risky project isn’t just a threat to Bear Island and the amazing wildlife we saw there. Typhoon Haiyan was one of the worst things that ever happened to my country, and unless we speed up the switch to clean technology these disasters will happen again and again.”
“Places like the Philippines and the Arctic are already on the frontline of climate change. This is an era defining battle, and I am honoured to be with this international group of activists to help win it.”
While ten activists spent the night on the rig, five were helicoptered to land late last night after deciding to end their protest. They are now safe and in good spirits in Hammerfest, Norway. None were arrested.
Yesterday, UK activist Katie
Furlong, 27, from Telford, said:
"I'm here because I truly believe that the time is now to end our
dependence on oil, and to move towards a clean and renewable future. We live on
a beautiful, fragile and unique planet, and there is no plan B for Earth. We
should be safeguarding its future, not destroying it for the last drop of oil.
I want to look back and be proud that I stood up with 5 million Arctic
Defenders to say no more, and not regret that I could see what was wrong and
did nothing."
The remaining activists are backed by almost 70,000 people who have signed a petition urging the Norwegian environment minister to block Statoil’s drilling project which is near the Arctic ice edge and the Bear Island nature reserve. The petition can be seen at www.greenpeace.org/bearisland
Statoil’s drilling project is scheduled to start at the end of May and the Transocean Spitsbergen was due to arrive at the drilling site on Tuesday. Statoil has said that the rig will not move to the drilling site as long as the activists are on board.
ENDS
Pictures & video from the activity available on: http://photo.greenpeace.org/C.aspx?VP3=ViewBox_VPage&ALID=27MZIF3CYY_Y&CT=Album
Contact:
- Juha Aromaa, Greenpeace communications officer (Finnish/English), +358 50 369 6202 juha.aromaa@greenpeace.org
- Greenpeace UK Press Office +44 (0) 20 7865 8255
NOTES TO EDITORS
Statoil spokesman Oerjan Heradstveit admitted that “It’s too early to say” if the drilling that’s scheduled for the end of the month will be delayed. http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2014-05-27/greenpeace-boards-rig-heading-for-norway-s-northernmost-drilling.html
Transocean Spitsbergen is owned by the Swiss company Transocean, the infamous company that also owns the Deepwater Horizon oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico. The rig is flagged to Marshall Islands. Until it reaches its final drilling position, it has the status of a foreign ship and the Norwegian Coast Guard has no jurisdiction over it.
Following a complaint from Greenpeace, the Norwegian Ministry of Environment has to decide whether Statoil can drill in the planned Hoop field. The complaint was based on the proximity of Statoil's drilling project to the ‘ice edge’ and the nature reserve Bear Island. Greenpeace demands that Norway stops Statoil’s reckless Arctic drilling plans and takes a real leading role in protecting the Arctic.
