atlantic frontier

Four Greenpeace volunteers occupy second oil rig to protect the climate and wildlife

Last edited 31 March 2000 at 9:00am
31 March, 2000

Four Greenpeace volunteers have occupied a second oil exploration rig in Cromarty Firth, Scotland, as part of a campaign to stop dangerous climate change and protect marine life in the north east Atlantic. The occupation comes just days after two Greenpeace climbers occupied the Jack Bates exploration rig in the same area. Both rigs are due to begin drilling operations in the deep waters west of the Hebrides (the so called "Atlantic Frontier") which is Europe's most important habitat for whales and coral reefs.

Police search for oil activists

Last edited 28 March 2000 at 9:00am
28 March, 2000

Police are still searching for two Greenpeace volunteers who vanished after abandoning their occupation of an oil rig.

The protesters had tied themselves to Enterprise Oil's Jack Bates platform in the Cromarty Firth on Sunday and spent the night there before coming down at 1600 BST on Monday. Grampian Police then lost sight of them.

The protesters left the rig after being ordered to come down by a judge in Edinburgh who granted Enterprise Oil an interdict.

UK environment groups call on John Prescott to halt Atlantic

Last edited 27 March 2000 at 9:00am
27 March, 2000

Britain's leading environment and conservation groups are calling on John Prescott, the Deputy Prime Minister, to prevent further oil exploration in the Atlantic Ocean, west of the Hebrides (the 'Atlantic Frontier'). The joint letter comes from the following organisations:

Environmental Investigation Agency
Friends of the Earth England and Wales
Friends of the Earth Scotland
Greenpeace
Marine Conservation Society
Royal Society for the Protection of Birds
The Wildlife Trusts
Whale and Dolphin Conservation Society

Oil company threatens Greenpeace with million pound injunction

Last edited 27 March 2000 at 9:00am
27 March, 2000
 A Greenpeace protester hangs a banner from an oil rig in Cromarty Firth, Scotland
 A Greenpeace protester hangs a banner from an oil rig in Cromarty Firth, Scotland

Enterprise Oil has sought an interdict (a Scottish injunction) against Greenpeace to remove two climbers that are currently occupying the Jack Bates oil rig on the Cromarty Firth.

Greenpeace occupies oil rig in bid to protect wildlife and the climate

Last edited 26 March 2000 at 9:00am
26 March, 2000
Greenpeace occupies the Jack Bates oil rig in bid to protect wildlife and the climate

Greenpeace occupies the Jack Bates oil rig in bid to protect wildlife and the climate

Wildlife of the Atlantic Frontier

Last edited 24 March 2000 at 9:00am
A Puffin - their habitat is under threat from oil exploitation in St Kilda, Scotland

A Puffin - their habitat is under threat from oil exploitation in St Kilda, Scotland

Oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier

Last edited 24 March 2000 at 9:00am

Atlanic Frontier - oil exploration and wildlife

Atlanic Frontier - oil exploration and wildlife

The UK Government is allowing oil industry vandalism of the Atlantic Ocean to the west of Scotland. This spring, oil companies plan to drill three wells in these waters - the most important in Europe for rare whales and coral reefs

Atlantic Frontier: legal

Last edited 24 March 2000 at 9:00am

In November 1999 Greenpeace secured a landmark High Court ruling that the government's oil licensing policy is illegal, and must immediately stop, until the long-term survival of the Atlantic Frontier's wildlife is secured. Greenpeace proved that the government was breaking European Law by failing to protect the areas whales and dolphins under the EU Habitats Directive.

UK And US Shareholders Force Vote On BP Amoco Arctic Plans

Last edited 26 January 2000 at 9:00am
26 January, 2000

BP AGM: polar bear

Shareholders to choose between arctic oil or solar factory

A hundred shareholders holding over 120,000 shares today (26/1/00) forced BP Amoco's Arctic exploration plans onto the company's annual general meeting agenda by submitting a formal resolution opposing BP's controversial 'Northstar' project. Investors in BP Amoco will now have the chance to vote on whether the high-risk rig and sub-sea pipeline project in the Arctic Ocean should go ahead. The move will also give BP Amoco's 800,000 shareholders a chance to prevent the company from lobbying for the opening of the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the only part of America's Arctic completely off-limits to oil exploration.

Greenpeace response to Government decision not to appeal Greenpeace victory in High Court

Last edited 23 November 1999 at 9:00am
23 November, 1999

Responding to the news that the Government would not appeal the recent High Court judgement in Greenpeace's favour on the extent of the EU Habitat's Directive, Greenpeace climate campaigner Matthew Spencer said: "This is great news -We hope the Government will now implement the Directive fully. This means putting the needs of wildlife before the needs of oil exploration. Greenpeace can now confirm that we will invest any money that we receive from the Government in legal costs in renewable energy projects in Scotland."