GREENPEACE DRAWS A LINE IN THE ICE
Prudhoe Bay, Alaska 12 August 1997
Today the Greenpeace
ship the MV Arctic Sunrise drew a line in the ice of the Beaufort Sea
to protest new oil development as part of its campaign to protect the
global climate. The Arctic Sunrise dropped anchor in front of oil
giant Atlantic Richfield's (ARCO) massive Concrete Island Drilling
System (CIDS). Hanging banners reading "Stop Oil, Go Solar", the
Greenpeace ship positioned itself to prevent the CIDS platform from
moving 75 miles east to Camden Bay. ARCO intends to use the CIDS to
drill for oil three miles offshore from the Arctic National Wildlife
Refuge.
"To seriously contemplate drilling for new oil in the face of
overwhelming scientific evidence of global warming is totally
irresponsible," said Steve Sawyer, Arctic Expedition leader on-board
the Arctic Sunrise. "To consider drilling in the fragile and sensitive
Arctic Wildlife Refuge is nothing less than insane."
The Arctic Sunrise has been documenting the impacts of
climate change in Alaska for the past month. The Bering
Glacier is thinning and retreating, the forests of the Kenai
Peninsula are being destroyed by insect infestations
brought on by temperature increases and villagers in the
Bering and Chukchi Seas are noting changes to vegetation,
weather and ice formation. Evidence is mounting
that the earth's climate is warming. ARCO's determination to
proceed with new oil development flies in the face of the necessity
to take immediate and dramatic measures to reduce greenhouse gas
emissions.
"We can't afford to burn the oil we have already found,"
said Sawyer. "ARCO's Warthog development is one of the first steps
toward opening the entire Arctic Ocean to offshore oil exploration and
development. Greenpeace is determined to stop them in their tracks."
Greenpeace also filed for a temporary restraining order today,
to stop ARCO from continuing with its exploratory drilling operation..
ARCO's planned drilling site is just offshore from the Arctic
National Wildlife Refuge in Camden Bay. The area is
essential habitat for polar bears, seals, endangered bowhead whales
and beluga whales. The foreshore of the Refuge is also one of the
largest polar bear denning sites in the Arctic. Oil drilling, subsea
pipelines and industrial activity could pose serious risks to the
polar bear population and other wildlife species.
"The CIDS has been idle for 7 years and should stay that way," said
Sunrise Captain Arne Sorensen. "This platform, and all other
exploratory rigs should be consigned to the trash heap of
history as the world moves into a new era of renewable energy
sources."
Greenpeace is demanding an immediate halt to all new oil
exploration, both in the Arctic and globally; and is calling for a
phase out of fossil fuels and a conversion to solar and other
alternative energy sources. The international environmental
organisation is also advocating that parties to the Kyoto Climate
Conference in December require all industrialised nations to reduce
carbon dioxide emissions by 20 per cent on 1990 levels by the year
2005.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Steve Sawyer, on board the Arctic Sunrise Satellite phone +872 130
2577
Kalee Kreider - Washington DC + 1 202 319 2523; mobile +1 202
236 2579
Paul Horsman & Duncan Currie - Anchorage, Alaska + 1 907 277 8234; mobile +
1 907 440 3708