Denmark Challenges Uk on Brent Spar

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

DENMARK CHALLENGES UK GOVERNMENT ON NORTH SEA PLATFORM DUMPING


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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

DENMARK CHALLENGES UK GOVERNMENT ON NORTH SEA PLATFORM DUMPING
Greenpeace activists start Day 13 of Brent Spar occupation

LONDON Friday, May 12, 1995-(GP)- Within days of the UK
Government granting the licence for the dumping of the toxic
laden Brent Spar oil installation, the Danish Government have
condemned their decision.

Concerned about UK plans to dump North Sea oil installations
in the ocean, the Danish Government today tabled a proposal to
ban such dumping in protest during a Heads of Delegation
meeting prior to next month's North Sea Conference.  This
follows North Sea Conference discussions in the Danish
parliament yesterday during which the UK's plans to dump the
Brent Spar were raised.
The UK is already under pressure from other North Sea States
to agree to stringent clean up measures.  They have so far
been resisting calls for progressive measures to eliminate
discharges of hazardous substances into the sea.  Now, by
granting
permission to Shell to dump the Brent Spar at sea, the UK is
seen as undermining International efforts at the North Sea
Conference to prevent marine pollution.  Many of the hazardous
substances targeted for elimination and prevention by the
North Sea states are contained on offshore installations.

"This is the first sign of a growing international outcry
about the UK's return to the l970s mentality of dumping waste
at sea," said Madeleine Cobbing, of Greenpeace.  "To regain
its environmental credibility the British Government must
listen to the concerns of its nearest neighbours and withdraw
the licence to dump."

The Brent Spar alone contains 130 tonnes of toxic and
radioactive wastes, dangerous to the marine environment.
Dumping it already goes against the spirit of several
international conventions to which the UK Government is
party - the London Convention and the OSPAR Convention - both
of which rule out dumping of toxic and radioactive substances
at sea.

Greenpeace occupied the Brent Spar platform on April 30th.
The thirteen activists on board intend to continue their
occupation until permission to dump is revoked, or the Autumn
weather
prevents the dumping.



For more information, contact Chris Rose in Shetland 01595
694099 or Desley Mather, Greenpeace Communications 0171 833
0600