Shell Attempts to Evict GP fr Brent Spar

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

     SHELL ATTEMPTS TO EVICT GREENPEACE FROM OIL PLATFORM

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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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     SHELL ATTEMPTS TO EVICT GREENPEACE FROM OIL PLATFORM
        Greenpeace stands firm on North Sea protection

LONDON, 13 May 1995 (GP)--Greenpeace last night vowed to
continue its North Sea campaign to fight the dumping of the
Shell Brent Spar oil platform, despite a legal attack from the
oil company.

At 9.30pm last night, a Shell helicopter landed on the Brent
Spar with two Sherrifs officers from Aberdeen carrying a legal
injunction and wearing Shell survival suits.  As the
helicopter hovered over the platform, a 12 page legal document
was faxed to the 13 Greenpeace activists who have occupied the
platform for the past 13 days.  Greenpeace lawyers are
currently studying the document.

"Whatever strong-arm legal tactics Shell choose to use,
Greenpeace will continue to oppose the dumping of the oil
industry's toxic garbage in the North Sea," said Greenpeace
spokesperson Chris Rose.

"Shell's attempts to use the courts to enforce its disastrous
plan to pollute the seas demonstrates its contempt for public
concern about its operations, fishermen's livelihoods and for
the health of the North Sea," Rose said.

"Shell is chasing cash at the expense of the North Sea marine
environment -- yesterday it announced a 35% increase in
profits to  1280 million in just the first three months of the
year.  To dump the Brent Spar as a cheapskate alternative to
responsible decommissioning with decontamination onshore is
nothing short of obscene," said Greenpeace.

The Brent Spar contains over 100 tonnes of toxic sludge --
including oil, arsenic, cadmium, PCBs and lead -- and more
than 30 tonnes of radioactive waste left over from oil
drilling and storage operations on the Brent Oil Field.  It is
the first of the 400 North Sea oil platforms to be dumped at
sea.

For more information, please contact Chris Rose on 0860 355271

For photographs of the Sherrif's arrival onto the platform,
please contact Reuters, AP and PA London
or Greenpeace ++44 71 833 0600