Int'l Support for Brent Spar Grows

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

DUMPING OIL PLATFORMS "SHOULD BE STOPPED" SAYS EU COMMISSIONER

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                   GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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DUMPING OIL PLATFORMS "SHOULD BE STOPPED" SAYS EU COMMISSIONER
FOR THE ENVIRONMENT - International support for Greenpeace
occupation of Brent Spar Grows

May 13, 1995 (GP) International support for Greenpeace action
to prevent the sea dumping of toxic laden North Sea oil
platforms continues to grow.

Last night Ritt Bjerregaard, EU Commissioner for the
environment, appeared  on Danish TV.  Also last night Shell
launched a legal attack on the occupiers of the Brent Spar in
an attempt to force them to leave.  Greenpeace is seeking
legal advice.

Quotes translated from Danish TV:

Ritt Bjerregaard, EU Commissioner for the environment:

"Actually, I think most countries in the EU thinks this is
dirty and that it should be stopped. If it is banned in the US
they try other places and unfortunately there is both
countries and enterprises in this situation who choose the
cheapest option and we have to make sure they do not have that
opportunity...[dumping] is the simple thing to do and in the
short term you avoid the problems with some firms and
therefore they choose that. Therefore it is good that
Greenpeace is around to ensure these things do not go on
secretly."

Svend Auken, Danish Minister for Environment and Energy:

"We think there will be many hazardous substances which will
escape into the enviornment this way, and in any case the sea
should not be used as a dustbin....There are many problems in
the North Sea. Many of the platforms out there are about to
reach the time when they will have to be scrapped. This has to
be done in a safe manner and the only way this can be done is
on land.  We cannot accept just toppling them at sea...[asked
whether his proposal to the North Sea Conference will prevent
the dump] The fact that the host of the Ministers' Conference
raises this matter, that we support Greenpeace and others, and
that we are supported by other countries, that will have to
make an impact on those considering dumping, I think.... ."

Peter Sand Mortensen, Chair of the Fishermens Sector,
International Transport Federation, ITF.

"It is quite simply a catastrophy.  For the environment, for
the fishermen , for all of us....if a permit is given now,
what is to be expected for the 400+ other installations out
here. Economic factors are working in favour of just leaving
everything out there once profits have been gained....this
involves one of the largest, Shell."

For Further Information contact Sue Cooper:  0171 359 9980 or
Chris Rose 01595 694 099.