Legal Efforts to Stop Brent Spar Dumping

[The.Greenbase@gb.greenpeace.org]

>> GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS WHO OCCUPIED BRENT SPAR ARRIVE IN


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                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> GREENPEACE ACTIVISTS WHO OCCUPIED BRENT SPAR ARRIVE IN
SHETLAND   WHILE LEGAL EFFORTS TO STOP THE DUMPING CONTINUE IN
LONDON

LONDON, 24 May, 1995 (GP) The remaining Greenpeace activists who
occupied the Brent Spar in protest of plans to dump the toxic oil
platform at sea have just arrived in Shetland.
The first group of eight activists and six journalists were taken
by Shell helicopter yesterday from the Stadive to Shetland.  None
of those returned have been charged.  The remaining Greenpeace
activists on the Stadive refused to leave until all were safely
off the Brent Spar.

Shell told reporters that Jon Castle will be taken to Aberdeen
this evening from Shetland and will then be released.

Greenpeace is currently in court proceedings in the High Court in
London to attempt to challenge the government's decision to allow
the dumping of the highly toxic and radioactive oil
platform at sea.

"Although our occupation of the rig has ended, the fight to stop
the dumping of the Brent Spar oil platform is not over yet," said
Jan Rispens, one of Greenpeace's Brent Spar activists.  "We
continue to work to stop the dumping in the courts and at the
North Sea Conference."

Criticism against Shell and the UK government's plan to dump the
Brent Spar continues to grow with Germany adding its voice to
those of the EU Environment Commissioner, European Parliament
(EP), Denmark, Belgium, Iceland and even the UK's own Labour
Party.  The issue is likely to be hotly debated at the upcoming
meeting of the North Sea Conference in Denmark (June 8-9).

"The occupation of the Spar has again highlighted Shell and the
UK government's outrageous attitude towards our seas," Rispens
said. "They seem determined to take the cheapest option rather
than the safer alternative known to them."

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Contact:
Mary Morrison, Greenpeace Shetland: ++44(0)-1595-694-099
Simon Reddy, Greenpeace Aberdeen: ++44-0374-695-814
Blair Palese, Greenpeace Communications: ++44(0171)-833-0600