Poll Backs Greenpeace Stance On Oil Platform Dumping

[the.greenbase@green2.greenpeace.org]

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Original-TO:      World Press (Green2:Green2:Gnl:INET)
Original-Cc:      The Greenbase (Green2:Green2:Gnl:Main)
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                    GREENPEACE PRESS RELEASE
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>> NEW OPINION POLL BACKS GREENPEACE STANCE ON OIL PLATFORM
DUMPING.  
 
London--5 February 1996 (GP) Almost three quarters (74%) of
the British public who are aware of the Brent Spar controversy
believe Greenpeace should continue its campaign against the
dumping of oil platforms, according to an Opinion Leader
Research poll carried out for Greenpeace in the UK.
Furthermore, 57% believe the Brent Spar should not have been
dumped in the Atlantic (32% in favour). (1).
 
57% also backed Greenpeace rather than Shell and the UK
Government in stopping the sinking of the Brent Spar.  A clear
majority of the public (57%) had heard of the controversy
surrounding the Brent Spar; 41% had not. Only 17% believe that
Greenpeace should not continue to oppose further sinking of
other oil platforms at sea. 
 
The 1,000 person national telephone poll was carried out
between 26th and 27th  January 1996.
 
Chris Rose, Campaign Director of Greenpeace UK said "This
polls shows that the public knows its wrong to use the seas as
an industrial dumping ground.  The  public will never accept
it if the Government allows the oil industry to treat the seas
as its rubbish dump. The sea should be for saving - not for
dumping."  
A report commissioned by the oil industry itself (the United
Kingdom Offshore Operators' Association -- UKOOA) stated that
the best environmental option for decommissioned oil
installations was to bring them on shore for recycling (2).  
Chris Rose said "The Government must listen to the public and
expert advice to the oil industry itself. Mr Eggar [UK
Minister of Energy] must pledge no North Sea installations
should be dumped at sea."
 
A report commissioned by Greenpeace - entitled "A Case Study
of Onshore Decommissioning Of North Sea Oil Structures" -
stated that over 95% of the Brent Spar could be recycled,
using existing technology.(3)
 
                             ends
 
Contact: page Adam Woolf on 01399 1133 no. 787076
 
1) All percentages quoted are for the public who are aware of
the Brent Spar controversy. For further details of this
opinion poll, call Opinion Leader Research on 0171 242 2222.  
2) "An Assessment of the Environmental Impacts of
Decommissioning Options for Oil and Gas Structures in the UK
North Sea", Prepared for UKOOA. Written by Auris
Environmental. Page 10-14
 
3) "A Case Study of  Onshore Decommissioning of North Sea Oil
Structures - The Brent Spar", commissioned by Greenpeace.
Written by Jay Rutovitz. Produced as evidence to the House of
Lords Trade and Industry Sub Committee on Decommissioning,
October 1995. 
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