Tag Archives: oil drilling

Seven Photos of Oil Spills You Need to See

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Exxon's oil pipeline leaked 12,000 barrels of oil and water in Mayflower, Arkansas on March 29 causing 22 homes to evacuate.

At least 22 Arkansas families can now tell you that oil pipelines leak. Unfortunately for those families, thousands of barrels of crude, black oil from an Exxon pipeline leaked all over their neighborhood.  The only good thing that could happen as a result of the latest disaster in the oil industry is a clean “No” to two major oil projects the United States is considering- the Keystone pipeline and Arctic drilling.

See seven more reasons below why we should say no to new oil projects. Take action and say “No to Keystone” and “No to Arctic drilling.” Continue reading →

Wanted: Polar explorers. No experience required.

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In just over two weeks I will be standing on the frozen Arctic ocean, preparing to ski to the North Pole. I’ll be wearing four layers of fleece and a special hat that someone knitted for me. In my pockets I’ll carry some almond chocolate, an iPod, and a declaration of hope for future generations. Continue reading →

Shell abandons 2013 Arctic drilling: Timeline of Greenpeace’s Shell campaign

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For those of you who missed any of the drama from Shell’s season in the Arctic, the finale revealed-SPOILER ALERT-that 2013 Arctic drilling is a no go. While Greenpeace welcomes this news with a “hip hip hooray”, it’s not a huge shocker when looking back at a year of Shell’s mishaps. Greenpeace will continue to campaign for the Arctic Council and President Obama to establish the Arctic as a refuge, safe from drilling from any company.

Catch up below on all the drama from #Shellfail.

FEBRUARY 2012

Greenpeace activists join actress Lucy Lawless as they climb Shell’s drilling rig the Noble Discoverer, or as Lawless calls it “an aging rust bucket, calling attention to Greenpeace’s Save the Arctic campaign. Continue reading →

Shell abandons 2013 Arctic drilling

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Greenpeace today welcomed the announcement by Royal Dutch Shell that the company will not attempt to pursue offshore drilling in Alaskan Arctic waters in 2013. Phil Radford, Greenpeace USA Executive Director said in response:“This is the first thing Shell’s done right in Alaska – calling it quits. Shell was supposed to be the best of the best, but the long list of mishaps and near-disasters is a clear indication even the ‘best’ companies can’t succeed in Arctic drilling. Secretary Salazar and President Obama gave drilling a chance; now the responsible decision is to make Arctic drilling off limits, forever.

“Taking the lead on saving the Arctic from dangerous exploitation will not only protect the fragile Arctic ecosystem and the communities that depend on it, it will send a powerful signal to other nations that it’s time to kick our addiction to fossil fuels.   Drilling in the Arctic will propel us towards catastrophic climate change, so it needs to end now.

“Shell’s announcement today is an admission that  the millions of people around the world were right to urge Obama to keep the company out of the Arctic. Now Obama needs to listen to the 2.7 million people who have signed on to #SaveTheArctic and make Arctic drilling off-limits forever.”

Tell President Obama to make Arctic drilling off limits for good. 

We did it for the future

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Film and TV star Lucy Lawless and seven activists were today convicted and sentenced to 120 hours community service each
and for attempting to stop an Arctic-bound oil drilling ship last year.

Along with six Greenpeace volunteers, the New Zealand actress occupied the Shell-chartered Noble Discoverer in New Plymouth last February in a move that captured headlines around the world.

Actor Lucy Lawless, right, aboard Shell drillship

It’s almost a year since we climbed the Shell-contracted drilling rig, Noble Discoverer.  Landing on the pier that day we felt dwarfed by the vast 53 meter drill tower that sat atop this rusting hulk which Shell was to use to pioneer their drilling programme in the Arctic.

Insignificant as we were we felt something had to be done – a light had to be shone on Shell’s insane plans to drill for oil in the icy Arctic wilderness.

Not in my wildest dreams did I think we would succeed as we did remaining atop the drill tower for over 77 hours. Continue reading →

U.S. Dept. of Interior has 60 days to review Shell’s blooper reel

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Crewmembers of the mobile drilling unit Kulluk evacuated after the rig floated around loose off Alaskan coast

As many of you have read, Shell set out to prove to the world in 2012 with big oil conceit that indeed they were Arctic Ready and could drill successfully for oil in the Beaufort and Chukchi Seas off the North Coast of Alaska. Well, after literally limping back out of our Northern Pole waters, Shells’ plans crumbled under the rigors of the Arctic. Continue reading →

Why you should know about the Arctic Council

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Shell's Kulluk Drill Rig Runs Aground in Alaska

While the thought of official councils — with their high-level policy workshops and multilateral task forces — is enough to send most sensible people into fits of abysmal loathing, there is one such council that anyone passionate about the high north should care about: the Arctic Council. Continue reading →

Stop Shell from Drilling in the Arctic Before It’s Too Late

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Looking at news tapes and pictures of Shell’s beached rig, the Kulluk, is an amazing sight. The Kulluk is now off the beach and in the middle of prime tanner crab grounds in Kiliuda Bay on Kodiak Island. Floating in the middle of this calm bay surrounded by snow covered mountains, it looks innocent enough. But, we have since known better.

Royal Dutch Shell is telling the world that they have the technology and ability to drill for oil in the frozen and treacherous Arctic Ocean, and do it well. Unfortunately the grounding of the Kulluk and the grounding of the Noble Discoverer earlier last year are a stark reminder that drilling in the Arctic is wrought with extreme dangers. Continue reading →

PHOTOS: From the Gulf to the Arctic, oil drilling doesn’t make sense

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We arrived on Kodiak Island today, near the spot where Shell’s drilling rig, the Kulluk, ran aground several days ago. We were able to charter a small airplane to take us to survey the rig at its current resting place in Kiliuda Bay where it has been towed for assessment and repairs. During our transit from Kodiak to the rig we were treated to views of the stunning, pristine environment of Kodiak Island, saw bald eagles and harbor seals, and had a chance to chat with our local pilot who described the history of the area going back more than 7500 years.

As we came over the last set of ridges leading to Kiliuda Bay the rig came into view. Seen from above, the entire fleet (the Kulluk and its tugs, tenders and coastguard escort) is dwarfed by the majesty of this breathtaking landscape. Unfortunately, it is this very majesty, remoteness and power that make the pursuit of offshore drilling in the Arctic so irresponsible. The series of accidents that have accompanied Shell’s first season drilling in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas have done nothing but reinforce the notion that conditions even in Southern Alaska  have proved too rough to allow safe operation let alone effective clean up were a spill to occur. Continue reading →