http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/shells-alaska-bound-oil-drilling-ship-occupied-greenpeace-xena-actress
Alaska Dispatch: Shell’s Alaska-bound oil drilling ship occupied by Greenpeace, Xena actress
Alex DeMarban | Feb 23, 2012
Shell Oil Co. offshore Alaska drilling operations aren’t safe even from “Xena the Warrior Princess.”
Lucy Lawless, the actress who played the sexy, swashbuckling heroine of the cult classic named for her character, “Xena,” scaled the derrick of an Alaska-bound drillship Thursday with Greenpeace activists to protest exploratory oil drilling she believes could “devastate” the fragile Arctic environment and accelerate global warming, according to a statement from the pro-environment organization.
The Noble Discoverer ship, contracted by Shell to drill up to three exploratory wells this summer, was leaving Auckland, New Zealand, bound for Chukchi Sea waters off Alaska, according to the release.
“I’m blocking Shell’s Arctic drillship because I believe passionately that renewable energy is the way of the future,” Lucy said from the ship, according to the release.
Shell spokeswoman Kelly op de Weegh said the company respects freedom of speech, but isn’t pleased with Greenpeace’s tactics. The company is in contact with local authorities to keep the ship on path toward Alaska, she said.
“We are disappointed that Greenpeace has chosen this method to protest,” she said. “Actions such as this jeopardize the safety of everyone involved. While we respect the right of individuals to express their point of view, the priority should be the safety of Noble’s personnel and that of the protestors.
Six Greenpeace activists, as well as Lawless, a 43-year-old mother of three now co-starring in the TV show “Spartacus,” blocked the ship from the leaving the port of Taranaki for its 6,000-mile trip, the release said. The dill-rig invaders apparently expect to stay a while: the release notes they have several days of supplies.
Op de Weegh confirmed that the Noble Discoverer is currently at port in New Zealand, and said the port had been closed.
“Personnel from Noble have been in touch with local authorities,” she said, in response to an emailed question about how the company would respond to the boarding.
Greenpeace boarded and occupied another Arctic-bound drilling ship, the Leiv Ericksen, operating off Greenland’s coast last year.
Shell says it has safely drilled exploratory wells off Alaska’s coasts before, in the 1980s, and that it found oil and gas but never developed because global prices bottomed out and Arctic drilling became cost-prohibitive. Shell invested $2 billion to obtain leases in the Chukchi Sea in 2007.
With high prices in recent years, Shell is back and hopes to begin drilling exploratory wells in the Beaufort and Chukchi seas in U.S. waters this summer. The Hague-based oil conglomerate says it will exceed U.S. environmental safety requirements in its Arctic drilling efforts, and plans to employ sophisticated technology to reduce air emissions and a specially built capping and containment system to prevent an oil spill.
“Shell has taken unprecedented steps to pursue safe, environmentally responsible exploration in shallow water off the coast of Alaska,” op de Weegh said. “We recognize that industry’s license to operate in the offshore is predicated on being able to operate in a safe, environmentally sound manner.”
Greenpeace warns that a successful strike by Shell will launch a polar oil rush, threatening the relatively pristine Arctic. Environmentalists have warned that no technology exists to clean oil from the region’s thick sea ice.
“We don’t have to go to the ends of the Earth to suck out every last drop of oil. Instead we need to smarten up and begin the transition to a clean, green, sustainable energy future and right now that means keeping Shell out of the Arctic.”
Shell has recently been steaming ahead in its efforts to win regulatory approval to drill this summer in the Arctic seas, recently receiving an air permit for the Noble Discoverer and related ships. Environmental groups said Tuesday they’re challenging the permit in court.
Contact Alex DeMarban at alex(at)alaskadispatch.com
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/entertainment/news/article.cfm?c_id=1501119&objectid=10787694
New Zealand Herald: One arrest in Greenpeace drilling protest
By Matthew Theunissen
1:05 PM Friday Feb 24, 2012
Seven Greenpeace protesters, including Hollywood star Lucy Lawless, clambered onto an Arctic-bound oil drilling vessel and scaled its 53-metre tower at Port Taranaki this morning. Photo / Greenpeace
A man has been arrested after seven Greenpeace protesters, including Hollywood star Lucy Lawless, clambered onto an Arctic-bound oil drilling vessel and scaled its 53-metre tower at Port Taranaki this morning.
The group managed to evade the port’s tight security and, about 7am, board the Liberian-flagged Noble Discoverer, which was to depart on an 11,000km journey to drill three exploratory oil wells in the Chukchi Sea off the coast of Alaska.
They climbed to a platform atop its 53-metre drilling derrick and unravelled banners saying “Stop Shell” and “Save The Arctic”.
A police spokesman confirmed a man who was associated with the protest but not on the boat was arrested at the port gate this morning.
Five officers were on board and had made face-to-face contact with the protesters, he said.
“We’re trying to establish what their intentions are.”
Greenpeace spokesman Steve Abel said police were trying to climb the derrick to get to the protesters.
“We’d be pretty concerned about that because it requires specialist knowledge and capabilities to climb so you wouldn’t want your everyday police officer having to do that without proper equipment. It’s industrial climbing.”
The protest has captured international media attention with organisations including MSNBC, The Nation and the Associated Press trying to get interviews with Lawless, whose television series Spartacus is currently airing in the United States.
“Her involvement is very significant. There are very few people with her amount of profile and number of fans who have taken this level of non-violent direct action so, yeah, it’s a pretty exceptional, historical event,” Mr Abel said.
Police area commander for New Plymouth Inspector Blair Telford said their role in these situations was to ensure any protest was lawful and owners and crew of the ship were allowed to go about their lawful business.
“The protesters are clearly breaking the law by trespassing on the ship and we are currently liaising with the Port of Taranaki and the Harbour Master to decide the most appropriate course of action. Public safety is paramount.”
Lawless, the star of Xena: Warrior Princess, is a long-time Greenpeace supporter.
“I’m here today acting on behalf of the planet and my children,” she was quoted as saying in a Greenpeace statement.
“Deep sea oil drilling is bad enough, but venturing into the Arctic, one of the most magical places on the planet, is going too far.”
Mr Abel said Lawless had decided to take part in today’s activity of her own volition.
“She really was very keen to partake in a non-violent protest activity such as this one.”
She had considered that the police could be involved and people could be arrested, he said.
“She’s got a strong passion for ensuring the Arctic does not become the latest frontier for the oil industry.”
She has taken to Twitter from the platform.
“All safe up here but a squall coming in. Good spirits,” she tweeted.
“Today I’m taking direct action with GreenpeaceNZ in peaceful protest against Shell’s Arctic oil drilling.
“I’m on one of the oldest drill rigs on the planet and it’s heading to the Arctic. Tell Shell to stop.”
The ship was built in 1966.
Shell said in a statement it was “disappointed” that Greenpeace had chosen this method of protest.
“While we respect the right of individuals to express their point of view the priority should be the safety of Noble Discoverer’s personnel and that of the protesters.
“Shell has undertaken unprecedented steps to pursue safe, environmentally responsible exploration in shallow water off the coast of Alaska. We recognise the industry licence to operate offshore is predicated on being able to operate in a safe, environmentally responsible manner.”
Shell’s Alaska exploration plans were guided by extensive Arctic expertise and world-class capabilities, it said.
– APNZ
By Matthew Theunissen | Email Matthew
Special thanks to Richard Charter