Thursday 19 June 1997

Chris Rose joined the MV Greenpeace today in place of Matthew Spencer as the on-board campaigner.

It's now possible to apply for a Waveland Passport via the GPUK AF internet site. Go to the embassy and choose to print off the application form. You can then fill in the form and send it to the address mentioned: http://www.waveland.org

Friday 20 June 1997

A slightly unusual video, albeit with a serious message from the Foreign Secretary of Waveland - Bill Nandris, which is a spoof of the new Foreign Secretary (Robin Cook's) video, went out today to the 'chattering classes' in Westminster and Whitehall in the run up to UNGASS. It may be put up on the Internet site shortly also.

Saturday 21 June 1997

The Solar Tour had another successful outing at the Cheshire Show - getting 2,000 signatures on the petition which I think is the most so far for a single event.

Sunday 22 June 1997

The DTI leak of correspondence about routine pollution by the oil industry in the North Sea was covered by Geoffrey Lean in the Independent on Sunday. Basically a letter from the DTI (UK regulators of offshore oilfields) to UKOOA says (amongst other things) that they are being pursued by the Marine Conservation Society for information about the industry and "We hope the information we have provided will be sufficient to satisfy the MCS requirement but it is possible they will come back for other information which is currently provided on a voluntary basis eg. use of non oil muds, chemicals etc.

The legal position on the release of this information seems unclear but is favouring towards the release if asked. We may therefore find ourselves obliged to provide the data and any views you had on this would be welcome." and "I thought you might wish to warn your members of this possibility."

Local Groups were out on the streets this weekend with passports and several interesing anecdotes have been delivered - for example:

In Norwich - Waveland Ambassador (suitably attired) paid a ceremonial visit to the Town Hall. Transport was by bicycle. In Winchester - Waveland Embassy was set up here as it is the ancient capital of England.

In Cornwall - groups are going to raise a flag and set up an embassy on an islet which will be declared part of Waveland.

Shelagh Russell went live on BBC Radio Solent and issued a passport to the presenter Nick Girdler, after he had read out the declaration on air.

Les Mills (Area Networker for Kent) had his passport stamped on a trip to France on P&O Ferries - when he pointed this out to the official he was given a VIP stamp! (Shelagh will be doing the same when she flies to Jersey shortly with Air UK).

Monday 23 June 1997

Today, the first day of UNGASS, Greenpeace was on GMTV, Sky, BBC Breakfast, Channel 5 and Radio 5.

The Denizens of the Deep Conference took place today. The Conference was designed to bring together scientists and NGOs concerned with the various elements of the biodiversity in the AF area; engage them with the area; have them present a "picture" of the diversity in the area and threats to those species; possibly end with a call to action to protect the area.....call for a moratorium on oil exploration pending a strategic Environmental Impact Assessment of the entire area."

We also wanted to make it clear that very little was known about the area, i.e. that the scientists had only just started studying it and therefore the risks/threats could only just begin to be guessed pending further study.

Finally we wanted to get the lophelia corals talked about in the marine biology community which will help our legal case - possibly draw out further witnesses, for example.

We published Phil Aikman's Fish report (Is Deep Water a Dead End?) and also had a passport office for Waveland at the site, plus the petition and the Joint Energy/Climate statement of concern.

Also today the MV Greenpeace successfully stopped seismic testing from occurring in tranche 36 (17th Round) of the UK sector 180 nautical miles East of Rockall. The testing vessel, Pacific Horizon, was meant to carry out the testing on behalf of Texaco.

At 11.20, the MV Greenpeace (MV GP) located the Pacific Horizon accompanied by a chaser vessel the Marianne approximatedly 1 hour 30 minutes sailing time north of Tranche 36. Two inflatables from the MV GP were launched to intercept. At 12.45 the MV GP was in radio contact with the Pacific Horizon and the 2 inflatables from the were trailing the seismic array. At 12.49 the MV GP warned that swimmers would be put in front of the Pacific Horizon if they did not abandon the testing. A Texaco representative onboard the PH said that they were to proceed. At 13.08 the MV GP informed the PH of its intentions (swimmers etc). At 13.10 the MV GP asked that the PH keep out of Tranche 36. Approximately 2km from entering the Tranche, the Pacific Horizon altered course to the West. It had deployed its array of microphones but not the air guns.

Sarah Burton wrote to the DTI official who wrote the leaked letter, saying:

"Would you please release to me the information on produced water, reportable oil spills and oil on cuttings maintained for the DTI by Scopec on the UKOOA/DTI database. I expect this to include all data required by the DTI under statutory provisions i.e. chemical use, discharge, fugitive emissions, flaring and well testing figures. I make this application under the relevant Environmental Information Regulations which require that you must disclose information on the environment which is provided to you under your statutory function......."

Tuesday 24 June 1997

Al came off Rockall today - leaving Meike & Pete for this week before Meike changes over with Eric for the following week.

Peter Melchett received a reply from Tony Blair (the Prime Minister) today which was friendly in tone & 'looking forward to working constructively together to achieve a sustainable future for the United Kingdom'. He says if the UK stopped development of the Atlantic oilfields, demand would be met from production elsewhere in the world..... & "We are committed to promoting cleaner, more efficient production and use of energy, including greater energy efficiency, a new drive to develop combined heat and power schemes, and greater use of renewable energy souces. That includes solar power......"

Thursday 26 June 97

A letter was published in the Independent today from Matthew Spencer re Blair's frustration at the delay of the Clinton Administration at UNGASS over CO2 emission cuts, saying that if Blair stopped the brawl for new fossil fuel reserves at the AF he would be able to demonstrate to the US that industrial development does not have to be eternally linked to the expansion of the supply of cheap oil.

Friday 27 June 1997

A very wet and muddy Glastonbury (annual music festival) starts today - with a big Greenpeace presence including the solar kitchen. The AF Cinema ad will also be shown.

There's a letter in the Times today from Chris - in reply to a letter questioning our presence on Rockall. Chris says that we agree that certain places should be "sacrosanct", including Rockall. Our presence on the rock is designed to achieve that end.....In 1971 Lord Tanlaw asked the Government if Rockall could be left alone by Homo sapiens in perpetuity to confirm the Govts intention to safeguard our environment for the future....... "Sadly, since that time, successive governments have pursued a policy of making Rockall the centre of a vast marine industrial estate. This is, on the fifth anniversary of 'Rio', hardly a 'sustainable development'."

The petition figure stands at 47,131 today.