GREENPEACE CAPTAIN DISCHARGED BP DROPS CASE AGAINST HIM

GREENPEACE CAPTAIN DISCHARGED BP DROPS CASE AGAINST HIM 22 August 1997 In a second climbdown, BP has today dropped its legal case against the Greenpeace Captain who commanded the environmental group's support vessel during the occupation of the Stena Dee oil-drilling platform. Jon Castle walked free from the court to the delight of waiting Greenpeace supporters outside. Only yesterday, BP backed down from its legal claim for Ł1.4m damages against Greenpeace UK following the occupation, which was mounted as part of the Atlantic Frontier campaign to protest against new oil exploration because of the risk it poses to the climate. Lord Osborne, presiding in the case which lasted just five minutes, discharged Captain Jon Castle, aged 47, from Guernsey, saying that since BP was no longer insisting upon the orders he was not going to proceed further against Jon Castle. Jon Castle was discharged on the grounds that there was no case to answer. Jon Castle attended the Edinburgh Court of Session today charged with breaches of interdicts (Scottish injunctions). One related to an order granted against him in his capacity as Captain of MV Greenpeace preventing him and all others acting under his authority from disrupting the towing operation of the Stena Dee or allowing the transport of people or equipment to the oil drilling platform. The 11 August interdict also ordered the removal of all persons deployed from the MV Greenpeace on board the platform. In court BP/Britoil did not insist upon this order being pursued further. Another order granted on the 14 August, it was alleged that Jon Castle breached, required him to provide to BP/Britoil the names of persons on board the MV Greenpeace was withdrawn today by BP/Britoil. This left Lord Osborne with only a possible case of contempt of court to deal with but he decided there was no case for Jon Castle to answer. " It's brilliant," said Jon Castle, as he left court today. " It is a step forward in our ongoing climate change campaign in the Atlantic frontier. All this is about the climate and the future, the future for all of us and our children." "BP didn't like having to climb down one bit," he added. " Greenpeace is delighted that the Judge today vindicated Jon Castle," said Chris Rose, Deputy Executive Director of Greenpeace UK." It is important that we have the courage to stand up to large companies that threaten our environment. Today's result is a victory for common sense and for all those who campaign on environmental and social justice issues. Greenpeace will now continue to focus public attention on the damaging effects fossil fuels have on the climate with its campaign on the Atlantic Frontier." FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: Greenpeace Press Office on +44 (0)171-865 8255/6/7/8 Notes to Correspondents 1. Stills/video footage featuring Captain Jon Castle will be available from agencies. Contact Press Office. 2. Robert Reed QC represented Jon Castle and Richard Keene QC represented Britoil plc (BP). The Edinburgh solicitors representing Greenpeace in Scotland are Dundas & Wilson. 3. Jon Castle, aged 47, from Guernsey, has sailed with Greenpeace since 1978 on the Cedar Lee, MV Greenpeace, the original Rainbow Warrior, the Moby Dick, Sirius and the Altair. Among the many campaigns he has been involved in, the most famous are: the Brent Spar, Moruroa, Whaling, Nuclear Dumping, Chemical Pollution and Incineration. 4. Quotes from Jon Castle: "I have been a sea-man all my life," said Jon. "I started knocking around on boats as a youngster in Guernsey and later joined the Merchant Navy."
"I don't think of myself as a professional activist. I am just a normal member of the public who feels strongly about the environment," said Castle. " Things are increasingly materialistic - we need to get back to a more spiritual way of being instead of purely money-led. We are straying away from nature. We are not respecting it. It is pretty amazing working with Greenpeace. I'm pretty happy. Greenpeace does achieve a few things."