NO NEW OIL - SIXTEEN FOOT BOTTLE FROM ROCKALL WASHES UP OUTSIDE DTI
London, 12 June 1997
Greenpeace today delivered a `message in a bottle' to Margaret Beckett,President of the Board of Trade, urging her to protect the world's climate and oceans by stopping oil development in the Atlantic Frontier. The message came from the three Greenpeace activists who, since yesterday, have been occupying Rockall, in the heart of the Atlantic Frontier.
The bottle, which is sixteen feet long, `washed up' outside the offices of the Department of Trade and Industry, Victoria Street, London. A rolled up scroll, containing the `No New Oil' message, was stuck in the end of the bottle and was signed by Al, Meike and Peter, the activists on Rockall.
People from all over the UK also sent messages in bottles through the post to the Government, demanding that oil development in the Atlantic Frontier be stopped.
From the Solar Survival Capsule on Rockall, Greenpeace activist Peter said; "The Prime Minister himself has called for urgent action against climate change. By permitting over 30 oil companies to drill for new oil the DTI is hardly adhering to that policy. It is hypocrisy on the part of the Government, to allow the oil exploration to go ahead.
Ms Beckett must now take action and stop the exploration in the Atlantic Frontier."
Burning fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide into the atmosphere, which causes global temperatures and sea levels to rise and climates to change. To prevent these rises reaching levels defined as critical by the United Nations, the world cannot afford to burn even one quarter of existing fossil fuel reserves. To search for new oil in these circumstances, Greenpeace argues, is irresponsible and dangerous.
"We have heard, over and over again, that the new Government is going to put the environment at the heart of all its policies. In this World Oceans week we call on the Government to do just that. They must begin by suspending oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier in order to protect the oceans and the climate." said Peter.
Notes to correspondents:
1.World Ocean's week, the annual global celebration of the marine environment, is organised by Wildlife and Countryside Link and involves thousands of people around the world in a variety of events aimed at raising awareness of the world's oceans and their importance for all life on earth.
2.On June 10th, Greenpeace threatened to take the UK Government to the High Court over its failure to apply European Law in the Atlantic Frontier. A letter was sent to Margaret Beckett, at the Department of Trade and Industry, giving ten days in which to respond before the matter is lodged before the High Court requesting leave for a judicial review.
3. At 21.40 hours BST on June 10th, Greenpeace activists staged a dramatic occupation of the barren and tiny island of Rockall in the Atlantic Ocean - 289 miles from the Scottish mainland. The 3 Greenpeace activists will live in a Solar Survival Capsule, totally powered with renewable energy, for an indefinite period. The occupation is in protest at the planned oil exploration in the Atlantic Frontier, which Greenpeace opposes on the grounds of climate change.
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT:
Greenpeace Press Office on (+44) 0171-865 8255/6/7/8