Subject: Greenpeace tries to stop oil exploration in N. Atlantic URL: http://www2.nando.net/newsroom/ntn/health/072497 /health30_28709.html ----------------------------------------------------------------- Greenpeace takes court action against Britain ----------------------------------------------------------------- Copyright 1997 Nando.net Copyright 1997 Reuter Information Service LONDON (July 24, 1997 09:27 a.m. EDT) - Greenpeace on Thursday accused the British government and 15 leading oil firms of plundering the environment with oil exploration in the North Atlantic. "This fight is over an ocean wilderness that is home to whales, dolphins and a world heritage site for birds as well as deep water coral," said Lord Melchett, executive director of the environmental pressure group. "We also oppose further oil exploitation on the grounds that fossil fuels are damaging the climate," he said as Greenpeace mounted a High Court challenge to the latest round of exploration. Greenpeace said the British government had acted unlawfully by issuing licences for oil exploration whilst failing to consider their responsibilities under international environmental directives. Challenging Britain's new Labour government, Melchett asked: "Will it flout the law by allowing oil companies to cause seismic explosions and start oil drilling without a formal environmental assessment first?" Greenpeace thinks the government has failed to apply the European Habitats Directive when it awarded permits in the 17th offshore licensing round, mainly in the Rockall Trough west of the Hebrides and north of the Shetland Islands. Last month, Greenpeace activists sailed inflatable boats close to a Texaco oil exploration vessel in the north Atlantic in an attempt to stop seismic testing. Activists occupied the London office of U.S. oil company Conoco, another company awarded an Atlantic exploration licence. Greenpeace campaigners also seized the tiny, barren Atlantic island of Rockall and, rejecting British claims, proclaimed a new state of Waveland. - message sent by infoterra@cedar.univie.ac.at to signoff from the list, send an email to majordomo@cedar.univie.ac.at the message body should read unsubscribe infoterra your@email.address -