Greenpeace Stalls Arctic Drilling by Blocking Shell’s Ice Breaker (Video)

Late in July an icebreaker that is crucial to Shell’s drilling operation in the Arctic sea was turned back by Greenpeace activists in Portland, Oregon. Activists spent almost 2 days suspended from St. Johns Bridge, while others took to kayaks in Willamette River below. However they managed to block Shell’s icebreaker, the MSV Fennica from leaving the city on July 30th. The emergency equipment on-board the Fennica is essential for Shell’s drilling activities in the Arctic.

Hundreds of people gathered on the dock in support of the Greenpeace protest. After being threatened with fines of up to $10,000 an hour, law enforcement succeed in removing the activists from the area allowing the Fennica to pass. Here is a video report from Democracy Now.

Related
Obama Administration Cuts Shell’s Arctic Drilling in Half
The Unacceptable Risks of Arctic Drilling
After a Failed Cover-up Shell Sub-Contractor Pleads Guilty
Save the Arctic from a “Death Sprial”
Greenpeace forces Lego to Dump Shell
Shell Pauses its Arctic Drilling for 2013
Video of the Oil Rig Belonging to Shell that Ran aground in Alaska
Shell Oil Rig Runs Aground in Alaska Raising Safety Concerns
Shell’s Game with the Future of the Arctic
Lawsuit Protecting the Arctic from Oil and Gas Drilling
Another Offshore Oil Leak this Time from Shell