This week is a busy one for all those who oppose Shells Arctic drilling plans. The inspiring movement to halt Shells Arctic drilling plans is heating up in Seattle andpeople around the country are supporting to movement to save the Arctic.
Yesterday kicked off with a heated Seattle Port Commission Hearing when dozens ofparticipants asked the commissionersto rescind the lease they signed with Shell in a backroom deal months ago. The City of Seattle announced the last week that the deal was actually not in compliance with city permits. Despite hours of passionate testimony, the Port voted to appeal the citys decision although they did agree to ask Foss Maritime, whose client is Shell, to delay the moorage of the rigs at in Seattle.
Per usual, the hearing was full of diverse voices advocating for Arctic protection from a musical interlude from the beloved Raging Grannies to a heartwarming plea from a little boy in a firemans jacket mentioning the fires in California and lack of snow in skiing regions to one of the Greenpeace activists who peacefully boarded the Shell rig the Polar Pioneer.
Meanwhile a small crew of kayaktivists headed north to Everett, Washington to greet Shells oil rig, the ill-fated Noble Discoverer, as it cruised in the port of Everett, just thirty minutes north of Seattle. The Noble Discoverer is the same rig associated with eight felonies from Shells 2012 Arctic drilling attempt and recently failed a Coast Guard inspection in Hawaii.
The Noble Discoverer is expected to stay in Everett for a few days before coming to Seattle while the companys other rig, the Polar Pioneer, should be in Seattle by the end of the week. It has been in Port Angeles, Washington since mid-April.
Next up? This weekend, hundreds more kayaktivists are expected to hit the water, including Greenpeace’s own Executive Director and Seattle native Annie Leonard, to protest Shells Arctic drilling plans.
Find out more here!
https://www.facebook.com/events/1615883975321739/