Feature story - January 17, 2011
Just days after BP was slammed by the US presidential commission for the poor safety practices that led to the Deepwater Horizon disaster, news of its plan to drill in the Kara Sea proves that the company has learned nothing!
"Go Beyond Oil"
Greenpeace activists climb an iceberg off Cape Farewell on the southern tip of Greenland. The banner reads "Go beyond Oil". Greenpeace is highlighting the risks of deepwater oil drilling after the Gulf of Mexico oil disaster -- a disaster BP doesn't seem to have learnt from.
“Although Greenland last year refused drilling concessions to BP because it lacked rigorous enough safety protocols, BP appears to have found a more willing back door to the pristine Arctic environment via the Russian firm Rosneft,” said Ivan Blokov, Campaign Director, Greenpeace Russia.
"Given that in 2009 alone, Rosneft had 12,000 pipeline breaks, 7526 of which resulted in oil leaks, it would be an understatement to say we are concerned about these two companies operating together in Arctic.”
“The Arctic is a fragile environment already suffering the effects of climate change – it’s also the most hostile environment for oil drilling”, continued Blokov.
"Imagine the effects of a blowout on the scale of the Deepwater Horizon disaster, but this time thousands of miles from anywhere, in subzero conditions, in a drilling season that’s just three or four months long. BP may think it can continue taking huge risks with our environment by hiding out in the Arctic, but they’re wrong; the world is keeping a close eye on BP and any company involved in Arctic drilling."
“Investors should think twice before they factor these so-called new ‘reserves’ into their analysis”, said Tzeporah Berman, co-director of Greenpeace International’s Global Climate and Energy Program. “Arctic drilling is risky and controversial - the smart money is on new clean energy technologies that are reducing our dependence to dirty oil.”