The recent decision by the United States government to allow international petroleum giant Shell to resume drilling for oil in the Arctic seas off Alaska brought swift condemnation from environmental groups.
The Greenpeace vessel Esperanza has been shadowing the Shell drilling rig Polar Pioneer for some time, as it has been making its way across the Pacific Ocean to Seattle, in readiness for the summer Arctic drilling season.
Six Greenpeace activists have boarded the Polar Pioneer in an attempt to highlight what they claim is the threat of fossil fuel extraction in the Arctic.
One of the activists, American Citizen Aliyah Field, spoke from a windy Polar Pioneer deck about their situation.
IN: "We are just below …"
OUT: "... quite a nice night."
DUR: 42 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0407fieldaliyah-1.mp3
Greenpeace has said the activists will not interfere with the navigation of the Blue Marlin, the large oil support ship that is carrying the Polar Pioneer drilling rig. How the protest will unfold is still unclear.
IN: "There are variables …"
OUT: "… any number of possibilities."
DUR: 18 seconds
http://www.fsnradionews.com/feeds/0407fieldaliyah-4.mp3