Written By:
Anthony R0bins - Date published:
11:21 am, February 26th, 2012 - 68 comments
Categories: activism, Conservation, Mining -
Tags: greenpeace, lucy lawless, oil drilling, protest
While most of us talk about “saving the world” some people act.
I have a lot of respect for the Greenpeace activists, including headline-woman Lucy Lawless, who are occupying a Shell Oil drilling ship, to prevent its departure to start drilling operations in the Arctic.
Now in their third day of occupation atop a high tower, and attracting international attention, the six remaining activists are hanging on in dangerous and difficult conditions.
They planned their protest carefully so as not to endanger others, or interfere with the operation of the ship. But they are breaking the law, and thus all willingly risking the legal consequences (and possible career damage etc).
Of course many from the right wing of politics will condemn them as law breakers. But what is a sane person to do when the law is an ass, and the world has gone mad? In my opinion the actions of these protestors are fully justified, entirely rational, and very very brave. From the guilty comfort of my ergonomic chair and the safety of my keyboard, I salute you all.
The current rise of populism challenges the way we think about people’s relationship to the economy.We seem to be entering an era of populism, in which leadership in a democracy is based on preferences of the population which do not seem entirely rational nor serving their longer interests. ...
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Hear, hear… I salute their bravery.
These are the kind of people whose names will be writ large in the history books.
Very true. Courage of convictions and action to go with it. Of course the breaking of law (lawless?) can be a problem. We make laws to protect people and property – don’t we? And breaking laws is always wrong – isn’t it? Remember that the main reason that National Standards were supported by many seemed to be that to not do as the Government said, was breaking the law and lawbreakers should be sacked. Yes?
In both cases the protests seem to be legitimate. When Authorities appear to ignore concerns (Asset Sales, Crafar Farms, Arctic drilling, National Standards) then the brave must be supported. Go Lucy, lawless or not!
Apparently if Shell have a stuff-up and their oil well starts pumping oil into the Arctic sea just prior to a northern winter theres nothing they can do until the following summer. This means billions of crude could be leaking for months without anything being done to stop it. This would be the real crime and the damage would be far worse than anything we have seen before.
Let the boat sail today as planned with them on board – that’s dedication.
Has the Welsh Greenman Gareth Hughes joined them yet ? – he said he would today.
Firstly why is drilling in the Artic necessarily bad?
Secondly it has nothing to do with courage, but everything to do with attention seeking by rich Westerners with nothing else to do with their time.
Most people are working hard to barely make ends meet.
It is only people with enough financial security, who have time for such self-indulgent nonsense.
That’s one of the funniest things I ever read this week, Wayne. You’re seriously asking why there ,might be concerns about drilling in the Arctic? I’ll let you look that one up.
And you’re dismissing the protest because the people protesting have the resources to protest. I agree. I watched a bunch of middle class people wasting their time indulging themselves last night – it was disgusting. Most people are struggling to make ends meet and yet here were all these people in a big stadium wasting their time. The only reason they were there is because they could afford to be self indulgent and waste their time. And as for the players! What a joke. Why weren’t they doing something useful? Like…I dunno…..working to create a safer, more sustainable planet…..?
Are you suggesting that the only people who should be allowed to protest are poor people who can’t afford to protest? Or are you suggesting that no-one should protest anything?
He can’t read ron.
Not even the comment above his own….
Be fair – it might not have been posted when he started the comment.
I wouldn’t be surprised if it took him 45mins to look up “self indulgent”.
I say the authorities should indulge these protesters wish to be seen as brave, and chase them off the ship with police dogs and batons. Crack their fucking heads.
Wayne, I wish to apologise.
In previous threads I’ve called you a racist, a f@cist, a cultural imperialist, a philistine, a homophobe, a hateful little fuck, a totalitarian, an authoritarian, and a number of other unkind things.
The more you comment here, the more I see that you’re not like that at all.
You are a total prick Wayneker. You are everything Felix says you are and more.
Why don’t you get back on your mountain bike and practice your back-flips off the Kelburn Viaduct, and don’t bother wearing a crash helmet as your brain couldn’t become any more damaged than it already is.
gezz I never knew dogs were so clever!
They can abseil an all!
What an idiot!
whoops!
Maybe then take the tops of their heads off with a 7.62x51mm M40 sniper’s rifle?
See how long they can continue their protest with half their heads missing. If they can manage that, all power to em!
God…these types of people make me sick.
[lprent: Banned permanently. Giving space to such an idiot is making me feel sick. Another fucking gutless armchair warrior without as much intelligence as a rabid dog, and no understanding of what makes a democracy work. Shooting protesters? ]
[Thanks Lynn. As mentioned before I’ve been tempted to ban this guy repeatedly for some weeks now; instead I fell back on the ‘givem enuff rope’ principle, however sickening it got. In one sense he rather fascinated me. He isn’t a troll in the usual sense, nor is he uneducated or an ‘idiot’.
Usually trolls know they are being idiots; Wayne on the other hand will make an apparently outrageous statement… and then proceed to defend himself with considerable depth and some skill. He really believes in what he says.
I took the trouble of showing some of Wayne’s contributiuons to a Chinese colleague of mine last week; her response came in two parts.. one was yes he is almost surely a Chinese national, and two the country is full of these noxious Little Emperors. She thought it was not so much the effect of being a single child, but a whole generation of young men brought up with an aggressively privileged outlook on life. Then she quietly said… “Why do you think I live in this country, so far from my parents?”….RedLogix]
Speak for yourself!
It was a particularly stupid comment………….
And this was tweeted by Lawless today:
http://twitter.com/#!/RealLucyLawless
And there are also updates on the occupation being tweeted here:
http://twitter.com/#!/GreenpeaceNZ
Sea Shepherd are brave, these are just attention seeking morons chasing a lost cause. Faded TV stars looking for relevance.
Pretty much. Altho her titties are nice in Spartacus.
Reading her twitter I am shacking my head. What rubbish.
infused- you should be very ashamed of this tacky, debased comment about a very courageous and principled mother.
Nah, nothing she has done (especially Sparticus) has led me to believe she is anything other than an airhead who gets her top off.
Who next??? Paris Hilton, Britney Spears???????
Paris Hilton has already been seen climbing atop a pole.
Actually, Lawless is not a great actress, but I don’t believe she is an airhead. She’s OK in certain acting parts, but she can be quite sharp in interviews. She may turn out to be better in the political arena than as an actor.
PS: most Hollywood actresses, starlets, airheads and minor celebrities, would make a big effort to avoid being in the public eye in a hard hat and overall, without all the plastic make-up, designer clothes etc., and unable to shower for a few days on end.
She is a good actor. She is great in Spartacus. One of the best shows I’ve seen since Boardwalk Empire.
It was some just tongue in cheek. Don’t stress guys.
Yeah looking for relevance grumpy….relevance for the planet to sustain humans in the future, despite the irrelevance of many of those very humans e.g: grumpy, infused (jerking off over Lucys chest), wayne (good riddance wayneker) gosman et al
I have plenty of respect for Lucy Lawless as an actress but none for getting on a ship, and hiding behind slogans. It’s sad she is so dedicated but she doesn’t realise she’s a skirt to hide behind and is probably being used by others the visibility her fame and money brings to the political cause.
Talkabout absolute nonsense! Yes LL’s presence gets media attention both in NZ and around the world.. But she stands up for what she knows is right, and has done so for some years now.
This protest is not about slogans, it’s about drawing attention to the environmental dangers of oil exploration in the Arctic, and the consequences to global warming of trying to continue with business as usual.
Or maybe she actually gives a fuck, and understands that her “being well known” will gain more peoples attention, than if she were a nobody…..sad as that might be, given the importance of the cause/message I wouls say that more attention would be preferred to less!
Lets get a piece going about who on the boards actually actively participates somehow other than blog…
Off you go Monique!
Hey don’t grumble, Monique is doing her bit by providing “a skirt” for Peter Dunne and Pete George to hide behind!
Good on you Lucy, I admire your courage.
BUT, even if every human left the planet tonight, the environment will still hit temperatures that will lead to the extinction of all manuals. We are locked into runaway GW now, peak oil is just the icing on the cake, go home and relax, it is all to little to late, the human experiment is just about over, and in several million years time, life will carry on, without us.
Watch this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOMWzjrRiBg An animated documentary about resource depletion & the impossibility of infinite growth on a finite planet…. or why KiwiSaver will never payout, at least to people under 55 😉
Greenpeace like the green party are part of the problem
watch this to understand http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hx-G1uhRqA even Capitan Paul Watson agrees
at least the automatics will be okay, then. I was worried for a moment.
Well spotted McFlock. However, it’s a bit obvious how desperate the AGW flat earthers are getting now their “science” is being blown apart – from both sides…..
“blown apart”? In your dreams.
I just disagree with the concept of futility of action.
Its the futility of inaction which is going to get us. Mind you, I dont think climate change is the problem our civilisation faces. That’s 100 years down the track. Significant energy depletion is a mere 5-10 years away, and the early crests of it are already buffetting us.
Not that I should be replying to a non person, but just for the record I bet the ten year old kid who spotted the kings naked butt, and spoke up about it, couldn’t spell to well?
But good laugh anyway )
McFlock
Bailing steerage with a thimble wouldn’t be a futile action to you?
We are passed the point of no return, the ice berg is in the rear view mirror, you can dream as much as you like about ‘positive action’ it doesn’t matter, the only thing you can do is discourage any new children, and that is not to make the environment better, or even slow what is under way, it will just mean every child NOT born is one that will not suffer what is already in action, and that is as positive as I can be. Hence my middle name.
Even the occupy movement was about just getting a bigger cut of the pie, which is in fact the planet.
So do whatever cranks your handle, but don’t fool yourself that it will change a bloody thing.
Meh.
In that case I might as well grab a laugh where I can – you’re the one who suggested we should be relaxed about it!
Interesting philosophical point about hether not living is better than living in the next 70 years. Should we all just suicide now?
The more I think about it, Tamar Iti had the right idea…….
70? more like 25years )
http://www.youtube.com/user/oilcrash1#p/a/f/0/yOq2A_SGTYA
http://www.youtube.com/user/oilcrash1#p/a/f/1/q4Czw3Y_ARE
Suicide, will only reduce personal suffering, many many people will choose this option though. Better to top yourself than be stored for food … ala The Road.
It is not my fault in anyway, I do not have children, as much good luck as good management.All I’m doing is pointing out the facts, you can get as insulting and cry baby as you like, throw as many tantrums as you like, it still doesn’t change a thing, ‘we’ didn’t deal with reality when it might have done some good, so now it is reality’s turn to deal with us.
If you have children then bad luck, but again it is not my fault, if you have children under 10 then I guess if I had done a better job maybe I could have saved you some heartache, but alas I was just one broken arssed nut job back then.
http://oilcrash.com/articles/struggle.htm
tantrums? I just made a joke based on a typo. And really, if it’s all futile and we’re all dead within 25 years, who gives a shit whether we go there laughing or just constantly saying “but we’re all doomed, you know”.
I just think the real terror of existence is turning up to a dinner party to find you at the table.
The most important thing now is to pass along how we screwed up and how some people didn’t want to listen.
But if Robert’s right, there’s nobody to pass it on to.
What are we going to do- etch a message for aliens or intelligent dinosaurs “it wasn’t me”?
And if we go to Mad Max, they won’t give a shit. They’ll have other things to worry about.
Very doubtful that the population of the planet will fall under 1.5B or maybe 2.0B under all but the very worst case scenarios. Humans are pretty damn good at surviving.
I tend to agree, but think that’s probably a low count. But better than zero.
Sorry McF not talking about your manual comment as a ‘tantrum’ I’m talking about things like protesting, the ‘Arab spring’, people going out on strike for better conditions, the occupy movement, etc,
Thinks are fast going to crap, that is what post peak oil looks like, it will only get worse, it has to.
Lets pretend that ‘we’ could reverse what is in motion, to even come close to changing what is in motion we would need something like 80% unemployment, no personal cars, no flying, no luxury cruses, and a moratorium on new children.
Now I know no one is going to go along with voluntary destitution, Key and co are heading in the right direction as far as slowing down the insane breeding numbers in NZ, but it is just not enough.
And when I started trying to wake up the general dumb public 12 years ago, I thought all I needed to do was show people the facts, alas people just did not want to know, and it was an utter waste of $25,000+ and thousands of hours of effort.
Just for fun I would love to hear what you have been up to over the past decade, and what you plane to do to inform people?
This was my attempt http://oilcrash.com/articles/struggle.htm now you do better. .
What have I been up to in the last ten years? Getting drunk, smoking, and working on safety issues in my local community, among other things.
I think what we’re seeing now aren’t so much the effects of peak oil (although it’s helped with food prices) as the transition from global dominance of one power into the commercial and military dominance of another power.
But there will probably be water wars in the next twenty years. Personally I’m wondering if Israel will take a bit more of Syria and Lebanon in the period after Assad tumbling (not 100% that he will fall, but it will jiggle the board in interesting ways if he does).
I think NZ will miss most of the interesting times in the short (decades) period, though. We’re nice and far away, with enough places in between us and anyone else that other powers will step in before the imperialist armies get here.
It’s the AGW and ocean acidification that have potential to screw us.
$25k? Should have spent it on whiskey.
And that is a power transition driven by many factors, including energy prices. Higher fuel costs is effectively a tax on every dollar of GDP that the productive economy produces.
I’d also argue that for the US, Iraq and Libya were projects partly driven by peak oil (a lack of cheaper easier oil reserves); and the massive cost and logistical complexity of the Afghanistan war is absolutely to do with fuel supply shortages.
You can see the US military urgently moving to low fuel foot print technologies, surgical drone strikes instead of massive strategic bombers and this is one of the driving motivations. Interestingly, the US military is way ahead on peak oil thinking. They have to be since an armored division can chug down a million litres of fuel a month without blinking.
Fuel costs hit China, too. Not as badly because of the trade surplus with the US, but still there.
Libya and Iraq definitely involved oil, but I think more as cash for the corporate interests than oil scarcity per se. Afghanistan was largely an afterthought operation, as indicated by the priority given it compared with Iraq by the Bush presidency.
Drones are popular because they’re cheap and hard to detect, compared with a B52. That’s why they’re especially useful in precision operations and going across borders – the old “whoops, we accidentally lost contact, fucking microsoft” excuse, with no Francis Gary powers to contradict you.
They still used the full spectrum of aircraft. And they still run tanks with jet engines.
It’s always polite to leave a manual in the glove box for the next species who gets to drive your planet.
Although you’d expect them to know the basics like checking the oil and keeping an eye on the temperature.
Droll max felix
I love Lucy!!! Good on you, may a thousand fortunes fall on you, you are showing the world what a dangerous and stupid risk these oil companies are prepared to take for the sake of the old retrograde technology and the almighty dollar!!!!
Would be really great if the ship weighs anchor and steams off with them up the mast all the way to Alaska.
Then make them fly back at their own cost after slapping them with a very hefty fine for tresspass absolute muppets, not getting the media exposure they want all going a bit pear shape really
Still looking for some strictly biological satisfaction then, James? A bit of really visceral hate– better than sex, eh?
It be interesting to see a list of the laws that people here deem confortable with breaking. I suspect it would fit nicely with their ideological bias. I presume it wouldn’t include tax evasion or people refusing to follow regulations regarding their private property.
The trouble is if you decide which laws to follow and which to ignore you open yourself up for a world of unintended consequences.
I have no problem with lawful protests but if you disagree with a law work to get it changed to something you would prefer. That is after all what democracy is all about.
The sound of a tool who’s “just following orders”
Gossy, civil disobedience is a profoundly democratic act, and one that at heart relies quite precisely on a deep respect for the rule of law.
the point you seem to miss is that people engaging in civil disobedience are not asking to be able to ‘do whatever they want’. Nor are they saying that ‘the law shouldn’t apply to me’.
The main thing they doing is saying ‘arrest me, and see how it works out for you, politically speaking’.
They may or may not be wise in such a request. That goes without saying. But id sdoesn’t change the fact that what they are doing is democratic in nature. they are throwing themselves against the state, and seeing if the demos will stand with, or against, them. You can’t get much more democratic than that.
‘Do as you’re told’, isn’t actually a very democratic way of going about protest.
Yes you are so right Gosman;
It would be far better to donate large sums of cash to the Nact cause in order to change the laws, how silly are these protesters don’t they know the appropriate RWNJ method of change(?).
I’m not saying it’s a good idea to frig around in the Arctic. I am saying if you are going to enter politics make sure you’re not being pimped out for no real gain.
http://nowoccupy.blogspot.com/2012/02/strange-men-take-advantage-of-lawless.html
I understand the boat is moving now – probably to refuel. Further, that if they stay on the boat after it sails, the offence is piracy.
She will be arrested and we can only wait to see if the resulting charges are enough to interfere with her immigration status in the US. Might be a career ending protest.
Well done to the slogan spouting air head.
Lucy’s presence has been worth the media cover for her cause….now its time to get off the boat and leave.
In case anybody is unaware that I am decidedly sympathetic with the message of the protesters here is the downside. Lucy will no doubt travel to Auckland across bitumen roads in a petroleum guzzling vehicle which has a few hundred barrels of embedded oil energy contained in its manufacture. And when she makes her next Hollywood movie its off on a petroleum product consuming aeroplane.
Nice protest but the issue is so much greater than saving the Arctic or a few whales. Its systemic, and whilst awareness gets raised it offers the general public (you and I with our petroleum based lifestyle) nothing but warm fuzzies.
Ms Lawless is now the poster girl for Greenpeace and no doubt we will hear more from her in the future.
The issue which she is campaigning against, oil exploration in the Arctic Circle, has been under way for many years:
http://en.mercopress.com/2011/08/31/exxon-clinches-arctic-oil-exploration-deal-with-a-russian-government-company
http://www.industryweek.com/articles/study_urges_canada_to_suspend_arctic_oil_exploration_due_to_disaster_risk_25563.aspx
Therefore Lucy’s protest is relatively late to the issue.
Good on Lucy Lawless! Though for a ageing 60s person like me it seems all too late.Whatever happens climate change will process on, I think we need to predict and adapt including voluntary population reduction. However:
Really great article about these issues for those who can’t be bothered to worry about them too much!Only limited time to consider. Shows the position we are now in as a global civilisation.
“climate change, Peak energy & resources” by Alice Friedemann
“Until a miracle happens, scientists and some enlightened policy makers are trying to extend the age of oil, reduce greenhouse gases, and so on. But with the downside of Hubbert’s curve so close, and the financial system liable to crash again soon given the debt and lack of reforms, I don’t know how long anyone can stretch things out.”
Refer link:http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-02-25/peak-energy-resources-climate-change-and-preservation-knowledge
“The 1% can’t justify their wealth or the current economic system once the pie stops expanding and starts to shrink. The financial crisis will be a handy way to explain why people are getting poorer on the down side of peak oil too, delaying panic perhaps.
Other evidence that politicians know how serious the situation is, but aren’t saying anything, are Congressman Roscoe Bartlett’s youtube videos (Urban Danger). He’s the Chairman of the peak oil caucus in the House of Representatives, and he’s saying “get out of dodge” to those in the know. He’s educated all of the representatives in the House, but he says that peak oil “won’t be on their front burner until there’s an oil shock”.
Fossil fuel age – fossil energy based civilisation – by product: emissions and climate change with temporary exponential growth now at an end plus environmental destruction – hubbert downside = dramatic decline of the previous. Very different World heading our way! Sorry if that’s scary! Really!
Once again we have the hypocritical attention seeking Z lister star protesting about oil drilling.
This is a person building a huge mansion in Orakei using cranes, concrete etc, flies around the world making movies that use a lot of natural resources, drives bug flash cars and then prptests about oil drilling.
Wears synthetic fibres, natural fibres that have been grown using oil based fertilisrers etc and then grand stands.
I drive a car.
Does that mean I’m not allowed to complain about the oil industry? What about the motor industry?
If I drive on roads, am I not allowed to complain about the government?
Please explain the rules, I’m finding them confusing.
ey ey captain, cant protest these things if you dont live a stoneage existence.
get real captain con way
Climate Change is happening and if we burn the rest of the Oil and Coal Climate Hellish disruption at the least can be expected.
“Why Britain could face years of freezing winters because of the dramatic decline in Arctic sea ice
There is less Arctic sea ice now than there has been at any time in the past 1,450 years.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2107255/Why-Britain-face-years-freezing-winters-dramatic-decline-Arctic-sea-ice.html#ixzz1ncRUyouO
“Imagine the Arctic as a (huge) domestic freezer with the thermostat keeping the freezer well below freezing. Now turn off the power (and probably add warmth from climate change). When frozen solid, the freezer would keep most of it’s cold in a small area……but now, as it warms, very cold water (and air) begins to spread out. In terms of your domestic freezer, there’s now a spreading puddle of melting ice on the floor. Makes sense therefore that the chilling effect will move away from the poles – albeit to a lesser degree as it comes across warmer climates to the south, giving us some quite nasty winters to come.”
But if we go cold turkey on fossil fuels our ancient sunlight civilisation crumbles back to to an 18c energy diet without the small population of that time. We are darned if we do and darned if we don’t.
When is the return of a AFewKnowTheTruth going to happen; he’s pretty clued up on all this?
Again showing Lucy Lawless and Greenpeace are right: Part of the devastation of fossil fueled climate change will be even bigger forest fires :
“There Will Be Fire: The ‘Carbon Bomb’ ‘Waiting to Be Ignited’
Scientist: With climate change fires will become more frequent, more intense and harder to stop.”
refer link: http://www.commondreams.org/headline/2012/02/27-2
“I am not a religious person, but I do see this as punishment for stupidity and greed. We have dishonored God, which to me is the gift of the life-giving planet earth and the ability of people to act with intelligence and love. Sadly, as always, it is the innocent people and creatures who will suffer the most. To me, the most important thing we can do is to cut down on fossil fuels IMMEDIATELY. That will mean confronting the corporations who are so heavily invested in this and drastically revising what we think we need. I truly do not see any other path for the viability of most life on earth. ”
To me, the most important thing we can do is to cut down on fossil fuels IMMEDIATELY. That will mean confronting the corporations who are so heavily invested in this and drastically revising what we think we need. I truly do not see any other path for the viability of most life on earth.
The above is the point of the protest
Must be all Sci-Fi surely? Climate Change can’t really be that bad ,anyway it hasn’t happened yet.
“Crossing the line as civilization implodes”
“Humanity is putting its foot on the accelerator even though the world’s top scientists and governments have repeatedly explained we are headed over a cliff. The people who will suffer the most are people who have not contributed to this impending catastrophe — future generations and the poorest among us.
This is such a colossally immoral and unethical act — collectively and in many cases individually — that most people, including the overwhelming majority of the so-called intelligentsia, simply choose to ignore it on a daily basis. That won’t save a livable climate, however, nor it will stop future generations from cursing our names.”
Refer link:http://www.energybulletin.net/stories/2012-02-27/crossing-line-civilization-implodes-heartland-institute-peter-gleick-and-andrew-r
The issue is a bit more important than a charge of trumped up “Burglary” on an oil derrick.
“Even the formerly reticent Lonnie Thompson explained why he and other climatologists are speaking out: “Virtually all of us are now convinced that global warming poses a clear and present danger to civilization.” He continues:
That bold statement may seem like hyperbole, but there is now a very clear pattern in the scientific evidence documenting that the earth is warming, that warming is due largely to human activity, that warming is causing important changes in climate, and that rapid and potentially catastrophic changes in the near future are very possible. This pattern emerges not, as is so often suggested, simply from computer simulations, but from the weight and balance of the empirical evidence as well.”
James Hansen explains the grave consequences of not tackling Climate Change. To charge Lucy Lawless with burglary is a sign of the incredible petty mindedness even imbecility of our leaders.
Link: http://www.commondreams.org/video/2012/03/07-0
Hansen dramatically explains that due to the forcing of increasing co2 levels the Earth is picking up and retaining the energy equivalent of 4000 Hiroshima bombs every day 365 days a year. He also talks of positive feedback loops such as melting tundra and permafrost and ice sheet melt.
Correction to above Hansen said 400,000 Hiroshima bombs not 4000! Sorry