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Greenpeace activists abort oil rig protest off Greenland
Sep 2, 2010, 11:26 GMT
Copenhagen/Stockholm - Four Greenpeace activists left an oil rig in western Greenland which they scaled earlier this week to protest against drilling in the environmentally sensitive Arctic region, the group said Thursday.
Strong winds and icy temperatures forced the activists to leave the rig they climbed Tuesday, Greenpeace said.
The four activists have been detained by Danish police.
Scotland-based Cairn Energy that is conducting the exploration said operations have resumed on the rig.
'For two days we halted controversial and dangerous oil drilling,' one of the four activists, Sam McKenna, said in a statement issued by Greenpeace.
'Even if the Arctic weather finally defeated us, we are proud that we delayed Cairn's ongoing search for oil in this very vulnerable region,' he added.
A year ago, Greenland gained more autonomy from Denmark. Greenland premier Kuupik Kleist has criticized Greenpeace's actions as 'a very grave and illegal attack on Greenland's constitutional rights.'
Greenpeace said the move was to protest against ongoing test drilling in environmentally sensitive Arctic waters.
The region has been the target of a new rush for oil exploration by energy companies hoping to tap into gas and oil reserves believed to be off Greenland.
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