Date:22nd May.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

SHELL FAILS IN EARLY MORNING ATTEMPT TO REMOVE GREENPEACE FROM BRENT SPAR OIL PLATFORM IN THE NORTH SEA

At 2:45 a.m. the giant Stadive, a multi-use vessel, bigger than a football field, approached from a north/northwest position and pulled alongside the Brent Spar. Floodlights were used to illuminate the Brent Spar and Greenpeace protesters watched as apparent efforts to extend a crane from the Stadive were made without success. As of approximately 4:45 a.m., Shell announced that it had halted its efforts to remove Greenpeace due to inclement weather.

"The sea itself has granted us a stay of execution today," said Greenpeace's Chris Rose. "We're determined to stay on the Brent Spar platform until Shell and the UK government abandon their plans to dump this highly toxic platform."

Those who have voiced criticism of Shell and the UK government's plan to dump the Brent Spar include the EU Environment Commissioner, European Parliament (EP), Denmark, Belgium, Iceland and even the UK's own Labour Party. EP objections went to North Sea member states last week, asking them to take all possible steps at their upcoming meeting in Denmark (June 8-9) to prevent the dumping of Brent Spar and other offshore platforms. Norway decided last week that its first out-of-service rig will not be dumped but taken ashore and recycled.

"The UK must enter the 21st century and join other North Sea states to permanently eliminate the dumping and discharge of these toxic wastes," Rose said.

Ironically, the Shell attempt at removing the Brent Spar occupation comes on the first anniversary of the imprisonment of Ken Saro-Wiwa, Nigerian writer and environmentalist. Saro-Wiwa is a spokesman for the Ogoni people, who are protesting at Shell's devastation of their lands in the Niger Delta over the past 30 years. Saro Wiwa has been in prison for a year now after being arrested on false charges of murder. For most of that time his health has deteriorated. He has spent weeks chained to the wall. Shell continues to deny its involvement but there is growing evidence of the link between the Nigerian military activities in the Delta and Shell. The Brent Spar crew yesterday sent a message of solidarity to Ken Saro Wiwa (see over)

Contact: Steve Kretzmann Greenpeace Shetland: (44) 01595 694 099, Cindy Baxter Greenpeace Communications: (44) 0171-833-0600 *Footage from BBC Scotland: (44) 01224-625-233 Pics Reuters, AP

EDITOR'S NOTE: INTERNATIONAL OBLIGATIONS - broken promises: The dumping of the Brent Spar would be against the spirit of several international conventions the UK is party to, including: - The Geneva Convention on the Continental Shelf 1958: "any installations ...must be entirely removed;" - London Convention 1972: "take all practical steps to prevent the pollution of the sea by the dumping of wastes;" - OSPAR Convention 1992: "to prevent and eliminate pollution resulting from abandonment of offshore installations".

MESSAGE FROM THE BRENT SPAR ON KEN SARO WIWA

Brent Spar May 21, 1995

Today, on the eve of the first anniversary of the arrest of Ken Saro-Wiwa, we the Greenpeace environmental protesters occupying the Brent Spar wish to express our admiration and solidarity for Ken and the Ogoni people. Ken is in military confinement in Nigeria, after no trial, and is being systematically starved and tortured. This is because the oil found under his homeland of Ogoni is valued by the military dictatorship and by their friends Shell oil. In Ken's homeland, villages are being destroyed, Ogoni people terrorized and killed, their land despoiled. All for the black gold which Shell and the military desire. Shell has the influence to put an end to this appalling situation now. We the Brent Spar crew - attempting to prevent the environmental crime of dumping this contaminated oil platform, owned by Shell, into the ocean - call upon Shell to act now to alleviate the suffering of Ken Saro-Wiwa, and of the Ogoni people. Ken has said that "the environment is man's first right".

We humbly agree with him.

Our troubles now, in confrontation with Shell, are beneath mention compared with Ken's real and terrible suffering. If he survives, his health will never again be complete.

In Sorrow and empathy we try to stretch our small hand of solidarity towards Ken at this time.

In anger and contempt we contemplate the Shell oil company, despoiler of the earth and ocean, trampler of human rights.

You can't Sink a Rainbow.

Ken Saro-Wiwa must live.

Crew of the Greenpeace Brent Spar

For further information: Sue Cooper 0171 359 9980 or Chris Rose - 01595 694 099. For legal comment contact one of the above numbers.