From: The Greenpeace vessel Altair
Date: Fri 16-JUN-95 7:03:09 GMT

Subject: internet update

Latest update:

Today a helicopter went from the Altair with crew on board to try to re-board the Brent Spar rig.

Our helicopter pilot, one of the best out there, made several attempts to get close to the Brent Spar while Shell, amazingly, used water cannons on the helicopter to prevent it from landing. After a first aborted attempt and with inflatable boats in the water as well, the pilot took the helicopter back in and this time was successful in dropping off two activists onto the Spar. The water cannonning continued after they were successfully on board but the helicopter landed safely back on the Altair with our mission accomplished. Later, the pilot was able to return to the Spar on board the Greenpeace helicopter with supplies which were dropped off the Greenpeace staff on board the oil platform.

Shell picked up two Greenpeace inflatable drivers earlier and are holding them on board one of their service vessels. They have not had them arrested and have resisted any attempts to make arrangements with us to transfer them to our boat.

We've heard from our office in Canada that German Chancellor Helmut Kohl has raised the issue of the Brent Spar dumping at the G7 Summit of heads of state currently going on in Canada. John Major reportedly has said he will refuse to reconsider his decision. This means we have four days to continue pressuring him to do the right thing.

Protests are planned at 100 Shell sites in the UK tomorrow. Protests continue to take place across Europe.

There have been reports of damage to Shell property in Germany. We are very concerned and troubled by this. As a non-violent organization, Greenpeace abhors the use of any such tactics to bring about change and we call on protesters to use only peaceful means to prevent the Brent Spar dumping.

Keep up the fight. There's still a chance that we can prevent the dumping!