We are now into our second week on the Brent Spar, the oil storage platform that Shell wants to sink in the Atlantic. We are finally becoming more comfortable in our new surroundings. The idea of living on a floating polluted island is not a pleasant prospect but we have now firmly set this before us. Since the construction of our wind generator above on the heli deck and the increasing media interest surrounding our stay, the morale of crew members has reached a satisfactory level and the mood is positive.
The SPAR sways constantly, reminding us of our location and the risks. Outside the temperature is a low 5 deg.C, not European summer-like at all. Heating one room to a comfortable level is now possible and that has been warmly welcomed.
Our food supplies are still very substantial on board, with an excellent French cook to keep us going. It is still difficult to keep clean, with salt water for washing. As you look around the dinner table you see ever longer beards looking back at you! After 10 days we all could do with a hot bath, but that is just a small sacrifice under the circumstances. The word "Squatters" has been used in the press, perhaps this is something along those lines. However how many squats have a satellite phone/fax/e-mail communications? So we continue our "sit in" for the common goal...
DON'T DUMP THE SPAR...