Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) (NYSE: RDS.B) has been
experiencing a fair share of disappointments in 2012 off the
Alaskan coast, with protestors now fighting to end the company's
plan to drill in the Arctic once and for all. The oil distributor
is not taking the demonstrations lightly, as Shell has elected to
take Greenpeace International (an independent global campaigning
organization) to court over protests that "violate the rights of
other parties".
According to
scnow.com
, Greenpeace International believes that drilling in the Arctic is
a very risky move on Shell's behalf, and current safety plans are
inadequate. Despite the fact that Shell was just forced to
cancel drilling once again
this week due to damaged equipment, activists continue to maintain
their strong position against the company.
This is not the first time that Shell and Greenpeace
International have butted heads over an issue. In 1998, Shell
agreed to bring the Brent Spar (an offshore installation) to land
for recycling due to a campaign that began three years prior.
Unfortunately for Greenpeace, it looks like activists may have
more difficulty proving the intention behind their innocent,
peaceful protests this time around.
"Greenpeace activists have been involved in two attempts to
thwart Shell-owned ships from traveling to the Arctic, and in May,
a U.S. court ordered the organization to remain 200 miles away from
its Alaska projects," scnow.com reports.
Beyond interfering with Shell's operations, Greenpeace
International has done a number of other things that may not fall
under the freedom of assembly, including blocking 70 gas stations
in the Netherlands earlier this month for several hours. The
protest ended in 15 arrests and has become ammunition for Shell in
the courtroom.
According to
Royal Dutch
Shell PLC's
website, "Shell wants the environmental organization fined €1
million ($1.3 million) if any of its members approach within 500
meters (yards) of any Shell property."
The company argues that hundreds of new jobs are at risk, should
Greenpeace prevail in protest efforts and in court.
A verdict is expected to be passed down in two weeks. Meanwhile,
Shell has three days left before it has to officially suspend
drilling in the Chucki Sea.
Shell is down about .43 percent in pre-market trading on Friday
morning. Year-to-date, Shell is down about 2.28 percent.
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