Kiwis flock to beaches to say no to deep sea oil
Kiwis flock to beaches to say no to deep sea oil
Auckland, 23 November 2013
– Thousands of Kiwis flocked to beaches around the country
today to demonstrate their opposition to deep sea oil
drilling in New Zealand waters.
‘Banners on the
beach’ activities attracted crowds to more than 45 North
Island west coast beaches as well as a few on the east coast
and in the South Island. The nationwide event, organised by
a coalition of groups, coincides with the continuing protest
by the Oil Free Seas Flotilla about 100 nautical miles off
the coast of Raglan, where oil giant Anadarko intends to
start drilling.
Texan oil giant Anadarko has not
yet started to drill, although its yet untested drilling
ship, Noble Bob Douglas has been on site since Tuesday
morning. The Greenpeace sponsored yacht Vega has remained
within the exclusion zone of the Bob Douglas since its
arrival.
Organisers say the largest crowd was at
Piha where more than 1000 gathered with banners for speeches
and a haka. Other crowd estimates are Raglan, 650, Muriwai,
400 and Bethells Beach, 500.
Greenpeace Climate Campaigner Steve Abel says the huge turnout will have sent a strong message to the government.
“Today Kiwis have drawn a line in the sand saying quite clearly they don’t want deep sea oil drilling in New Zealand waters.”
ENDS