Greenpeace Re-Enters Shale Oil Plant

Greenpeace Australia

Gladstone, July 21 1999: Greenpeace this morning continued its campaign of action to stop the greenhouse vandalism of the Great Barrier Reef by once again stopping operation of the Stuart Oil Shale plant near Gladstone, Queensland.

Despite a 24-hour police presence, at dawn three Greenpeace activists stopped the operation of the plant, this time by occupying the top of the 60m emissions tower.

On Monday, 14 Greenpeace activists were arrested at the site. The 14 are due to appear in Gladstone court on August 6 facing charges of trespassing and obstructing police.
"Shale oil needs to be left in the ground if we are to avoid dangerous climate change and save the Great Barrier Reef," said Robbie Kelman Greenpeace Climate Campaigner.

"Allowing this new oil industry to develop will aid in the vandalism of one of our premiere natural and economic assets."

"By safely disabling the emissions tower, we are stopping this oil plant from creating greenhouse gases. The burning of coal, oil and gas creates the greenhouse pollution that will kill the Great Barrier Reef within the next 30 years."

"Australia could be at the forefront of developing renewable energy industries and help save this seventh wonder of the world. Instead, the Federal Government is subsidising a new source of oil. This is irresponsible given what we know about the impacts of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef."

Stopping climate change is the priority campaign for Greenpeace globally. Greenpeace has been campaigning for nearly 30 years and is committed to non-violent direct action to expose environmental threats and to highlight solutions.

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