This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/jul/30/portland-shell-bridge-protesters-greenpeace-fined

The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Judge fines Greenpeace as Portland bridge protesters force Shell ship delay Portland icebreaker protesters cleared after judge fines Greenpeace $2,500 an hour
(about 3 hours later)
A federal judge in Alaska has ordered Greenpeace USA to pay a fine of $2,500 for every hour that protesters continue to block a Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker from leaving Portland, Oregon, for the Arctic. Authorities have forced protesters in kayaks from a river in Portland, Oregon, where they were trying to stop a Royal Dutch Shell icebreaker from leaving dry dock and joining an Arctic oil drilling operation.
US district court judge Sharon Gleason ruled Thursday in Anchorage that Greenpeace is in civil contempt because of protesters dangling off a bridge in Portland, whom she said impeded the Shell vessel. Police also tried to lower protesters who were dangling from a bridge into the water below. Sergeant Pete Simpson said safety was the main priority, and police and coast guard officers were joined by firefighters and a rope-rescue team.
A federal judge in Alaska had earlier ordered Greenpeace USA to pay a fine of $2,500 for every hour that protesters continued to block the icebreaker from leaving for the Arctic.
US district court judge Sharon Gleason ruled on Thursday in Anchorage that Greenpeace was in civil contempt because of protesters dangling off the bridge and impeding the vessel.
Related: Activists continue high-wire Shell protest at Portland bridge – in picturesRelated: Activists continue high-wire Shell protest at Portland bridge – in pictures
“Shell is still trying to circumvent the growing global call to preserve the Arctic, and has turned to the courts for help,” Leonard said. “While we respect the courts, we also respect the increasingly urgent science that tells us Arctic oil needs to stay underground.” Greenpeace USA executive director Annie Leonard said: “Shell is still trying to circumvent the growing global call to preserve the Arctic, and has turned to the courts for help.”
There was no immediate sign, however, that the protesters were about to move from their perch after the ruling. The activists hung themselves from the bridge on Wednesday at approximately 3am PT, delaying the departure of the oil company’s 380ft Fennica icebreaker. The vessel was originally scheduled to leave that afternoon.
“We are confronted with a huge decision, one we cannot make alone,” Greenpeace USA executive director Annie Leonard said. “Right now we’re asking the activists what they think we should do next. As of this moment, the 26 activists will stay in place.” The ship set out early Thursday morning local time with police escorts but stopped short of the bridge and remained idle. The US coastguard told protesters to leave but they continued to block its path. The ship then turned around and returned to dock.
The activists have been hanging from the bridge since Wednesday at approximately 3am PT, delaying the departure of the oil company’s 380ft Fennica icebreaker. The vessel was originally scheduled to leave on Wednesday at 4.45am, according to the Columbia River Pilots website. The Columbia River Bar Pilots website later listed the launch time as midday Wednesday.
The ship set out early Thursday morning local time with police escorts. But it stopped short of the bridge and remained idle. The US coastguard told protesters to leave but they continued to block the vessel’s path. The ship turned around at approximately 8am and returned to dock.
Backincamp - the Fennica is no longer in sight. That was one hell of wake up call and very exciting morning. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/kEQS0K7X2DBackincamp - the Fennica is no longer in sight. That was one hell of wake up call and very exciting morning. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/kEQS0K7X2D
The activists have supplies for “a couple of days”, said Cassady Sharp of Greenpeace USA. Other protesters, nicknamed “kayaktivists”, have also joined Greenpeace by taking to the water below in kayaks. Other protesters, nicknamed “kayaktivists”, also joined Greenpeace by taking to the water below in kayaks.
“With these people hanging here it was too dangerous for the authorities to move through,” Maya Jarrad, a spokeswoman for 350PDX and Portland Rising Tide, told Oregon Live. “The kayakers are also impeding the ship’s progress.”
Gleason in May granted Shell’s request that activists protesting Shell’s Arctic drilling plans be ordered to stay away from Shell vessels and beyond buffer zones.Gleason in May granted Shell’s request that activists protesting Shell’s Arctic drilling plans be ordered to stay away from Shell vessels and beyond buffer zones.
The Associated Press contributed to this reportThe Associated Press contributed to this report