The protest of oil tankers by Greenpeace activists was just a "low level disobedience"

JOHN COWPLAND / ALPHAPIX

Sara Howell and Russel Norman are sentenced to Napier Condemner Greenpeace activists who disrupted an oil exploration vessel would deter others from undertaking major protests that would benefit the company, their lawyer told a court.

Greenpeace Executive Director Russel Norman and Countryman Sara Howell Crown Attorney Cameron Stuart said Friday that the couple had caused a significant disruption and danger and that there had been a high level of perseverance and premeditation on the part of the defendants. as evidenced by the fact that they acknowledged having repeated their actions in advance.

Greenpeace

Russel Norman swimming in front of the Amazon Warrior oil prospecting ship.

Their actions posed a huge risk to them and to the ship's crew, and they sensationalized what would have been a peaceful and lawful activity. "

READ MORE:

] * Petroleum exploration company Greenpeace NZ executive director, Russel Norman, changes opinion and pleads guilty to protest
* Greenpeace NZ executive director will face charges & # 39; disgusting & # 39;
* Russell Norman Greenpeace exploits the emotional problem of seismic surveying, says the professor
* A Greenpeace ship "intercepts" the Amazon warrior off the coast of Wairarapa
* Activists Greenpeace under investigation for disruption of the oil exploration vessel
* Russel Norman and two other Greenpeace militants accused of protesting against a vessel

Sara Howell and Russel Norman pose for photos during a demonstration in front of Napier Court before being sentenced.

Norman and Howell intercepted Amazon Shiprior, an oil-industry vessel that was performing work off the Wairarapa coast in April 2017. swam in an exclusion zone near the ship.

Stuart stated that the pair was causing significant disruption and danger and that there was a high level of perseverance and premeditation on the part of the accused, as evidenced by the fact that they now recognize have repeated their movements in advance.

Protesters in Napier Court on Friday.

"This hearing is not about the morality of the law, it is not about oil, it said that the consequences of a conviction would not be disproportionate to the gravity of the law. The offense, adding that the couple had taken advantage of what he called an "unfair prosecution." He raised questions as to how their reputation could be compromised if they were found guilty.

Judge Arthur Tompkins heard the petition in the Napier District Court.

"A conviction would add nothing," said Stuart

. Judge Arthur Tompkins said that argument "cuts both ways" and that there could be an argument about the need for a conviction. Ron Mansfield said the two men were dedicated to fighting climate change and burning fossil fuels.

GREENPEACE

Three Greenpeace activists, including Greenpeace NZ executive director Russel Norman, swam in front of the Amazon Warrior 125 meters.

Their opinions were sincere, well-kept and designed to take care of future generations, says Mansfield.

He said that the couple had entered the water at a distance from the ship that allowed him to avoid them without too much

He said that the danger had been "completely overestimated" and that the pair would have could be removed from the water at any time.

Greenpeace NZ Executive Director Russel Norman onboard the Taitu intercepted the Amazon Warrior.

Mansfield stated that the offense was a "low-level civil disobedience" and that it would be worrisome for others in the past because they feared to be convicted .

Tompkins J. said that other protesters had been convicted in the past and that it did not have the "deterrent effect" suggested by Mansfield

. a total fine of $ 10,000 for the offense of interference with or coming within 500 m of an offshore vessel involved in petroleum exploration.

Although the Crown no longer sought redress, Mansfield stated that his clients were happy to donate $ 3,000 each to Coastguard NZ

Tompkins J. reserved his decision. The couple was remanded in custody until 24 September.

A third man involved in the protest, Gavin Mulvay, had accepted the diversion offer. He was not employed by Greenpeace.

Norman and Howell did not accept the hijacking offer. They pleaded not guilty to the charges and Norman said that he would use a better defense to fight the charges, calling on climate change experts, and that he would argue that it was essential that people stand up to prevent climate change.

Later, they changed their minds and pleaded guilty in April

The Amazon Warrior is a 21,000-tonne ship and is 126 meters long. It is operated by a subsidiary of Schlumberger Ltd and, between November 2016 and mid-2017, surveyed an area between 20 and 250 kilometers off the east coast between Napier and Cape Palliser

Norman and the others left The port of Napier in four ships They headed to the study area on April 8. Among them were Greenpeace's Taitu ship, Koputai and two inflatable boats.

On April 10, shortly before noon, the trio donned suits and boarded the water in front of the Amazon warrior.

According to a summary of the facts, the crew of the Amazon Warrior asked the protesters to move, citing security concerns. The request was refused by those on board the Taitu.

Then the Amazon Warrior took evasive action by turning to Norman's harbor and the others were turned in and out of the water in order to stay in the ship's path. 19659007] The ship was finally forced to make a full 360 degree turn

The summary indicated that it costs about $ 400,000 a day to conduct the investigation and that the ship would not be able to do so. The escape action took 8 hours, costing Schlumberger about $ 150,000. 19659007]

                
                     – Related data