Stena Carron protest in Shetland - Greenpeace Esperanza

[EM]

... and be subconsciously drawn to a "Chevron" filling station while they're motoring along and needing to fill up.

But not in the UK. As I understand things, Chevron uses the Texaco brand here .

[Njugle]

its only us poor sods that are being used as the Chess Board for their game that gain nowt.

 

Which poor sods? Shetland or Shetlink or....?

 

I wasn't aware anybody was being "used" involuntarily other than the crew and Master of the Stena Carron.

 

The TV crews and reporters are being paid.

[Ghostrider]

^^ Shetland and Shetlanders. Our waters are the stage for this charade being played to the world.

[Njugle]

Where's the harm in that?*

 

The ire in that statement suggests, "How dare someone do something we don't like in our general area, though not actually on land and not directly affecting any of us!"

 

*(Other than the risk to our friendly welcoming reputation created by the "Hang em high" type comments )

 

* Accepting that the emergency services may have been required if things had gone wrong, but in the event, weren't.

 

Edit - added extra * for context.

[Ghostrider]

^^ Three words continually recur in the vast majority of statements made, "Chevron", "Greenpeace" and "Shetland(s)".

 

Chevron are in this for the money, of that there is little question, they're a commercial company, while its negative publicity with those in the pro-GP camp, its publicity which could and very likely will have a positive element from how its received with everyone else, see my previous comment.

 

Greenpeace are in this, whether they're truly enviornmentalists at heart or not, for the glory and the money. Without something positive, even if it is over-hyped and of questionable accuracy, to shout about and be reported by the media, two vital raw ingredients to their enterprise will dwindle, volunteers for future "stunts" and cash.

 

We have been dragged in by default of geography, we run the risk of negative publicity with pro-Greenpeace people for giving the "enemy" "shelter" (as they're likely to see it) in the first place, and we run the risk of negative publicity with everyone else, for being seen as condoning or at least tolerating Greenpeace's antics, as we're letting them happen on our doorstep. For what payback? If there's commercially viable reserves where this boat is heading to drill, and if they end up passing through Sullom, then fair enough, but its two very big ifs at the moment. That leaves our net gain as whatever harbour dues, if any the Carron paid for lying off Bressa, and whatever trade, if any she put through the north harbour bases. Not much, and nowhere near enough IMHO for playing host and providing the stage for the charade that's played out since last Tuesday, and continues to go on.

 

Yes, it is very much a case of NIMBY. I respect GP's right to demonstrate, but take it to where it bothers no-one else unless themselves and their target. There's a big ocean to the wast'rd, which the SC crossed from Greenland to get here, if they wanted to stop her that was the place to do it, several hundred mile out and well away from any landmass so that nobody was tarred with the same brush as either side through default of geographical location alone.

[Kavi Ugl]

What are you waffling on about Kavi Ugl the British customs has absolutely nothing to do with the norski fishing boats what so ever...

 

I'm not waffling on about anything. According to SIBC the customs boat has been doing spot checks on the Norwegian fishing boats for contraband, and apparently they even paid a visit to the Stena Carron.

 

[glipper]

Kavi Ugly.. If i you have any sense you will take what you hear on SIBC with a pinch off salt...I know all about SIBC getting things wrong i was involved directly in an incident in the Lerwick harbour a wee while ago half of it was blown out off all proportion on SIBC and the rest off it was completely wrong....

[crofter-amy]

Ghostrider why is it that as you see it any publicity, good or bad is good for Chevron and GP but the same rule does not apply to Shetland. Surely having Shetland plastered all over the news will be good for our tourisim trade....

[Ghostrider]

^^ In a nutshell, Shetland isn't placed to take any meaningful advantage of positive spinoff.

 

Chevron and Greenpeace are already well established brands with significant profiles in the world market, their product is quickly and easily accessed and purchased by a large proportion of the masses, Shetland....ummm....not so much....

 

Chevron already has extensive boldly branded outlets and advertising in the nations where the brand operates, providing in your face reminders, and ways to part you from your cash. Greenpeace, through past antics, good, bad or ugly have made themselves a household name and all it takes is a quick Google or a bell to directory enquiries, and their main product is your's for a swipe of the plastic. It is only having your name put on their list in exchange for cash that they are selling.

 

Shetland has nothing like it, for tourism to benefit folk have to seek out information about what's available, organise travel, decide on suitable times, etc, etc, then physically get themselves here, and home again. While the information is out there, its considerably less well known and considerably more difficult to source than comparative information relating to Chevron or Greenpeace. In any case, planning, booking and undertaking a trip here for pleasure is a whole other ball game than on impulse filling up your car etc at the Chevron station instead of a competitor, or putting £10 or £20 or whatever Greenpeace's way.

 

Other Shetland products, are worse still, we're a tiny player producing a miniscule percentage for the world market, your average Joe Public no farther away than across the Atlantic has no clue what products we export, never mind where to purchase.

[crofter-amy]

^^ Yes but if J.B. is out shopping and happens to see a Shetland branded product the same applies as if he goes to Chevrons garage etc. OK the gains might be smaller but a gain is still a gain.

 

Chevron and GP did not appear on the world market as the fully formed liviathons they are now you know.

[Ghostrider]

^^ No argument with that. Its just that Chevron and GP are of such a size and presence on the world stage, that by weight of numbers there's a good chance the benefits will show as a blip on their bottom line at least. Shetland's size and presence on the same stage is such, benefits, if any, are likely to be undetectable and negligible. We, at the size we are, simply cannot compete in the same game as they can.

 

Chevron is getting no "good" publicity out of this, but that doesn't matter, their sheer in your face presence is at a level simply having the brand mentioned in the media will draw those indifferent to the current issues towards their outlets and advertising.

 

GP will benefit from those who share their beliefs and/or are sympathetic to them being inspired to act.

 

Shetland, is being associated with both Chevron and GP, which leaves us somewhat "damned if we do, damned if we don't". In the eyes of GP supporters we're likely to be tarred as "harbouring the enemy", and in everything else's, we're likely to be tarred as at least tolerating GP "idiots". We may, if anyone who has heard the name mentioned in the media over this, happens to chance across a Shetland branded product, make one or two sales. Whats the chance of stumbling over a Shetland branded product though, even no further away that mainland Scotland? We just don't have enough product out there in adequate concentration for this to make a difference let alone cancel out the negativities IMHO.

[Njugle]

Well, I think you are placing far more significance on their location that the media are. Heck, some of the stories have just referred to "Scottish coast". I don't think anyone will either think good or ill about Shetland in all this.....

 

..until they Google the news story, find number 6 in the results and discover an internationally obscure web forum thread full of venomous comments about protesters.

 

Publicity?

 

 

Don't forget the ponies though.

[Ghostrider]

^^ Neigh.

 

We'll see. Maybe you're right and the world view looking in isn't seeing much of Shetland in the big picture, after all when you're at the epicentre trying to see it as others are its little more than guesswork.

 

However, if I get any dumbass questions about it from folk I know aboard if and when the news filters through that far, like the "Uhhh....do you have many nutters like this over there?" that accompanied the news of Forvik being picked up elsewhere, I'll be back to argue differently.

[Egbert-Mcwhirter]

How long do we all think Green Peace can continue with this protest, surely it has to come to a head soon.

I would think Chevron's lawyers will be taking action very soon.

[mhutch]

I doot any outside body readin through the postings will pick up on the point that its the style of protest not the issue of protesting, the format as opposed to the principal. As a largely seafaring place its quite worrying to think these people are as foolish as to challenge the elements and the sea more so as a multi national oil giant. Deep water drilling will happen with or without pods n skinny dipping (he widda widdered awa peerier as a pod i doot) and hopefully keep a few familys employed in a fragile ecconomy such as ours, lets face it , if it wasnt for the oil hollyrude would let us starve