A GREENPEACE ship due to launch a campaign to combat plastic pollution of the seas has been refused permission to dock in the Port of Leith, Edinburgh. The operator, Forth Ports, has told the environmental group that it cannot bring the Esperanza in to the port this week because it is too busy. But activists are concerned that Greenpeace is being penalised for its high-profile and sometimes confrontational campaigning. Forth Ports has told the Sunday Herald that it has offered Greenpeace an anchorage in the Firth of Forth instead. But the group insists it has not received any such offer. The Esperanza is due to arrive in the Forth on Wednesday, but as yet Greenpeace says it has no permission to stay. The purpose of the visit is to support plans for a deposit and return scheme for drinks containers to cut plastic waste, and no direct action is planned. Greenpeace has made many potential enemies. It has protested repeatedly against the Edinburgh-based oil firm, Cairn Energy; another of its ships, Arctic Sunrise, has been banned from parts of the Clyde after protesting against nuclear weapons; it has also been a vocal opponent of fracking. “It’s bizarre to be stonewalled like this when we’re coming to highlight an issue of real concern to the public and critical importance to our environment,” said Willie Mackenzie, Greenpeace’s oceans expert.
Herald 6th Nov 2016 read more »