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Second U.S. rig hit by Kyoto protest

Bush argues that Kyoto treaty will hold back U.S. economy
Bush argues that Kyoto treaty will hold back U.S. economy  

EDINBURGH, Scotland -- Greenpeace activists have occupied a U.S.-owned oil rig in the second protest since President George W. Bush dumped an accord to fight global warming.

The six demonstrators attached a yellow survival pod to the operating platform of the Santa Fe 135 rig, which is drilling 35 miles (55 km) off the Scottish coast. The rig is on contract to the BG Group, a British oil and gas producer.

"They are well supplied and they plan to be there for as long as they can," activist Rob Gueterbock said by telephone from the MV Greenpeace, the group's flagship which was standing by.

"It's time for urgent action," Gueterbock said. "We've known about global warming for 20 years. Governments have been talking about it for 10."

The latest action comes just five days after 21 demonstrators tried to prevent a semi-submersible moveable oil rig, chartered by U.S. oil firm Conoco Inc, from leaving the Cromarty Firth in northeast Scotland.

The protest ended on Monday after Conoco obtained legal authority to force them to leave.

Greenpeace said on Thursday it had sent letters to 100 of the top U.S. firms asking if they supported ratification of Kyoto, warning they would publicly name firms that did not support the treaty.

Last week, Bush said the treaty was unacceptable because it would harm the U.S. economy and failed to hold developing nations to strict emissions limits.

The Kyoto treaty is due to take effect next year after at least half of the 110 nations which signed the treaty ratify it.

The pact aims to cut carbon dioxide emissions of industrialised nations by an average 5.2 percent from 1990 levels by 2012.

The U.S. decision to opt out of the Kyoto agreement has been criticised by Europe and Asia.

Reuters contributed to this report.



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RELATED SITES:
Greenpeace International
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