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Woman chains herself to ship in protest of drilling in Arctic

The activist chained herself to the Arctic Challenger anchored in Bellingham Bay, north of Seattle Friday night. Police officials say they talked to the ship, port authorities and the woman Friday night.

There are no plans at this time to remove the woman. Petty Officer 3rd Class Katelyn Shearer said on Saturday morning the Coast Guard cutter Osprey spent last night monitoring the activist but has taken no action, says the Washington Times.

Shearer says authorities are concerned for the woman’s safety as well as the safety of everyone involved. She says the Coast Guard has spoken to the protester, asking her to leave. The Shell support ship won’t be leaving port for a few more days.

It has been reported that officials with Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR) said protesters did some damage to Seattle’s dive park while protesting Shell’s plan to do some exploratory drilling in the Arctic Ocean last week.

DNR spokesperson Joe Smillie told local news station KIRO cement blocks, chains and cables were found by divers in the bay. The blocks, chains, and cables were used to anchor a large protest barge while kayakers were participating in the “Shell No” protest on May 16.

Smillie said the damage to the park was minimal and the protesters will not be fined. They will have to pay for the cost of cleanup. Smillie noted that Elliott Bay is a popular dive location because it’s a habitat for octopus.

However, the DNR is requesting more information from Foss Maritime on their plans for the Polar Pioneer oil drilling rig. It is presently parked off the Port of Seattle’s Terminal 5. This location is for temporary use only.

According to state law, the area where the rig is parked is a designated “highway” for navigation. Mooring in this location is allowed only when loading or unloading a ship. The DNR says, however, the rig may be violating the laws. “We’ve asked them for information for their plans, how long they plan to be there, and if they need a permit from us to be moored outside Terminal 5,” Smillie said.

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We are deeply saddened to announce the passing of our dear friend Karen Graham, who served as Editor-at-Large at Digital Journal. She was 78 years old. Karen's view of what is happening in our world was colored by her love of history and how the past influences events taking place today. Her belief in humankind's part in the care of the planet and our environment has led her to focus on the need for action in dealing with climate change. It was said by Geoffrey C. Ward, "Journalism is merely history's first draft." Everyone who writes about what is happening today is indeed, writing a small part of our history.

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