Seattle Raging Grannies Vs. Shell – Who Will Win?

In a move that’s both shocked and amused the world, six elderly grannies have been detained in Seattle during a protest against Shell’s Arctic drilling rig. With environmentalist groups warning that the venture could lead to fast-tracked global warming and calamitous oil spills, the Seattle Raging Grannies dressed up in their finest knitwear and took to the streets.

Loveable grannies show their gutsy side

Little old ladies may have a reputation for being sweet and unintimidating but it took a team of Seattle police officers to cut the chains off this group of feisty grannies. In total, six women were detained by officers as they attempted to cordon off access to the Royal Dutch Shell drilling rig. In the next few weeks or even days activists suspect the rig is gearing up to recommence Arctic fossil fuel explorations

Joining the six Seattle Raging Grannies were an additional two dozen protestors. Together they blocked the railroad tracks leading to the Port of Seattle and the Polar Pioneer expedition vessel. It was just one of several demonstrations against Shell’s arctic drilling plans, including the recent ‘kayaktivist’ flotilla that saw hundreds of paddlers take to the bay.

What’s got their granny knickers in a knot?

These grannies have several bones to pick with Shell. Firstly, drilling creates heat which would pose as a serious threat to the Arctic’s thick layer of sea ice that regulates the world’s temperatures. If it starts to melt global temperatures will start to rise, as will sea levels. Secondly, unpredictable Arctic weather could easily lead to devastating oil spills that would endanger marine life, and the health of the Arctic ecosystem as a whole. 

While Shell claims that it has not yet set an official departure date spokesman Curtis Smith has confirmed that “Work continues as planned in preparation for the Polar Pioneer’s departure to Alaska.” He adds, “The rig and its crew will depart Puget Sound when the ongoing load-out is complete.”

Grannies refuse to give up!

So is this the end of the road for the Seattle Raging Grannies and their eco-warrior friends? According to them, definitely not! Should Shell set sail in the Polar Pioneer, the silver haired activists maintain that they’ll launch a fleet of protest boats in response. While the Port of Seattle has released a statement saying that work is now continuing as usual, Seattle police are still on guard. As well as moving on the grannies the force also dismantled an enormous protest tent and is anticipating more disruption when the Polar Pioneer inevitably sets sail. Needless to say, the Seattle Raging Grannies will be out in force!

You can read more about this story in this recent post: Is Shell Withdrawing from the Arctic?

Image Credit: Seattle Raging Grannies