Elsa 2 Petroceltic: down the drain!

In yet another blow to the oil people from Ireland and the UK, and for Mr. Tom Bulford, the Italian Ministry for the Environment has denied approval to Elsa 2 as proposed by Petroceltic of Ireland.

Here is the news, the link to the Ministry's decision and a press release in Italian

Over the past year and a half, the Ministry had been inundated by phone calls, letters and environmental reports arguing against Elsa 2. We protested, marched and demanded actions be taken. Just as we have done for Ombrina Mare, we managed to get our point through to the authorities that may be.

We won.

Yesterday, May 23rd 2011, the Ministry finally came to the conclusion that we were right, and that it is pure folly to drill an oil rig just a few kilometers from the shores of Abruzzo and from a natural reserve.

Dear investors, as should be clear by now, Italy is not the place for oil drilling. We will keep fighting other oil rigs. We won't let you destroy this country.

To Mr. Tom Bulford

Dear Sir, with all due respect, we believe the current ban that Italy passed against offshore drilling WILL NOT be lifted anytime soon. In fact, we are working hard for it to be tightened so that the entire Adriatic sea be closed to drilling. Italy is not Saudi Arabia. People live off their seas, their tourism, their fishing activities. We the people don't want to be drilled, not offshore, not onshore. So please do not mislead your investors. Italy will does not want you.

Ombrina Mare is dead, and so is Mediterranean Oil and Gas.

GO DRILL YOUR OWN BEACHES!

Here is Ola-Channel, by the filmmaker Vito l'Erario

La città sul mare che non vuole il petrolio from olachannel on Vimeo.

CityRumors


Lucio Dalla on La Repubblica

Protests on La Repubblica

Qui un servizio su Rai3

Il Corriere del Mezzogiorno - sit in favor of the Tremiti islands


News Gargano







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Tri-regional rally against offshore drilling in Italy

Yesterday, May 7th 2011 the people from three regions - Abruzzo, Puglia, Molise, descended on the coastal city of Termoli to protest offshore drilling all along the Adriatic coast.

We have succesfully halted the drilling of Ombrina Mare, and we plan to stop in the same exact way Sound Oil, Northern petroleum, Petroceltic and all their friends.

Ombrina mare is just the first of our victories, dear investors.

Yesterday we have called upon Minister Stefania Prestigiacomo to ban offshore drilling in the entire Adriatic sea. Mayors, presidents of provinces, an estimated 300 organizations and 10,000 people came to support our love for our seas and the need to expand the current drilling ban from 12 miles to the entire sea, to protect all of Italy. Other rallies are planned for the rest of the summer.

In the meantime, some people dressed in gray suits from some London offices - aka Tom Bulford and his friends - have started speculations that the offshore drilling ban will soon be overturned, hence people should go ahead and buy shares from the moribund Mediterranean Oil and Gas or put their money in MOG's friend Sound Oil.

It is so funny for me to sit back and watch these people throw their money down the drain.

They don't have a clue. The poor investors who believe this nonsense are just gullible people from London, who can't even imagine all that is simmering in Italy and how much unity this is bringing us across the country.

They think we are greenies from Tuscany! They don't even have their geography right!

These London analysts, economists, stock market gurus or simpletons with time and money to waste, or whoever they profess to be have no clue that everyone is against offshore drilling along the Adriatic.

Our politicians - left and right - KNOW that allowing offshore drilling would be most unpopular and political suicide.

We simply will not let it go. Why do you think the ban was passed in the first place? These London "experts" say:

The ban on offshore oil development looks like an instant, panicky reaction to a popular news story rather than a considered reaction that took account of Italy’s energy needs and industrial policy – already the USA has started to repeal its ban on offshore drilling.

First of all, it was the worst enviromental disaster in US history and not a popular news story.
In California it is and will be off limits to drill 100 miles to sea. In Florida the ban is 125 miles from shore.

The ban was passed because of us, the people! Because we raised a stink against offshore drilling along our Italian beaches. You get it? Because we have no desire whatsover for you UK people to come over and destroy them. Capisc?

Mr. Guru says that Ombrina will supplement losses from Libya! Ha ha ha.

Are they on drugs? The output of Ombrina would have been PUNY! If ENI or Elf thought there was anything worthwhile they would have pulled it out back in 1980! This oil well is just for speculators like you, and will not change one iota the Italian energetic landscape. The politicians know this very well.

Furthermore, in September 2011, the National Coastal Park "Costa dei Trabocchi" will be officially inaugurated, making drilling around the Sound Oil, Petroceltic and MOG sites even more impossible.

To all the investors: just look at what you have in your hands today.

MOG told you they'd start drilling in 2008. It is now 2011.

The net worth of this company has plummeted.

Sergio Morandi was a failure.

MOG's oil rigs have been denied approval.

There are no plans to overturn the ban - despite what your London gurus say.

Ombrina WILL NOT be built, and we will die before you can even think of coming here and destroying our way of life. The same will happen for Sound Oil and all their sisters.

We are not greenies. We just love our sea. Get lost and go drill your own beaches.

Organizations against on and offshore drilling along the Adriatic coast:

Regione Puglia
Provincia di Campobasso
Provincia di Foggia
Provincia di Chieti
Provincia di Pescara
Comune di Foggia
Comune di Termoli (Campobasso)
Comune di Citta' Sant'Angelo (Pescara)
Comune di Vieste (Foggia)
Comune di Montesilvano (Pescara)
Comune di Roseto degli Abruzzi (Teramo)
Comune di Vasto (Chieti)
Comune di Giulianova (Teramo)
Comune di Peschici (Foggia)
Comune di San Salvo (Chieti)
Comune di Lanciano (Chieti)
Comune di Serracapriola (Foggia)
Comune di Tollo (Chieti)
Comune di Pineto (Teramo)
Comune di Carpino (Foggia)
Comune di Fossacesia (Chieti)
Comune di San Nicandro (Foggia)
Comune di Torricella Peligna (Chieti)
Comune di San Severo (Foggia)
Comune di Alba Adriatica (Teramo)
Comune di San Vito Chietino (Chieti)
Comune di Miglianico (Chieti)
Comune di Manfredonia (Foggia)
Comune di Rocca San Giovanni (Chieti)
Comune di Lucera (Foggia)
Comune di Treglio (Chieti)
Comune di Rodi Garganico (Foggia)
Comune di Vico del Gargano (Foggia)
Comune di Mattinata (Foggia)
Comune di Roccamontepiano (Chieti)
Comune di Altino (Chieti)
Comune di Bellante (Teramo)
Comune di Bomba (Chieti)
Comune di Canosa Sannita (Chieti)
Comune di Tornareccio (Chieti)
Comune di Torino di Sangro (Chieti)
Comune di Silvi Marina (Teramo)
Comune di Sant'Eusanio del Sangro
Comune di Mozzagrogna (Chieti)
Comune di Controguerra (Chieti)
Comune di Mosciano Sant'Angelo (Chieti)
Comune di Guardiagrele (Chieti)
Comune di Gessopalena (Chieti)
Comune di Frisa (Chieti)
Comune di Castellato (Teramo)
Comune di Castillenti (Teramo)
Comune di Francavilla al Mare (Chieti)
Comune di San Giovanni Teatino (Chieti)
Legambiente Italia
Assoturismo Abruzzo
Confesercenti Abruzzo
Confesercenti Puglia
Confcommercio (Foggia)
Confcommercio (Chieti)
Camera di Commercio (Foggia)
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro - Puglia
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro - Molise
Confederazione Generale Italiana del Lavoro - Abruzzo
Italia Nostra - Pescara
Italia Nostra - Foggia
Greenpeace Italia
Touring Club Italiano
Vas Verdi Ambiente e Societa'
Guardie Ecologiche Volontarie - Parco di Montevecchia e Val Curone (Lecco)
Comitato Difesa di Chioggia - Chioggia (Venezia)
Le Cinque Isole - Tremiti (Foggia)
Il deposito dei sogni onlus - Pescara
Confederazione Italiana Agricoltori - Vasto (Chieti)
Club Alpino Italiano - Vasto (Chieti)
Adiconsum - Foggia
Verde Abruzzo Produttori Biologici - Chieti
Vastesi.com - Vasto (Chieti)
Arci - Vasto (Chieti)
Centro Turistico Giovanile - Bari
Centro Turistico Giovanile - Campania
Centro Turistico Giovanile - Puglia
Legambiente - Circolo Foggia
Legambiente - Circolo "Dai Colli all'Adige", Este (Padova)
Legambiente - Circolo Setta Samoggia Reno (Bologna)
Universita' degli Studi di Foggia
Ambiente e/è vita - Roma
Associazione Bed and Breakfast Parco Maiella Costa Trabocchi - Ortona (Chieti)
Rivista D'Abruzzo - Ortona (Chieti)
Associazione Molise-Europa - Termoli (Campobasso)
Marelibero Abruzzo - Pescara
Comitato Cittadini per l'Ambiente - Sasso Marconi e Marzabotto (Bologna)
Il Gargano Nuovo - Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggia)
Pro Natura Abruzzo - Castel di Sangro (L'Aquila)
Gargano Libero - Foggia
Link - Bari
Fare Verde - Conversano (Bari)
Azienda di Promozione Turistica - Bari
Azienda di Promozione Turistica - Taranto
Azienda di Promozione Turistica - Brindisi
Azienda di Promozione Turistica - Foggia
Azienda di Promozione Turistica - Lecce
Comitato Appennino Salute e Territorio - Loiano Monghidoro (Bologna)
San Vito Vela - San Vito Chietino (Chieti)
Animalisti Italiani - Lanciano (Chieti)
Consorzio Operatori Turistici "Cotug" - Rodi Garganico (Foggia)
Archeoclub - San Vito Marina (Chieti)
Cogecstre - Vasto (Chieti)
Acqua Aria Terra Molise - Campobasso
Consorizio Operatori Turistici Gargano Mare - Foggia
Parco nazionale del Gargano - Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggia)
Comunità del Parco - Ischitella (Foggia)
Comitato per la Tutela del Mare del Gargano - Foce Varano (Foggia)
Azienda Promozione Tursitica Provinciale - Foggia
Fondo Ambiente Italiano Foggia
Fondo Ambiente Italiano Vasto (Chieti)
WWF Abruzzo
WWF Molise
HabitatLab Onlus - Pescara
Circolo SEL - Foggia
Five Festival Sud System - Foggia
Marevivo - Roma
Comunicare Turismo - Foggia
Libera Scelta - Lettomanoppello (Chieti)
Slow Food - Foggia
Giovane Italia - Foggia
Associazione guide turistiche della Puglia - Foggia
Comitato Daunia e Gargano - Ischitella (Foggia)
Coordinamento Ciclabili Abruzzo Teramano - Teramo
Rimboschiamo Peschici - Peschici (Foggia)
Terra Nostra Onlus - Poggio Imperiale (Foggia)
Centro Studi Martella - Peschici (Foggia)
Argod - Sanicandro Garganico (Foggia)
Gruppo Archeologico Garganico S. Ferri - Vico del Gargano (Foggia)
Emergency - Foggia
CicloPazzi - Lanciano (Chieti)
Gruppo Archeologico di Terra d'Otranto - Otranto (Lecce)
Puntoeacapo - Roma
Comparto Biccari Zona 167 - Foggia
Unione Nazionale pro loco d'Italia - Foggia
Confederazione italiana sindacati lavoratori - Foggia
Associazione Punto di Stella - Peschici (Foggia)
Diario Montanaro - Monte Sant'Angelo (Foggia)
Liberta' di Parola - Ortona (Chieti)
Comitato Foggia Propositiva - Foggia
Unione generale del Lavoro - Foggia
Costambiente - Atessa (Chieti)
Gruppo Archeologico Dauno - Foggia
Garganistan Web- Foggia
Life in Abruzzo - Colledara (Teramo)
Fare Ambiente Puglia - Foggia
Associazione la Mejofauna - Isole Tremiti (Foggia)
Brancaleone - Roccamontepiano (Chieti)
Associazione Libera - Termoli (Campobasso)
Si energie rinnovabili, no petrolio - Monopoli (Bari)
No scorie Trisaia - Rotondella (Matera)
Organizzazione Lucana Ambientalista - Potenza
Task Force Ambientale (Teramo)
Stoppa la Piattaforma - Sciacca (Agrigento)
Gestione Partecipata del Territorio - Bomba (Chieti)
Comitato Abruzzese del Paesaggio (Pescara)
Libera associazioni nomi e numeri contro le mafie - Termoli (Campobasso)
Citta' Plurale - Matera
Manichini D'Ottone - Pescara
Associazione Culturale Carpino Folk Festival - Carpino (Foggia)
Le Colonne d'Ercole - Ortona (Chieti)
Marevivo - Bari
Osservatorio diplomatico internazionale -
Associazione Genitori di Vico del Gargano - Vico del Gargano (Foggia)
Istituto Scolastico Cesare de Titta - Lanciano (Chieti)
Movimento 5 Stelle - Rovigo
Nuovo Senso Civico - Lanciano (Chieti)
OLA Channel - Venosa (Potenza)
Lipu Puglia, Gravina di Laterza (Taranto)
Associazione le cinque isole - San Domino, Isole Tremiti (Foggia)
Cicolamici Fian - Foggia
World Activity Club - Vasto (Chieti)
Comunita' dei Padri Passionisti - Fossacesia (Chieti)
Consulta Giovanile del comune di Vasto - Vasto (Chieti)
Pro-loco Manfredonia (Foggia)
Lecceta di Torino di Sangro, Torino di Sangro -(Chieti)
Comunita' Francescana Miracolo Eucaristico - Lanciano (Chieti)
Comitato No Petrolio - Tollo (Chieti)
Costituente del Parco della Costa Teatina - Vasto (Chieti)
WWF Zona Frentana e Costa Teatina (Chieti)
Centro Turistico Giovanile "Egnatia" - Monopoli (Bari)
Comitato Abruzzese Difesa Beni Comuni - Tortoreto (Teramo)
Emergenza Ambiente Abruzzo - Pescara
Chietiscalo.it - Chieti
Giovani Democratici - Foggia
Comitato Natura Verde - Tollo (Chieti)
Abruzzo in Movimento - Ortona (Chieti)
Associazione Radicali Lucani - Potenza
Giacche Verdi Gruppo Gargano - Vico del Gargano (Foggia)
Associazione Tutela e Salute dell'Ambiente di Basilicata - Potenza
Valorizzazione delle Terre Pubbliche attraverso le Popolazioni Locali - Assergi (L'Aquila)
No all'Italia petrolizzata - Los Angeles (California)

Save Cahors from 3Legs Resources!

This person is Mr. Peter Clutterbuck.


From Orca Exploration, trying to drill Abruzzo, Italy to 3Legs Resources, trying to drill Cahors, France


Shame on you!


The fight to save this planet from drilling itself to destruction is global. I wish everyone could educate him or herself on how destructive the oil and gas industries really are, and get going, for real, in a global activist effort to save what we are, and what is sacred to us as humans.

We don't know where to stop anymore. The power of the almighty dollar seems to leave nothing untouched.

Abruzzo is where I grew up, where I used to run through the vineyards, play with the leaves, get mud on my hands, check on my grandmother's chickens, bury my feet in the sand, come home blonder and smelling of salt as a kid, and smell the seasons to the fullest.

I no longer live there, but I have been fighting from so far away to save its waters and its land, just because it is the right thing to do and because I cannot accept it that people from who knows where can decide to change irreversibly a place that I love.

I have never been to Cahors, France. But when I learned that an oil company called 3Legs Resources wants to frack them, my heart went out to this similarly green region, tucked in the SouthWest of France, where they make wine, where they have castles and a history and traditions that don't include drilling for gas.

The people from 3 Legs Resources have never been to Cahors either, I am guessing.

Or maybe they went there on some buisness trip. Who knows. But these middle aged white men who make decisions for Cahors are all outsiders. They come from the Island of Man, UK. Their people have worked for Encana, for ConocoPhillips, they fracked in Poland, they fracked in Germany, Barnett Shale in Texas and Niobrara, destroying those places in the US.

What do they know and care for Cahors?

One of the CEOs of 3 Legs resources, Peter Clutterbuck, used to work for Orca Exploration, a minor oil company. I know them because they were partners of Petroceltic of Ireland who wanted to drill Abruzzo. Apparently he left Orca in 2010.

These people are like weeds. They go to a place, try to drill and destroy and then they move on to the next target. No cares at all for the people of Abruzzo, for the people of Cahors, for the people anywhere period.

To our friends in France: don't believe them!

Fracking WILL pollute your groundwater.
The laws of Physics are clear.
Once you mix polluted and fresh water it cannot be undone.
You have nothing to gain from fracking your land.

We kicked them out of Abruzzo, we forced our tepid politicians to pass laws to protect our oceans and even sent Mediterranean Oil and Gas, another tiny UK company, back where it came from.

If we could do it in Italy - with our incompetent prime minister - you can do it too.

All the best to Cahors from Abruzzo.

MOG is sinking fast!

Oil rig and FPSO. MOG wanted to build these beautiful objects 3.5 miles from the Abruzzo coast. Shame on you!


This is hilarious - the people at Mediterranean Oil and Gas can't do simple math!

Back in June 2010, the Italian government passed a law, according to which ALL and ANY oil rig planned within 5 miles from shore, all around Italy, will not be allowed. The ban increases to 12 miles, in the proximity of Coastal or Marine parks.

MOG wants to drill their Ombrina Mare rig off the coast of Abruzzo, complete with an FPSO, an oil processing and storage ship, about 5 kilometers from shore with a mini-desulfurization facility on top of it. The area is close to the Parco Nazionale della costa Teatina and well within the 12 and 5 mile border designated by the law.

The law was passed in the aftermath of the Gulf of Mexico disaster, but also thanks to Italians protesting their government to better protect our waters.

Despite all this, MOG doesn't seem to understand and keeps thinking they can still get away with it. Maybe I have to tell them:

Dear sirs at MOG: 5 miles = 8 kilometers, and that is larger than the 5 kilometers of your oil rigs!
It is crystal clear.

What part of YOUR DRILLING IS ILLEGAL do you not understand?

The people of Abruzzo have spoken, protested and forced their politicians to say no. To this day noone supports the drilling of Ombrina Mare, except those who have vested interests in its construction.

So what business does MOG have, a British company, to still push their agenda?

GIVE IT UP - WE DON'T WANT YOU HERE!
COUNT YOUR LOSSES AND GO SOMEWHERE ELSE!

I know what their problem is, they are about to go bankrupt!

Today an article by Andre Lamberti, in Proactive Investors UK states that MOG is considering a "sale of the company" or the "divestment of certain assets", as suggested by their CIBC consultants, who obviously have no knowledge of Abruzzo, nor do they care.

To them, it is just about money, assets, speculation, drilling, a far away land on a map. To us, it is the beach we go to in the summertime, where the memories of our youth are and that we want to give to the next generation - oil rig free - thank you very much.

According to the same article, the ban has "materially impaired" MOG's ability to raise further funds required to develop its assets, as well as to meet working capital requirements.

They also are asking their loan repayments to be extended past the deadline of September 2011.

In other words: we are driving them bankrupt! They thought they could come here and do as they pleased? You obviously do not know who you are dealing with, sirs!

They continue:

“Negotiations with potential investors are on-going and the company is hopeful that one of the current opportunities will resolve the company's financial position satisfactorily. There can be no certainty that these discussions will result in a satisfactory outcome".

They know it too that they cannot win.

"The company intends to challenge any assessment that the Decree is applicable to Ombrina Mare"

Yeah right - who do you think you are kidding - you are penniless!

Dear Mr. Investor, do the right thing - take your money and run - it is good for your conscience, it is good for your wallet.

MOG is lying to you!

Dear CIBC,

I came across your ad for the sale of Ombrina Mare by MOG. In your ad you FAIL to mention that Ombrina Mare has been declined environmental clearance from the Italian government on October 7th as reported by the Italian media.

I think this information should be disclosed to your investors, and to potential buyers.

This information is all over the Italian news and it is unethical for you not to disclose it.

Ombrina Mare was not approved and will not be developed under current legislation, since it sits well within the 5 mile no-drill zone designated by the Italian ministry of the environment.

Sincerely,

Maria R D'Orsogna

Newspaper reports 1

Newspaper reports 2

Newspaper reports 3

Newspaper reports 4

Newspaper reports 5

Ombrina Mare - RIP

Finally, after MOG declaring that it is close to being broke, another piece of great news.

Ombrina Mare has failed to get clearance from the Committee on Environmental Impact Reviews.

This means the drilling of Ombrina Mare has been officially denied by Italian authorities.

I never thought this would happen, given the level of corruption Italy is notorious for. But we hammered them and protested and wrote and marched as if there was no tomorrow, so that they HAD to stop this project. I am so proud of this victory. In principle, it was Ms. Prestigiacomo's ban that stopped Ombrina. I know it was because of opposition from us the people. Had we been complacent, the project would have gone forward. So kudos to all of us activists.

We will keep closely monitoring the situation, but for now, condolences to Mr. Sergio Morandi, to Mr. Micheal Bonte-Friedheim and to all of MOG's investors.

I had warned you that this was a loosing business investment.

Elsa and Petroceltic, you are next.