Rob Horgan
PROTESTS backed by celebs including Paris Hilton and Kate Moss have forced a British oil giant to drop its drilling plans in Ibiza.
Scottish firm Cairn Energy has asked the Spanish government to pull the plug on licences to explore for oil off the island following the celebrity-backed opposition.
Led by green group Alianza Mar Blava, the protests were also backed by DJ Fatboy Slim, Zoe Ball, singer Sophie Ellis-Bextor, designer Alice Temperley and Mick Jagger’s daughter Jade.
Last year more than 10,000 people marched through Ibiza Town to protest the plans, but it wasn’t until the celebs got on board the Twitter ‘Ibiza says no’ campaign that the oil company had second thoughts.
“This is a very important decision,” said a spokesman for Alianza Mar Blava.
“The most important thing we have shown is that we can defeat an enemy which is much more powerful than us.”
A spokesman for the Edinburgh-based oil company blamed the Spanish authorities failure to carry out an environmental risk assessment as the reason for their withdrawn interest.
He added that Cairn Energy planned to withdraw from four other exploration permits off Valencia’s shores.
All may not be as it seems.
Intriguing Bryan. Do tell…