Just reported - Shell Oil has decided to end exploration drilling in the Arctic Ocean for the "foreseeable future".  That means no plans to return.  

Last May, local environmentalists actively protested the when Shell brought a couple of their ships into Bellingham for docking.  NWCitizen reported on the beginning of the flash mob protest and the story of the three night protest by Chiara D'Angelo when she hung by the anchor chain - gaining international attention to Shell's intentions.  

The Huffington Post has the story tonight, as well as The Guardian and Market Watch.  

Shell spent over 7 billion dollars on its Arctic adventure, doing the first drilling in the Chukchi Sea in 24 years.  Results were "disappointing".  

Unreported is the possibility that the protests had some impact on Shell's public image and corporate may have felt the poor results were not worth the continuing bad press.  Protests do work - but corporations are loath to admit it as admission only encourages more protests.  And big corporate media tend to not report what cannot be firmly established as fact.  

We give one last tip of the hat to Chiara D'Angelo who showed all others a determination and no holds barred approach - all while not hurting anyone, not harming property and making her protest directly on the object of concern - the ship.  Possible fines by the authorities are still pending as far as I know.  She should not be fined at all given the elegant manner of her protest. She gained the admiration of all - even those who do not usually cheer on civil protests.