Pierce Brosnan takes on Arnold Schwarzenegger in Malibu over gas facility

23-Oct-2006 • Actor News

Former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan today added his voice to protests over a natural gas facility proposed for a site 22km off California - reports PerthNow.

Above: Pierce Brosnan and his wife Keely Shaye Smith protest at Malibu.

Brosnan and other celebrity residents gathered at Surfrider Beach in Malibu to protest against the planned gas facility, which would be built 22km off the coast.

"We have to use our voices and band together and stop this," said Oscar winner Halle Berry.

The gathering - also attended by Cindy Crawford, Jane Seymour, Dick Van Dyke and Tea Leoni - was intended to raise awareness about how the energy industry has invested billions to liquefy and ship natural gas across oceans.

There are five facilities proposed for California, with three along the southern Californian coastline. One of the world's largest energy companies, Australian-based BHP Billiton, is seeking to build the terminal off the coast of Malibu and Oxnard. A decision is expected next year.

BHP officials say the terminals would provide a reliable source of low-polluting energy. Opponents, however, say the terminals fail to meet clean-air requirements and would be terrorist targets.

"We invented smog," said actor Ted Danson. "For us to be increasing that is insane."

Brosnan, who hosted the protest, said his opposition to the terminals extends beyond the beach in his backyard. He plans to oppose other proposed terminals, including one in Long Beach and one in Port Hueneme.

"I would certainly put our best efforts into that as well," said Brosnan. "I think this is for the whole California coastline."

Mark Massara, a lawyer and director of the Sierra Club's California Coastal Program, said the recent celebrity interest in the terminals has helped their cause tremendously.

"This is the greatest thing that has happened to our effort," he said. "We have struggled over the last three years."

Following a pancake breakfast, dozens of surfers, including Roxanne star Daryl Hannah on her pink board, paddled out to a sign bobbing in the water. The message to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, who has the power to veto the proposal, had a picture of the proposed terminal with a red line through it and two words: "Terminate it!"