Does protesting Shell really make a difference?

It seems everyone has something to say about Shell potentially docking its oil drilling fleet in Seattle this summer: Mayor Ed Murray, the Seattle City Council, and of course, the activists.

“I like the fact Shell says it’s going to keep coming here,” KIRO Radio’s John Curley said, after the oil company maintained its plans to moor at Terminal 5 despite opposition from the City of Seattle.

Related: Shell Arctic oil fleet coming to town in direct defiance of Seattle mayor

“What we have is a battle between the City of Seattle and the Port of Seattle,” Tangney said. “My guess is the Port of Seattle isn’t going to cave to the City of Seattle; either the council members or the mayor.”

The Port of Seattle is voting Tuesday to determine whether to delay a deal allowing Shell to moor at Terminal 5.

On Monday, the Seattle City Council unanimously approved a resolution asking the port to reconsider a contract to host Shell’s fleet; roughly worth $13 million, according to KING 5. Mayor Ed Murray and the city’s Department of Planning and Development have said that the port’s agreement with Shell violates its permit with the City of Seattle. Councilmember Mike O’Brien has been preparing with kayaktivists who plan to protest the arrival of the fleet.

“It’s symbolic for Dow [Constantine], for [Ed] Murray to make these things and get a lot of green people feeling like they are doing something,” Curley said. “Ultimately, either Shell goes here or somewhere else, they are still gonna drill the oil. And everybody is still going to get in their cars. And they are still gonna drive.”

Leading up to the port’s vote, activists erected a large tripod Tuesday morning at the entrance to Shell Oil’s fuel transfer station in Seattle.

Protester Annie Lukins sat atop the tripod, refusing to move from the entrance.

“All this time and all this energy, do you really think you’re going to stop Shell from drilling in the Arctic?” Curley asked Tangney.

“Yes,” Tangney said. “The amazing thing about the environmental movement is that it’s the little people that come together … now they have cities and city councils that are objecting to it, too.”

But does it matter, Curley asked.

“China and Russia are steaming their way up there, as well. They are heading [to the Arctic] to get this oil,” Curley said. “It’s 20 percent of the world’s gas and oil that is there. You don’t have to drill deep because it’s easy to get to.”

“Someone is going to get this natural gas and this oil,” Curley said. “Who do you trust more? Do you think the Russians and the Chinese care about the environment more than, perhaps, Shell?”

Of the three choices, Curley noted, Shell is the most responsible. The two hosts agreed on this one.