#FreeTheArctic30 – help free the climate activists being held at gunpoint in the Russian Arctic.
Drilling for oil in the Arctic ice has become emblematic of the corporate greed that risks our climate, the local environment, and the lives and livelihoods of millions of people the world over in the interests of short-term profits.
On the morning of September 18, two activists from Greenpeace International were arrested as they protested against Arctic oil drilling on the Gazprom platform, Prirazlomnaya, in the PechoraSea off the Russian coast. They were held overnight without charges or legal representation aboard a Russian Coast Guard vessel.
The following day, September 19, the Russian Coast Guard then boarded the Greenpeace International ship Arctic Sunrise while in international waters, and arrested 30 activists on board at gunpoint.
Please support us in demanding the urgent release of all the activists, the immediate withdrawal of the Coast Guard from the ship, and an end to offshore oil drilling in the Arctic for good. You can do this by:
· Asking supporters to email the Russian embassy and demand the release of the activists. There is a link here to the action that Greenpeace is currently promoting to its supporters, which you could use or adapt greenpeace.org/freeouractivists
· Creating and distributing pictures showing that your community supports the activists, stands by them and demands their release. It would be great if these pictures included #FreeTheArctic30, which you can also use to publicise your photos on twitter.
· Making a visit to the Russian embassy to deliver in person a letter asking for the activists to be released. Obviously, we all wish for any such visits to be non-violent, calm, dignified and friendly.
The activists on board the Arctic Sunrise have told us how much they appreciate the support they are receiving from all over the world. Anything more you can do to help them will be amazing at this difficult time. It is inspiring to know the climate movement is a family (a big, noisy one!) and that we look after our own when they are in trouble.