28 activists, a freelance photographer and a freelance videographer were involved in a protest against the Gazprom Arctic drilling platform Prirazlomnaya on September 18th. Russian security services seized the Greenpeace ship, Arctic Sunrise, at gunpoint and detained the entire crew.



UPDATE 4 December: 30 men and women are accused of hooliganism in Russia for a peaceful protest against oil drilling in the fragile Arctic. These are serious charges and they could spend years in prison if convicted for a crime they did not commit. Let's free them for good and bring them home now.



The activists, crew and journalists were at the Gazprom rig because they felt compelled to bear witness to the slow, unrelenting destruction of the Arctic. As the ice is retreating, oil companies are moving north to drill for the fuels that drive that melting. The Arctic is a stunning place, home to unique species including polar bears and Arctic foxes. Drilling for oil there is an appalling act that threatens this extraordinary environment, and the world's climate.



The Arctic 30 made their stand in the interests of us all. Now we must come together and stand with them. Take action, send a message to the Russian embassy now.

Dear Mr. Ambassador,I am writing to you with a request for your attention and action.As you may know, 28 Greenpeace activists (as well as a freelance photographer and a freelance videographer) took part in a peaceful protest at Gazprom’s drilling platform Prirazlomnaya on September 18th.Two of the activists tried to climb the side of the platform and attempted to stage a safe, peaceful protest. More than 24 hours later, Russian security services descended from a helicopter onto the deck of the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise, seized the ship at gunpoint and detained the crew. This took place outside Russia’s territorial waters.These activists and freelancers were held for two months in detention centers in Murmansk and Saint Petersburg. While they have now all been granted bail, they remain accused of serious charges and could face years in jail if convicted for a crime they did not commit.I am very concerned by the response of Russian authorities. The charge of hooliganism, which carries a maximum 7 year jail sentence, is disproportionate. Yet this is the charges our activists face.You have an important voice in this matter. Please use your position to promote fairness and reason.The crew of the Arctic Sunrise were protesting at the Prirazalomnaya for purely unselfish reasons. As the ice is retreating, oil companies are moving north to drill for the fuels that are causing the ice to melt. The Arctic 30 were acting out of a deeply held conviction that this is a risky enterprise, when an oil spill would be catastrophic for the entire region. They should not be charged with such a serious crime as hooliganism for taking peaceful, safe action to protest the dangerous industrialization of the Arctic.Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and Nobel peace prize winner Adolfo Pérez Esquivel have joined hundreds of thousands of people across the globe calling for the release of the Arctic 30.I am writing to add my voice.I am asking for your help.[Your comments here]Please join me in calling for:Hooliganism charges to be dropped and the immediate release of the 28 activists and two freelancers who have been detained by Russian authorities in Murmansk.A commitment that the activists and freelancers will have access to full legal representation of their own choice, as well as consular services, translators, and human rights inspectors.An investigation into the destructive and secretive activities of oil companies in the Arctic, and a ban on offshore oil drilling in the region.I urge you to relay these requests to the Russian government in Moscow immediately. Please join me in calling for the swift release of the Arctic 30.Yours sincerely,[Your name here]