Whitewash over Greenpeace

Let’s start with the general overview: 30 Greenpeace activists have been detained in Russia after conducting a peaceful protest to warn Russia’s Gazprom and other world oil companies that their planned drilling of the Arctic’s resources could have severe implications on the planet’s climate. They were initially accused of ‘piracy’, despite Vladimir Putin saying it is “absolutely evident that they are, of course, not pirates”, but it was eventually promised such charges would be lifted.

However, they are still detained under this pretext, and have in fact been given further charges of ‘hooliganism’. Although a smaller sentence than the 15 years given for piracy, hooliganism still carries a minimal time of seven years; an absurd amount for what was an essentially inoffensive demonstration. There has been an enormous public reaction, rallying Russia to free the Arctic 30 through petitions, phone calls, and even eleven letters written individually by Nobel Peace Prize winners to Putin himself. Progress in the case is kept secret, but it is hoped the international pleas will justly allow their release.

There has been an enormous public reaction, rallying Russia to free the Arctic 30 through petitions, phone calls, and even eleven letters written individually by Nobel Peace Prize winners to Putin himself.

Heard it before? The reason I am reiterating this among all the media attention they are currently receiving, however, is to remind everyone of the original motives for their actions. Although the unfairness of their imprisonment is rightly attracting huge levels of publicity, it is easy to become distracted and forget the reasons behind their situation. By no means am I saying their freedom is any less important – far from it – but it just needs to be looked at as a separate issue.

Both campaigns can run effectively alongside each other, it is just important to not forget one in favour of the other. Even worse would be to let Russia get away with it, using their unfair penal system as critical ammunition that overrides their environmental crimes. Gazprom is on the cusp of signing an agreement with Shell, allowing the planned drilling to go ahead. I’m sure you are aware of the environmental consequences of this, hugely intensifying the acceleration of the greenhouse effect, resulting in further rising temperatures and further melting ice.

Habitats, ecosystems, coastal villages and precarious populations will all be severely affected if not entirely extinguished by these global alterations. The human rights of the Arctic 30 are incredibly important, and they undoubtedly deserve immediate release, but the campaign to free them shouldn’t detract from the campaign that provoked their arrest.

If you sign to free the 30 activists, also sign to stop the drilling. After all, it’s the reason behind their plight.

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Photo: flickr/casaperlanonviolenza