Enviromental News

Sadly, all four of our climbers will not be coming back to the Esperanza after all. Jens, Sim, Timo and Matt are flying home to Germany, USA, Finland and Poland respectively. Their personal belongings are still on board and they are going home in spare clothes bought for them by friends in Greenland. I'm sure they'll be glad to see their families again but we're really going to miss them on the ship and we haven't finished our 'Go Beyond Oil' tour yet.

Yesterday we were hoping they would be back on board and Victor even made them a Welcome Home banner. I have sent them all the supportive messages people wrote us over the last few days by email so at least they can read those when they get home. The atmosphere on board feels very mixed. We're feeling pretty down about losing four of our crew who we all became friends with over the last few weeks. But we need to remind ourselves of what we have achieved as we say goodbye to our four heroes today.

Every minute they were up there occupying the rig was another minute Cairn Energy couldn’t drill. We want to stop them sparking an Arctic oil rush. And at the very least we've made it less likely they’ll strike oil this year before the winter weather conditions force them to leave the area.

We shut down drilling by taking action on the high seas, but if dangerous deepwater oil drilling is to be stopped for good then action also needs to be taken in the world's capitals. Our leaders need to take us beyond oil, to invest in clean energy solutions for the sake of the climate and the preservation of pristine environments like the Arctic.

Later this month, environment ministers from countries bordering the North Sea will meet in Norway, where Germany is proposing a moratorium on new deepwater drilling. We're backing Germany's call because we don't want to see another disaster, similar to that in the Gulf of Mexico, happen at new deepwater sites across the world. And we need to go beyond oil to protect our climate.

Our journey continues…

We are still waiting for our climbers to be released but hoping they will be back on board the Esperanza soon. They are sorely missed - especially Timo's lovely guitar playing in the evenings. Anais is talking about preparing a "Welcome Back!" banner for them and every time the captain or our campaign leader walks past we keep asking "any news?". The answer is still no. Nobody knows exactly when they will be out and perhaps they wont be allowed back to the ship at all.

Sim, Timo, Jens and Matt are truly heroes! I don't think I have ever witnessed such an amazing direct action in all my time with Greenpeace. Timo, Matt, Jens and Sim scaled the oil rig by climbing a structure that looked unclimable to me. When I look at the footage of their ascent - my jaw drops open in amazement. They spent over 40 hours up there - suspended above the churning Arctic waves through freezing winds and periods of loud noise from the thrusters that keep the rig in position. They kept themselves in good spirits throughout the occupation and never complained about the conditions they were in. We're so very proud of them for stopping Cairn's Arctic drilling for so long. They really stopped it for 40 hours - and that's quite an achievement.

While our climbers were on the rig and since they have been arrested - we have received some very touching messages of support from so many people. I've  been gathering them today so that I can show the climbers when they're back on board. I thought it would also be nice to share them here (see below) and say thanks to everyone who sent us these messages - and the others I haven't managed to copy yet. It means a lot to us to receive them and I have already printed off several pages of them and passed them around over dinner in the mess. I even saw our chief engineer reading them and watched his face light up with big smiles. And he rarely smiles so this is quite an achievement!

Thank you so much. I'll let you know more news on our heroic Arctic defenders when I have it.

-- Lisa

Timo and Matt on the Esperanza before the action. We want them back along with Sim and Jens!

Messages to the climbers via Twitter:

OwenJ92
Aug 31, 11:49pm via Web
@gp_espy keep it going! what you're doing is amazing, I've never seen a protest like it! stick to it!

Emmabob3
Aug 31, 11:23am via Twitter for iPhone
@gp_espy - Well done for your amazing/brave/inspiring action. You have my total support & best wishes ; )

jonesthelight
Aug 31, 11:27am via Web
@gp_espy All the very best with that and what a great way to start my day :)

GinniKipper
Aug 31, 11:39am via Web
@gp_espy Massive congratulations and gratitude for what you are doing for us. I'm still gathering followers on FaceBook :-)
wolf_hazel

Aug 31, 11:54am via Web
@gp_espy Well done guys for the work on Cairn Energy! Hang in there! I support you and wish you all the best!

r3to
Aug 31, 12:10pm via CoTweet
@gp_espy Spectacular action!! Well done! Hope you can stop Arctic drilling for good.

patrickolszo
Aug 31, 12:21pm via Echofon
@gp_espy - this is amazing work - keep going - we are all rooting for you! A global moratorium on oil drilling now #gobeyondoil

givepeasachance
Aug 31, 12:36pm via Web
@gp_espy Well done to all, we're all cheering you on back home! Keep up the good work guys and gals. Much love and solidarity xx #beyondoil

Lear88
Aug 31, 2:21pm via Web
keep up the amazing work in the Arctic @gp_espy. You continuously inspire change - where others would rather take it away. :) #beyondoil

JohnBaldy
Aug 31, 3:21pm via Web
Follow @gp_espy for an object lesson in both saving the planet and in making a twitter feed exciting. Big up Greenpeace!

kateogden
Aug 31, 3:25pm via Web
@gp_espy You guys are an inspiration! Stay safe! #beyondoil

mayhew60
Aug 31, 4:05pm via Web
@gp_espy I woke up with a smile today. You guys are doing a great job. It is time to send a message that oil is not the future

tennilesunday
Aug 31, 4:33pm via Web
I effing love greenpeace @gp_espy for working to shut down Cairn Energy's oil rig in the arctic. http://www.gobeyondoil.org

alisonjanehealy
Aug 31, 6:28pm via Web
@gp_espy Guys, keep up the amazing work. When right is on your side, then many things are possible

iXalapa
Aug 31, 6:46pm via Web
@gp_espy Great Job!!!! even with the navy behind you do the job !!! we are proud and surprise

Chelspresso
Aug 31, 8:15pm via Twitpic
@gp_espy http://twitpic.com/2jy774 - Beyond impressive. Keep up the good work, MUCH love and respect.

OwenJ92
Aug 31, 11:49pm via Web
@gp_espy keep it going! what you're doing is amazing, I've never seen a protest like it! stick to it!

celiaalario
Sep 01, 12:02am via txt
Rt @Greenpeace: Wishing our4activists occupying Cairn'sArctic oil rig&everyone onboard @gp_espy a good sleep! http://bit.ly/bys

mariamonica
Sep 01, 3:06am via Twitpic
@gp_espy http://twitpic.com/2k0d3y - I've no words now that I've seen your courage.I wish I could do something from here. Pls. take care.

350
Sep 01, 11:00am via HootSuite
If you're not following Greenpeace's @gp_espy, you're missing a helluva adventure in the fight against #oil in the Arctic.

Emmabob3
Sep 01, 3:27pm via Web
@gp_espy- Just thought I'd check in to say well done for stopping the drilling in the arctic for 24 hours. Go go go (but keep safe) ; )

daisystreet
Sep 01, 3:31pm via Saezuri
@gp_espy : Good morning, Esperanza! Enjoying the updates. Thank you for not only believing, but *doing. Take care. Stay safe. Be wonderf

AshleighF68
Sep 01, 4:25pm via Web
@gp_espy you guys are doing so well!! being brave enough to go against what others think! you have my total support :)

Lear88
Sep 01, 5:55pm via Web
Hang in there @gp_espy the world is watching in awe. Let's all make a wave. #beyondoil

gotsound
Sep 01, 5:55pm via Web
@gp_espy For the past week every morning I wake up feeling inspired after reading your live tweets from the arctic. Keep up the battle!

soup1531
Sep 01, 6:05pm via Web
@gp_espy Hold strong ya'll. We are all extremely proud of you. I will start collecting beer to feed you when you get back to SF Sim!

Sneakyboots
Sep 01, 7:44pm via Web
@gp_espy Sim, you lucky dog! I'd give anything to be hanging up there with you right now! Way to go, guys and girls..good on you!!!

engagejoe
6:48am via HootSuite
@gp_espy What a beautiful video of Anais. Her Arctic story brilliantly illuminates why I organize locally. http://j.mp/9Z0U

brianfit
9:14am via TweetDeck
@gp_espy Sending a virtual cup of piping hot coffee to climbers aboard the Stella Don. ♨ http://bit.ly/bysplt

IanMcL13
11:13am via Web
@gp_espy Thanks for your courage and your passion on our behalf

twinkle031
12:11pm via twicca
@gp_espy you did so nice things! I live in Korea now but when I grow up, I want to be a big help. keep going!!

Messages to the climbers on Facebook

Abi Ralls: HELL YEAH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sylvia Watson-Stewart: Well done, we're with you in spirit!

Therese Davis: YOU GUYS ROCK! Wish I was there helpin'

Talitha Mcintyre-Burnie: You are my heroes! xx

Tara Wales: So friggen Far Out!!! You guys represent me also, I am disabled, I couldn't do that. So you speak for me also and I thank you all!

Deborah Barrass: Good, brave people.Their actions will be remembered in our uncertain future.

Wende Anne Maunder: Sim - thank you so very much. Words cannot express the gratitude I feel for the courageous work you are doing. I wish I had a million pounds to help you with your campaign. Bless you! Bless Greenpeace.

Sergio De Benito Navarrete: I'm very proud of all these Greenpeace activists. Thanks to all of you, and please never, never give up. Planet Earth needs more people like you. Greetings from Spain.

Polly Pearshouse: I used to be a climber but not like that! Scary stuff - huge respect for what you're doing - thank you

Jean Loughlin: Yeah...RESPECT GUYS....I couldn't do it!!!

Julie Bird: Love to you all and the deepest respect

Scott McNeil: this is what it takes, bravery and courage and determination, well done greenpeace

Julian Padfield Paddy: Good on you guys wish i was there,.

Jackum Brown: Bravo! Go for it, guys, you all deserve medals

Jo Billups You guys make my day! :)

Christopher Brooks: you're amazing! love your style. With you in spirit

Jackie Taylor: I support u all the way Greenpeace, please take care out there xx

Sue Tait: Sending blessings and light to your vital and wonderful work x

Annastacia Fulcher: Brilliant news and everyone is just amazing for what you are all doing. Thanks for the phone call Lisa letting us know whats going on. I wish you all well and pray for your safety.

Barbara Tencynskaya: Hurrah!! Ignore the mindless critics, GO GREENPEACE! :-D

Brian 'Jones' Smart: Go greenpeace!! Save what is left of this beautiful planet of ours before the big corporations who only care about money ravage it into a unlivable pile of dirt and pollution!!

Dimitri Fache: I admire your courage!

Andrea Liane: totally amazing staying in the Arctic until it get to cold to drill. i am so very impressed with the commitment of everyone aboard You on board deserve mega medals, and thank you from all who care. I no u'll never give up.

Michael Callender: Go guys, the world supports you!!! Wish I could be there.

Rebecca Fowler thank u brave activists, u inspire me daily! NO ARCTIC DRILLING!!

Cathy Monkley: You're all doing an amazing job. I salute you - big hugs all round x

Gemma Dawn: so much respect for all you guys that hung off that rig!!!!

Tom Cohen: hang in there sim hope you have ear plugs sounds pretty loud under there,great anchor points thoughlooks made for you!

Sergio C Buitrón: If you were looking for a hero look no more.

Bonnie Marie Lindsay: SIM~YOU ARE AWESOME!!

Kyra Winn: love your work Sim and friends :)

Gregory Riley Now: THIS is the kind of DIRECT ACTION I pay for!!!

Katharina Dumrath: I hope the activists willl be okay and that there will be no severe repercussions. I understand why the police had to arrest them (they were trespassing), but I pray that they'll have the sense to release them with a slap on the wrist instead of making a huge deal out of it. We already have 2 activists facing prison sentences in Japan- we don't need any more

Sandy Wilson: What a strange world we live in. Those fighting for our planet are arrested whilst those killing it are let free. Good on you guys for putting your life on the line.

Didoo Hydi: You are really amazing guys.. keep on, we'll always support the cause till the end.

Maria Elena: nothing is so much less than 40+ hours

Luis Rivas: drill stopped turning! That's a result! Hope they are out soon :D

Ruth Daw I am glad the four brave activits are fine!

Saskia Morice: You amazing guys have all my support as well as thousands and thousands of other´s everywhere...We are with You! We love you so much for what you are doing in the name of our Mother Earth..Thank You!

Tamari Chi: greenpeace outshines politics and politicians. When the governments should be handling things, it takes special organizations to do their job for them.

Rakesh Prashara: Well done everyone, my thoughts are with the activists in custody. Our future depends on going beyond oil!

Denys Tsutsaev: good job guys!!!Well done!!

Jackey Caldwell: What you are doing today changes all our futures. Hang on in there.

Tim Hatcher: Hang in there guys (literally). All right thinking people of the world are with you.

Jean Loughlin: thank you !!!!!! for what you are doing ....you are doing it for so many people.....Bless you for your bravery!!!

This is a report on the environmental performance of Greenpeace UK from January to December 2009. It aims to show the impact our organisation has on the environment, how we try to minimise it, and what we are doing to improve.

Handing out sustainable seafood guides on the streets of Tokyo (c) Sutton-Hibbert/Greenpeace

There's a common comment in this part of the world, often repeated on the internet especially, about sorting out the seafood problem: namely, we have to change minds in Japan.

Whilst it's a simplistic generalisation, there is a lot of truth in that. Seafood is a global commodity and a global problem. The big markets for seafood are (perhaps unsurprisingly) North America, Europe, and Asia.

As an island nation, Japan is undoubtedly a place with a strong tradition of eating a vast array of seafood. We know too that Japan's demand for fish reaches around the world (of course, they are not alone in this). Most notably Japan is the key importer of the large tuna species (bluefin, bigeye and yellowfin), but the demand for sushi specifically, and seafood generally, also covers many other species from Patagonian toothfish to eels.

Greenpeace has had an office in Japan for over two decades. But it has taken until this year for Greenpeace Japan to be able to launch its very own sustainable seafood campaign. Building on the work we have done in other countries, our colleagues have unleashed their Susea (Sustainable Seafood) campaign onto the Japanese high streets.

The reception they've had has shown quite clearly how things have started to move on around the world. In the space of a few years, the world has started to wake up to the problems of overfishing and destructive fishing. Whilst, from a distance, we might like to assume Japan is just a part of the problem, as keen seafood eaters they are starting to realise too that they need to be part of the solution.

My Japanese colleague Wakao tells us that they have had a great reception both from customers, retailers and the media. In handing out seafood guides, some shaped like traditional Japanese fans, they gave the public graphic information of the problem species on the menu. And accompanied by a colleague in a sad-looking fish costume (called Fini), they took the message to the streets of Japan.

Sustainable seafood guide, Japanese style

Just as we have done in the UK, US and elsewhere, Greenpeace Japan is following this up with discussions with key retailers, especially the big supermarket chains like Aeon and Seiyu. At the same time, media reporting of the campaign has not, as might be expected, been dismissive and negative, but rather supportive and explaining the key issues Greenpeace Japan is concerned about.

Of course, much of the focus is on bluefin, the current poster-fish of unsustainability. The Japanese Government has set itself up as the would-be saviour of Atlantic bluefin - something we're keen to see come true at this year's ICCAT meeting in Paris.

But Wakao and his colleagues are also drawing attention to the plight of the more local bluefin species - Pacific bluefin. In that, they have an unusual ally in the artisanal, traditional fishing fleet. They have been fishing Pacific bluefin for years and know all-too-well that the massive purse-seining nets are a sure fire way to drive the species to the brink of extinction. After all, that has already happened to the bluefin's Atlantic cousin. They know too that creating protected areas for commercially-important species, especially in breeding grounds, is just plain common sense.

This is just the start for Susea and I'm excited to hear what happens in the weeks and months to come. But one thing is clear: the mood in Japan is changing. Let's hope that Susea can help push Japanese retailers and consumers the way seafood campaigns have in other countries.

After all, a global problem needs global solutions.

Junichi (right) and Toru (left) working on their defence during their trial (c) Sutton-Hibbert/Greenpeace

Two years ago, Junichi Sato and Toru Suzuki exposed a scandal involving government corruption entrenched within the tax-payer funded Japanese whaling industry. They are on trial for theft and trespass, and are awaiting the verdict due this coming Monday.

This will be the first blog Toru and I have written together, as up until recently our heavy bail restrictions have meant that we could not be in the same room or even talk to each other without a lawyer present.

The verdict in our trial is approaching, and on Monday 6 September we will know what our fate is. We don't really know what the result would be, all we know now is that it is going to show the status of Japanese democracy. It's a long way from where it was when this case started - our investigation  to end Japan's whaling.

Support the Tokyo Two

Help Junichi and Toru and join the online march for justiceIn early 2008, following tip offs from a whistleblower and a four-month investigation into the embezzlement of whale meat by the crew of the Japan's whaling fleet, we were closing in on evidence  that could finally end this whaling programme.

Annual protest actions in the Southern Ocean have raised awareness and created international outcry about this destructive and completely unnecessary hunt, however, it was clear that the only place Japanese whaling would ever be ended was at home in Japan. When we intercepted a box of embezzled whale meat, we knew we finally had the evidence to prove the corrupt nature of the industry and shut it down by bringing an end to its huge taxpayer subsidies.

We knew the industry would not go quietly, we didn't expect the harsh reaction that was to come. 

At the start the media strongly covered the embezzlement scandal, and asked serious questions about the industry for the first time. However, one month after we exposed the large-scale theft of whale meat and embarrassed the authorities, they struck back, and had us arrested, interrogated, detained for 26 days and finally charged with "theft" and "trespass".

The media were tipped off about our arrest and the raids of our homes, so when the images of our arrest appeared on national television the embezzlement scandal was dismissed and we were immediately seen as criminals by the public.

This has been our image for the last two years - until now.

In the last week alone we have seen three hugely positive articles appear in major newspapers around Japan. All of them detailed our trial and the flimsy, contradictory nature of the prosecution case against us, discussed the embezzlement and the rights of NGOs to expose wrongdoing, asked serious questions about human rights in Japan, and, finally, seriously questioned the legitimacy of the whaling programme.

We have come full circle and for the first time since the embezzlement scandal broke there is serious, positive discussion about the legitimacy of the whaling programme, and for once the arguments are not based on Fisheries Agency propaganda. Japanese society has changed and we are finding support wherever we turn.

On Monday the judges will hand down their verdict, and we are very much looking forward to it. We have proved our case, and anyone who looks at the facts with a clear mind can see that we should be acquitted, and that the official case simply does not stand up to even the most basic questioning.

That said, given Japan's harsh 99.8% conviction rate, we understand that our chance of a good result is low, so while we are optimistic that we have advanced civil society and put whaling on trial both in court and in the media, we are also anxious about our fate.

Our families and friends are with us all the way. They can only accept an acquittal as they know we have committed no crime. They want us to fight as hard as we can, and were very happy to see the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention's support for our case, but there is a definite feeling that our argument is ten years ahead of Japanese society. This has been a difficult few years, and our actions have come at great personal cost, but we have to win for ourselves, for whales, for Greenpeace and for Japanese society.

We believe that this verdict is going to be a landmark for Japanese society. Aomori District court is being forced to make decisions in front of both the domestic and international audience whether Japan is ready to be a true democratic society, a society where citizens have the right to speak up in the public interests - or not.

Everyone we know is with us, and we could not have gotten this far without their and your support. We have finally kick-started the discussion about whaling, activism and civil rights that Japan desperately needs to have. Whatever happens on Monday, we know in our hearts that we did the right thing, and sooner or later, we will win this fight.

Support Junichi and Toru as they await their verdict - join our Online March for Justice for the Tokyo Two.

This was the scene on the Esperanza's bridge as Luke called through to Sim on the Stena Don for the last time, as the climbers prepared to leave the oil rig. Apologies for the audio which is a bit fuzzy, but here's a transcript:

S: Esperanza, this is Alpha Climb, go ahead
L: Er you called us, over.
S: Oops, sorry about that. We just finished our last battery so this [radio] will be our sole means of communication over
L: Copy that, you will only be on VHF, only on VHF. The police on board have channel 67 to communicate with you. Please communicate with them when needed. Suggest you eat your remaining food, have a rest, and then slowly make your way out as and when the time is right, over.
S: Esperanza this is Alpha Climb, understand the police have channel 67 for communicating with us. Um, we copy that we should communicate with them to negotiate our exit.
L: Copy that, you should communicate with them and make your own way out. If you need assistance they are willing to assist you in any way necessary. If you need a line, please communicate with them directly as to where you want it, and make your way safely onboard.
S: Esperanza, Climb Team Alpha, understood, we will be standing by for that communication over.
L: Copy that, have a nice climb, out

Esperanza calls back:
S: Esperanza Climb Team Alpha, go ahead.
L: Yes, Climb Team Alpha, one more thing:We just want you to appreciate the mangnitude of the event you have undertaken. We are just approaching 40 hours, 40 hours of stopping drilling in the Baffin Bay area, please stand-by for one final communication from the Esperanza:
[Massive cheer erupts from the ship's crew]
Understood, over?
S: Esperanza, Climb Team Alpha, well understood! It has been truly a pleasure working with y'all and we hope to see you in the not very distant future! Over.
L: Indeed, we look forward to seeing you hopefully sometime in the next 24 hours. This is the Esperanza. Out.

The independent audit which Sinar Mas thought would absolve it of deforestation, peatland clearance and law-breaking is now exploding in front of its face like a firework in a munitions factory.

Greenpeace campaigners and supporters in the US have been demanding that Burger King drops Sinar Mas as a supplier until the group commits to ending deforestation and yesterday it did just that, announcing that "the report has raised valid concerns about some of the sustainability practices of Sinar Mas' palm oil production and its impact on the rainforest".

So now the evidence is coming in of how companies will respond to the audit (and the way Sinar Mas tried to conceal its findings by misleading customers, journalists and the stock markets).

Unilever said it wouldn't be reinstating Sinar Mas as a supplier until issues raised in the audit are addressed, but Burger King is the first big name customer Sinar Mas has lost since the audit was released and shows just how out of touch the Indonesian conglomerate remains.

While Burger King, Unilever, Nestle, Kraft and other companies want to avoid being linked to deforestation, Sinar Mas has continued destroying forests and draining peatlands. Our US colleagues are also working on Pizza Hut, KFC and Dunkin Donuts, asking them to follow in Burger King's footsteps.

In its announcement on its Facebook page, Burger King said:

"...the report has raised valid concerns about some of the sustainability practices of Sinar Mas' palm oil production and its impact on the rainforest. These practices are inconsistent with our corporate responsibility commitments.

"As a result, we have decided we will no longer purchase palm oil from Sinar Mas or its subsidiaries.  We are in the process of transitioning to a new palm oil supplier for the 176 Burger King restaurants that were supplied by Sinar Mas. In addition, we are notifying our suppliers of our intent to discontinue the use of palm oil supplied by Sinar Mas in the manufacturing of our products."

As with all corporate commitments, there are still details to work out with Burger King. They need to explain how they're going to handle indirect supplies of Sinar Mas palm oil and whether their rainforest policy will be amended to include other commodities like pulp and paper. We'll also be asking them about how they're implementing existing commitments they've made in relation to sourcing their beef from the Amazon.

Ben writes about this morning's events from the Esperanza...

Well, that was dramatic. Yesterday afternoon, the seas started churning and our huge banner on the oil rig was twisting and flapping as a gale blew up. I spoke to the four activists under rig and they assured me they were fine. They had self-heating meals and water and were still doing interviews, telling the world about Cairn Energy’s plans to spark an Arctic oil rush.

I kept eyeing the scene through the porthole in my cabin with concern. The swell was heaving and the lips of the waves were breaking white across the stretch of sea separating the Esperanza from the rig. The weather forecast on the screen on the bridge looked ominous – lots of grim symbols over the coast west of Greenland – while a quick duck outside had my eyes watering with the cold.

Ending the occupation of the Stena Don was a big call for us. We’d stopped it drilling for oil here, while the other rig being operated by Cairn, the Stena Forth, was also closed down due to our actions. Think about that – because of the millions of supporters who let us operate our ships, four ordinary blokes from four different countries were able to come up here and put their bodies in the way of the Arctic oil rush, and they stopped it.

They didn’t just protest about it – they actually stopped it. The drills stopped turning.

But now a freezing gale has stopped us. Anybody who saw the images of our camp under the rig will appreciate how harsh the conditions were last night for the guys. When I radioed them and talked about the need to come down, they were disappointed the direct action was about to end but stunningly professional. Straight away they were working out how to get safely on to the platform gantry, where police were waiting for them (our guys obsess about safety, it’s a thing to behold, and is at odds with the image our opponents like to paint).

So they’re in police custody now. But before it was over I spoke to Sim McKenna from the United States. He’s been a star these past three weeks since we left London, and as ever he found the words at the right time, despite hanging under an oil rig over freezing seas as a storm rolled in.

"We stopped this rig drilling for oil for two days, but in the end the Arctic weather beat us. Last night was freezing and now the sea below us is churning and the wind is roaring. It’s time to come down, but we’re proud we slowed the mad rush for Arctic oil, if only for a couple of days.

"This beautiful fragile arctic environment would be decimated by an oil spill. The melting Arctic ice is a grim reminder that we need to stop burning oil and invest instead in clean energy solutions.

"I’m not sure what will happen to us now, but as soon as we can we'll be back to call for the world to finally go beyond oil. It is time for people everywhere to take a stand, to call on their governments to fight climate change, ban dangerous deep sea drilling and invest in clean energy solutions that will protect the world's fragile environments from cowboy oil companies like Cairn Energy."

-- Ben

BP's Deepwater Horizon disaster in the Gulf of Mexico

Today our lawyers sent a letter to the UK government threatening legal action over their decision to continue giving licenses for deep sea oil drilling even before we know for certain the causes of the Deepwater Horizon explosion.

We're asking the government to stop giving out these licenses for new offshore drilling and to carry out a comprehensive new environmental assessment into offshore oil. It's not just irrational to give out licenses without this new environmental assessment; we believe it's also a breach of European and UK law.

We want the UK to follow Obama's lead and introduce a moratorium on deep sea drilling. As the US Secretary of the Interior, Ken Salizar, said when introducing their moratorium: "A pause on deep sea drilling is essential and appropriate to protect communities, coasts, and wildlife from the risks that deepwater drilling currently pose… I am basing my decision on evidence that grows every day of the industry’s inability in the deepwater to contain a catastrophic blow out, respond to an oil spill, and to operate safely."

Our lawyers have a strong record. You may remember that they helped us to get the last government's nuclear and aviation policies changed.

This is just the first step in the legal process. If the government does not give us an undertaking within 14 days that it will stop the licensing and do a new environmental assessment, we plan to go to court.

Read how the story was covered in the Financial Times today.

Picture of Sim yesterday morning on the rig

It’s five in the morning Greenland time and the last few hours have been quite insane. Last night, with the Espy pitching and rocking, and cups flying all over the place, we knew we had to get Timo, Meteusz, Sim and Jens off the rig. The worst of the Arctic weather was closing in, and their tiny tents were not going to be enough to keep them safe.

Our friends had to climb up onto the rig. Due to the strong winds it took them a bit more than four hours to get up there, and when they did they were met by police and taken peacefully into custody.

Looking out of my porthole at the massive waves, and feeling the movements of the Esperanza, there is no doubt in my mind that they took the right decision. I hope and believe that this action will be remembered as the first step against our blind and reckless hunt for the last drops of oil on the planet. Our friends accomplished something amazing and showed the sort of courage and dedication that politicians and industry should learn from.

Before ending the occupation, Sim said this on the sat phone:

"We stopped this rig drilling for oil for two days, but in the end the Arctic weather beat us. Last night was freezing and now the sea below us is churning and the wind is roaring. It’s time to come down, but we’re proud we slowed the mad rush for Arctic oil, if only for a couple of days. This beautiful fragile environment would be decimated by an oil spill, while the melting Arctic ice is a grim reminder that we need to stop burning oil and invest instead in clean energy solutions. I’m not sure what will happen to us now, but as soon as we can we’ll be back to call for the world to finally go beyond oil."

While our four climbers have been arrested, our confrontation with the oil industry is gathering pace. Our colleagues back in the UK have just launched a legal challenge against deepwater drilling. We believe that the government's granting of new deepwater drilling licenses in the UK is not only irrational, but illegal.

I want to thank all of you for helping us do this important work -  from your letters to the UK government and Cairn to all your messages of support. Being able to confront the oil industry - out here in the Arctic waters and back home on land - is only possible because of your support. We don't take any corporate or government funding and that means we remain independent and able to challenge everyone in a position of power who is destroying our environment or taking risks with the health of our planet. We need your help to stop deepwater drilling and move the world beyond oil. Please make a donation today so that we can continue to campaign for a clean energy future.

I'll keep you updated as soon as I have any more news.

Thanks for all your support,

Lisa - on board the Esperanza

Watch Sim talk about his "relatively comfortable" night dangling off the underside of Cairn's Stena Don rig. Our four climbers are still on Cairn's rig, stopping the company from continuing its dangerous drilling in Arctic waters.

Read more at: www.GoBeyondOil.org

Our four climbers have spent the night in sub-zero temperatures, hanging off the bottom of Cairn's Arctic oil rig - the Stena Don. While we're attached to the rig, Cairn Energy can't continue their reckless drilling.

For live updates visit www.GoBeyondOil.org

Here's a video of how they scaled up the legs of the rig, followed by a quick interview with Sim - from the US - talking about why they're there.

Sleeping in tiny tents suspended from the rig, Sim is joined by Timo from Finland, Mateusz from Poland, and Jens from Germany and they've taken enough food with them to last a few days. The hope is that if they can hang on long enough, Cairn will miss the summer drilling window, and have to wait until next year when the sheet ice melts again.

But the situation is still tense. We're getting reports that a second Danish navy warship is heading to the area and the police have already used hooks to tear one of the banners off them.

We're in contact with the climbers and will let you know the latest as it happens. While they're still hanging in there, listen to Sim talking about why he became an activist and why although he doesn't want to get arrested, sometimes you have to take action.

In the last couple of hours, we've received this footage from the Esperanza from this morning's daring occupation of the Stena Don, the oil rig operated by Cairn Energy. It shows just what an amazing feat the guys and gals there have pulled off, not least evading the Danish navy and scaling the oil rig legs.

Picture of Sim from the US, setting up an occupation platform. Leila, on board the Esperanza, writes:

Blimey, this is exciting! Up at 4am, the crew scuttling around the Espy, all the portholes shut tight so that the Navy had no idea we were even awake. Nine brave activists eased into their dry suits and safety gear in the Lounge, a place usually reserved for chillaxing.

Up on the bridge the Captain, surrounded by the ice pilot, the 2nd and 3rd mates, and the actions team, was watching through his binoculars as the 1st mate snuck onto the deck. Checking the sleepy Navy warship once more, Captain raised his hand and our inflatable boats lowered silently into the water.

Still the police and the Navy, with their team of commandos onboard did not respond. At 5.45 am the Captain said one word over the radio, on a channel we rarely use: 'Go'.

In moments the three boats carrying our brave climbers had crossed the 500m security line and arrived at the legs of the Stena Don. Still no response. As we watched through our binoculars, Sim from the US, Jens from Germany, Mateusz from Poland and finally Timo from Finland made their way up the legs of the rig like spidermen.

Finally, the Navy launched their inflatables and commandos. Too late. Our boats were already on their way back. Alpha, one of ours, was chased briefly by the police, but the futility of their effort was clear as Alpha sailed smoothly away and back to its cradle - ready to be winched up onto the Esperanza.

Huge thanks to all those of you who have supported us as we've borne witness to Cairn's catastrophe waiting to happen in this freezing wonderland. The watching is over. The action has begun. We are stopping the Stena Don drilling for oil, their window to complete the drilling is brief before the sea ice returns for the winter. Our climbers are prepared to stay as long as it takes to run Cairn out of time.

- Leila Deen

Campaigners have evaded a huge military security operation to scale a controversial oil rig in the freezing seas off Greenland. At dawn this morning four expert climbers in inflatable speedboats dodged Danish Navy commandos before climbing up the inside of the rig and hanging from it in tents suspended from ropes, halting its drilling operation (video and stills available soon).

The climbers have enough supplies to occupy the hanging tents for several days. If they succeed in stopping drilling for just a short time then the operators, Britain's Cairn Energy, will struggle to meet a tight deadline to complete the exploration before winter ice conditions force it to abandon the search for oil off Greenland until next year.

Sim McKenna from the United States, one of the campaigners hanging fifteen metres above the bitterly cold Arctic ocean, said:

"We've got to keep the energy companies out of the Arctic and kick our addiction to oil, that's why we're going to stop this rig from drilling for as long as we can. The BP Gulf oil disaster showed us it's time to go beyond oil. The drilling rig we're hanging off could spark an Arctic oil rush, one that would pose a huge threat to the climate and put this fragile environment at risk." 

McKenna, who had been helping with the Gulf clean-up operation before joining the Greenpeace ship the Esperanza in the Arctic, continued: "Right now this platform is the most important oil rig in the world. If we can stop them striking oil here in the next few weeks we'll hold back the oil giants for at least another year, hopefully gaining enough time for a global ban on dangerous deepwater drilling projects like this to be enacted."

A Danish Thetis-class 120m warship, commandos in speed boats and a flotilla of police boats have been shadowing the Esperanza for the last nine days. The rig has been forced to stop drilling because any breach of the 500m security zone around it results in a routine shutdown. Until this morning it was drilling in volcanic rock, having failed to strike oil, and is due to move soon to a new drill site 100km away. The campaigners hope today's occupation will delay the move or even cause it to be cancelled.

Last week Cairn announced it had struck gas, but not oil, at a site a few miles from the occupied rig. The fragile environment west of Disko Island is known as Iceberg Alley due to the plentiful icebergs and tough conditions. This has deterred oil companies from attempting exploration there in recent years, but the world's oil giants are watching the Cairn project with great interest. If the Edinburgh-based company strikes oil, analysts expect a new Arctic oil rush, with Exxon, Chevron and other energy giants already buying up licenses to drill in the area and making preparations to move in. 

Jon Burgwald, a Greenpeace campaigner onboard the Esperanza, which is about a kilometre from the occupied platform, said: "Instead of letting the oil companies drill for the last drops of oil in pristine places like the Arctic, our governments should be pushing the development of the clean energy technologies we need to fight climate change and reduce our dependence on dirty fuels. We already have the tools we need to go beyond oil, all that's missing is the determination to make it happen quickly. That's why we have to stop this rig from drilling for as long as we can. We can't let the oil giants take us all in the wrong direction by opening up the Arctic seas to a new oil rush."

Last week Professor Jim Hansen, director of the Goddard Space Institute and one of the world's leading climate scientists advocated this kind of direct action when he said:

"It becomes clear that needed actions will happen only if the public, somehow, becomes forcefully involved. One way that citizens can help is by blocking coal plants, tar sands, and mining the last drops of fossil fuels from public and pristine lands and the deep ocean." (2)

The crew of the Esperanza includes Waldemar Wichmann, the Captain from Argentina; Annkatrin Schneider, deck hand from Germany; Ben Stewart and Leila Deen from the UK; Jon Burgwald from Denmark; Victor Rask from Sweden; Mateusz Emeschajmer from Poland; Timo Puohiniemi from Finland; Danielle, Second Mate from Australia; Mannas, Chief Engineer from Holland; and Sim McKenna from the USA.

ENDS

For more information contact the Greenpeace UK Press office on +44 (0) 207 865 8255

For still images please contact Daphne Christelis, Greenpeace UK picture Desk: + 44 207 865 8118 or John Novis, Greenpeace International Picture Desk: +44 (0)207 865 8230+31

For video please contact the UK press desk on +44 (0)207 865 8255
To speak to a campaigner off the coast of Greenland contact Ben Stewart, Leila Dean or Jon Burgwald on the Esperanza on +8816 7770 1411 or +8816 7770 1412 or +8816 7770 1413.

BRIEFINGS:
Greenpeace has prepared media briefings on both Cairn Energy and the consequences of an oil spill in the Arctic. 
To view these, please visit:
http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/pdfs/climate/cairn_brief.pdf  Or: http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/pdfs/climate/arctic_briefing_gp.pdf 

NOTES:

• The U.S. government calculates that the chance of a major spill occurring over the lifetime of a single block of leases in its own Arctic waters is greater than 20% - while those odds increase with every extra license granted. If the Cairn operation strikes oil the number of wells sunk off Greenland would increase dramatically. The well being drilled by Cairn is at a depth of 300-500 metres, while the moratorium introduced by President Barack Obama after the Deepwater Horizon disaster applies to wells deeper than 152 metres. Cairn has refused to publish a comprehensive plan for how it would deal with a spill from the platform, and has just 14 vessels capable of reacting to a spill (BP's response in the Gulf of Mexico required more than 3000 vessels).
• Drilling west of Greenland is limited to a 'summer window' between July and early October. After this date, sea-ice becomes too thick to allow vessels to operate and relief wells cannot be drilled effectively. The area which contains the occupied rig is known locally as 'iceberg alley'. Cairn is having to tow icebergs out of the rig's path or use water cannons to divert them. If the icebergs are too large the company has pledged to move the rig itself to avoid a collision. Last month a 260km2  ice island broke off the Petermann glacier north of Disko island and will eventually make its way south through Nares Strait into Baffin Bay and the Labrador Current before reaching the area where drilling is taking place.
• Cairn is run by Sir Bill Gammell, a childhood friend of both Tony Blair and George W Bush. When Bush first met Blair his opening words were: 'I hear you know my friend Bill Gammell.' Last week Gammell sold Cairn's Indian operation for $9.2bn to fund the Greenland project, describing the Arctic as his 'Plan A, B and C.'
• Baffin Bay is home to 80 to 90% of the world's Narwhals.  The region is also home to blue whales, polar bears, seals, sharks, cormorants, kittiwakes and numerous other migratory birds. 
• Cairn's Greenland project is representative of a new approach to modern oil exploration, where self-styled 'wildcat' companies take on huge financial and technical risks in the hope of hitting a previously undiscovered reservoir of oil. The company's complete lack of in-house infrastructure and failure to provide a comprehensive spill response plan raises serious questions about Cairnýs ability to deal with an accident in one of the most hostile environments on earth.
• According to Gammell, the company seeks 'big acreage' to give it a wide area for exploration, in contrast to the smaller parcels that are routinely found in the North Sea for example. The dangers of this approach become clear in the event of a spill, where the operation's remote location means there is little infrastructure already in place to begin any clean up operation.

(1)   http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/oilandgas/7949009/Sir-Bill-Gammell-has-taken-Cairn-Energy-from-an-oil-minnow-to-a-global-powerhouse.html
(2)   http://www.columbia.edu/~jeh1/mailings/2010/20100824_Activist.pdf

From this morning's ongoing action against Cairn's reckless drilling

Just a moment ago we launched our inflatables at the crack of dawn in the misty Arctic waters of Baffin Bay and headed straight for Cairn Energy's deepwater drilling rig, the Stena Don. A group of highly experienced climbers are now scaling the rig in order to stop the drilling and defend the Arctic. I'm writing this with a deep sense of pride in my fellow activists who are out there in near freezing conditions - taking action on behalf of all of us.

They had to outrun the Danish navy and dodge special forces to get onto the rig but they've done it! And I'm writing this for you -- to make sure you are the first to know about what we're doing today and to say thanks for sticking with us since we left London three weeks ago.

We've been here next to Cairn Energy's deepwater drilling rig and their massive drill ship for 9 days now and we've seen enough to know that their operation here must be stopped. We didn't just come here to take pictures - although some of the ones photographer Will has taken have rocked the media and gone around the world - because it's now obvious that what they're doing here is madness. They are taking massive risks - with the Arctic, with our climate and with our future.

Many people know what Cairn Energy is up to now that we've come here and exposed it. But that isn't enough. People get outraged but then they forget about it and move on with their lives and become distracted by the next piece of interesting news - we're all guilty of that sometimes. We're taking action today because we simply can't sit around waiting for an accident to happen here like in the Gulf of Mexico and we can't allow our climate to be affected any more than it already is.

We all know we need to protect our planet from the worst effects of global warming but that's going to be a hell of a lot more difficult if Cairn finds oil here and all the big oil companies rush in to claim their stake in the deep waters off Greenland.

And so my friends - this is it. Today is the day we've all been waiting for - the reason we left London three weeks ago and the reason we've been keeping it all a bit low key until now. While our climbers are doing their absolute best to hold their occupation of the oil rig for as long as possible, everyone on the Esperanza is backing them and we're hauling ass to make sure the images and video footage go out as far as possible.

But there are limits to what we can do here in the Arctic - and with the help of our friends back on land. There's only so much we can say in a press release and tell journalists over the phone... but on the internet - with your help - we can really make this action count. We can spread the story to all of our contacts and ask them to do the same. We can urge them all to write to Bill Gammell, Cairn Energy's CEO, and maybe - just maybe - we'll manage to convince him that he's making a big mistake. Maybe together we can make sure the world goes beyond oil and invests in a cleaner, safer future for all of us.

Lisa on the Espy: Our Planet Needs You!

I've already taken a minute to send a letter to Bill today using the action form while Leila, our climate campaigner, has written him a personal open letter you can read here. Please join us by taking action today and inviting your friends to do the same.

From Leila, campaigner on board the Esperanza...

Dear Mr Bill Gammell,

I am writing to you from the bridge of the Esperanza. My friends are currently hanging in tents under the Stena Don oil rig that you are using to search for the last drops of oil here at the end of the Earth. We want to stop you from drilling here. I thought it appropriate to write to you, to back up our action with another letter, asking you again to please rethink your current plans.

Yesterday, I sat under an iceberg that had just been released by your tug-ships. They had been towing it out of the path of your oil rigs up here in the Arctic. Next to our inflatable boat, a seal popped his head up to get a look at us. As we floated there huge chunks of ice sheared from the side of the iceberg. It frightened me. It echoed the fate of our planet as it melted and crashed into the ocean.

I wonder about you, Mr Gammell. I wonder if you have grandchildren yet? If you do, and they ask you what your job is, I wonder what you say? Do you tell them Grandad is a trailblazer, a 'pioneer', and leave it at that? Or do you tell them the whole truth? And when they ask you about climate change, about the way the world is heating up, the weather changing and the ice-caps melting, what will you tell them? Will you tell them that whilst millions cried out for change, for the world to stop using fossil fuels in order that we stand a chance of a liveable planet for our children, you were towing icebergs from the melting Arctic out of the path of your oil rigs so that they could continue to seek out the Earth's last drops?

Have you been here, Mr Gammell? To the roof of the world that you are 'prospecting' in an attempt to blaze a trail for Big Oil to follow - for your friends at Shell, Chevon and Exxon to get a new line in, to feed the world's addiction? Have you sailed past the imposing mountains of western Greenland, far out into Baffin Bay, past the blue icebergs with a texture like granite, broken fresh from the melting glaciers of the Arctic? Have you watched as the graceful humpback breaks the surface of the crystal ocean with his barnacled back and the grumpy sea lion scowls at your ship's hull?

I have. It's beautiful. But it's not an easy place to be. If I could show the world's governments what I can seen from my porthole, I don't think they'd let your rigs be here. For how many years can you guarantee that you can bat off these icebergs? How long can you hold out without incident or accident in this place where storms, thick fog and winds come from nowhere at all?

How will you fix a blowout like we saw in the Gulf of Mexico if it happens here, in October, with the sea ice closing in? If you have all your safety plans in hand, why not make them public? What are you hiding?

Crossing your fingers and hoping for the best is no way to treat this place. Its no way to treat our planet. Climate change is not someone else's problem. Its yours and its mine. By drilling for the last drops of oil, far from being a trailblazer, you are only extending a tragic track we've been headed down since we first got into fossil fuels on a grand scale 150 years ago. That path has a dead end, an end where we run out of resources, out of energy, and out of time to stop the breakdown of our biosphere.

On behalf of my friends out there on your rig in the freezing cold, on behalf of all the crew here on the Espy, on behalf of all who might have their own grandchildren one day: Please Mr Gammell, think again. Do things differently. Go beyond oil. Leave the Arctic alone.

Yours, Leila Deen

This morning, before dawn, our activists evaded a massive security operation and scaled Cairn Energy's controversial rig off Greenland. We've stopped their drilling.

After dodging Danish Navy commandos in our inflatable speedboats, our activists climbed up the inside of the rig and are now hanging from tents suspended from ropes.

We'll get more news to you as soon as we have it, but for live updates go to www.gobeyondoil.org

Thanks for your support,

Lisa Vickers - on board the Esperanza

Download a PDF copy of the media briefing here:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/files/pdfs/climate/cairn_brief.pdf