Volunteers demand release of the 30 activists who have been detained in Russia.
Greenpeace India activists staged a human installation in Freedom Park on Friday, to support the Arctic 30. Ten activists locked themselves in a cage that resembles the prison in Murmansk, Russia, where the Artic 30 are currently imprisoned.
About 60 youngsters had gathered for the protest, holding up banners with slogans that read ‘Do justice’ and ‘Release Artic 30’.
Greenpeace International executive director, Kumi Naidoo, said: “It is now 30 days since our ship was seized and our 30 friends and colleagues were arrested. They now face a charge of piracy, an absurd charge that carries a maximum 15 year jail sentence. The Arctic 30 were standing up for all of us, defending a fragile environment and a climate in crisis. Now, we must stand with them.
“Their detention is an attack against every single person who has ever been willing to raise their voice to demand a better future for themselves and their children. Now, these 30 people are prisoners of conscience, and we are all responsible for their fate.”
As the Arctic 30 face their 30th day of imprisonment in a Russian jail, nearly 10,000 people are taking to the streets at 85 events in 36 cities to call for their immediate release.
A wide range of international figures from politics and civil society have voiced concerns about Arctic 30, including president Dilma Rousseff of Brazil. who spoke out last week demanding their release, and German chancellor, Angela Merkel, who spoke directly to Russian president Vladimir Putin.
On Friday, 11 Nobel prize winners sent letters to Putin, calling for the immediate release of the activists, while Olympics legend John Carlos used the 45th anniversary of his peaceful action at the Mexico Olympics - as he raised a fist on the podium to call for the immediate release of the Artic 30.
Next week, the UK parliament will debate the detention of the activists and decide how they will intervene.
What is the Arctic 30?
Last month, 28 Greenpeace activists, a freelance photographer and a videographer were charged with piracy by a Russian court, following a peaceful protest against Arctic oil drilling at a Gazprom oil platform in the Pechora sea. If convicted, the offence carries a maximum 15 year jail term. The Murmansk Lenin district court ordered that the Arctic 30 could be detained until at least November 24 while allegations against them are investigated by the country’s authorities. The lawyers acting to defend the 30 have appealed against the detention.
Protests around the world
A protest in Tibet at the base of Mount Everest, with activists from Greenpeace, China.
In Mexico City, protesters visit Mahatma Gandhi’s monument and build a prison cell around it.
In Netherlands, people erected a giant cage in the centre of Groningen, the hometown of one imprisoned activist.
In Germany, a 30 hour vigil is taking place with more than 100 people on top of the solidarity vigil, that has been ongoing in front of the Russian embassy in Berlin since September 19.
To support the Arctic 30 and send a letter to Russian president Putin, log on to www.greenpeace.org
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