Greenpeace

The sheer hypocrisy of it. 

In November the Dutch are bleating on demanding the release of Greenpeace activists. Now they are arresting Greenpeace activists for doing practically they same thing!

Dutch arrest 44 Greenpeace activists blocking Russian Arctic oil tanker

Activists including members of 'Arctic 30' detained as they try to stop Gazprom ship delivering oil to Rotterdam

Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior along with inflatables and paragliders surround Russian oil tanker Mikhail Ulyanov to protest against first shipment of Arctic oil in Rotterdam. To see a larger version of this photograph, click here. Photograph: Ruben Neugebauer/Greenpeace

the Guardian,

1 May, 2014

The very different reactions of European countries to Greenpeace protests was seen on Thursday when 10 Dutch armed anti-terror police boarded the environment group’s flagship outside Rotterdam port and arrested 44 activists trying to stop a Russian tanker from unloading its shipment of Arctic oil.

Although the activists were taken to several Rotterdam police stations and the Rainbow Warrior towed ashore, the ship and most of the protesters were released without charge within a few hours.

This represented a stark contrast to September 2013, when 20 armed Russian navy commandos boarded the group’s Arctic Sunrise icebreaker, towed it 200 miles to Murmansk and jailed the crew of 28 environmental activists and two freelance journalists for more than two months on charges of piracy and then hooliganism.

Greenpeace activists, who used paragliders, climbers, a fleet of boats and inflatables in Rotterdam, said the action was a serious attempt to prevent the Gazprom tanker Mikhail Ulyanov from entering the port and was not stage-managed, despite a boatload of journalists being present and the port given advance warning of a protest.

Police on board Greenpeace's Rainbow Warrior ship. Photograph: Chris Grodotzki/Greenpeace

“It tells us more about how the authorities deal with dissent in Holland compared to Russia. We had every intention of stopping the oil being offloaded. The intention was just as serious as it was in Russia last September,” said Ben Ayliffe, Greenpeace International Arctic campaigner.

Seven of the “Arctic 30” were part of the Rotterdam protest, including the captain Peter Willcox.

“Thirty of us went to prison for shining a light on this dangerous Arctic oil, and we refuse to be intimidated. This tanker is the first sign of a reckless new push to exploit the Arctic, a place of incredible beauty which is melting before our eyes. I stand with 5 million others against those who put short-term profit above the common interests of humanity,” said Faiza Oulahsen from the Netherlands, who took part in both protests.

The group is calling for an end to offshore Arctic oil drilling both in Russia and elsewhere in the world. The environmental group has heavily criticised international companies like Shell, BP and Statoil for their global Arctic ambitions as well as their joint ventures with Russian energy firms.

Greenpeace International executive director, Kumi Naidoo, said: “It’s increasingly clear that our reliance on oil and gas is a major threat not just to the environment, but to global security. Arctic oil represents a dangerous new form of dependence on Russia’s state-owned energy giants at the very moment when we should be breaking free of their influence. We cannot hope for any kind of ethical foreign policy while our governments remain hopelessly dependent on companies like BP, Shell and Gazprom.”

Last night the Mikhail Ulyanov was docked and preparing to offload its oil.

Russia is still holding the Arctic Sunrise in Murmansk

From Greenpeace

Tell Shell to stop Gazprom before it's too late

Five months ago, they tried to silence us. They arrested our activists, and threw them in jail for peacefully protesting oil drilling in the Russian Arctic. The oil giants thought they could scare us away with intimidation. But as long as the Arctic is in danger, we’ll take action to protect it.

Last night in the port of Rotterdam, 80 activists confronted an oil tanker - carrying the same oil the Arctic 30 protested against - to a refinery in Rotterdam. Seven of the original Arctic 30 joined them.

Join the action, tell Shell and Gazprom that Arctic drilling is a losing battle.

TAKE ACTION

As the northern dawn broke, a dramatic chase unfolded with the Rainbow Warrior chasing the Russian tanker into Rotterdam harbor and the Esperanza speeding in to support the Warrior.

As the tanker slowed down to turn, the more nimble Rainbow Warrior slipped in front and put itself between the tanker and the dock where it was to unload the oil. Dutch police then quickly stormed the Warrior taking control of the ship and arresting the crew. They are safe and are currently in contact with colleagues on the ground.

This isn’t just any oil. It’s the first ever Arctic oil extracted from ice-covered waters by Shell’s partner, Gazprom. It comes from the Prirazlomnaya platform, where the Arctic 30 were violently arrested following a peaceful protest last year.

These aren’t just any activists. Despite spending two months in jail for their last protest, seven of the Arctic 30 are back, defiantly fighting for the Arctic. Their fellow brave activists witnessed their unjust detention, but refuse to be silenced.

They know the Arctic is too valuable to lose.

They aren’t alone. You, me, and over 5 million people are standing with them.

Plagued by our daring actions and relentless pressure, oil giants and investors are finally waking up to the risks of drilling in the frozen north. Just last month, Shell backed out of their Arctic drilling plans. If we keep up this momentum, we know we can win.

As a citizen and consumer, you have the power to resist the destruction of the Arctic. We engage in peaceful civil disobedience because public confrontation is often the only way to get results from billion dollar companies.

But only you, and our millions of dedicated supporters, can amplify our voice.

Right now Shell’s partner Gazprom is pumping oil from the fragile Arctic -- just 50 km from a wildlife reserve home to polar bears, walruses, and beluga whales.

Gazprom is one of the most dangerous companies in the world. Last year it was involved in jailing 30 activists and freelance journalists for a peaceful protest. And an oil spill from its offshore Arctic platform could contaminate up to 140,000 km2 of open water and 3,000 km of coastline.

Gazprom must be stopped, and Shell has the power to do it. Without Shell’s support, Gazprom’s Arctic ambitions won’t go far.

Use this form to tell Shell’s CEO to cut ties with Gazprom and quit Arctic drilling before it’s too late >>>>