LIVE: we've scaled and occupied Cairn's Arctic rig

Posted by jamess — 22 April 2011 at 7:03am - Comments
by. Credit: Greenpeace

UPDATE: Force 7 gales have forced the activists down from the rig and to safety. But the campaign continues - stay tuned.

It's the only rig on the planet that is destined to begin new deep sea drilling in the Arctic this year.

Cairn Energy's Leiv Eiriksson is on its way to Baffin Bay, Greenland, leading the new oil rush.

This morning at 5.40 local time, a handful of our volunteers intercepted the rig shortly after it left Besiktas near Istanbul in Turkey.

For Cairn's boss Bill Gammell, Arctic drilling's a game. A gamble. He said a few weeks ago that drilling in the Arctic was "like going to the casino".

That's nothing short of outrageous.

While our activists are occupying Bill Gammell's rig, you can really help by spreading the word. Full details below the live feed.



What's at stake. We need to protect the Arctic

How you can help

With most of the UK busy enjoying two long weekends and a royal wedding, Bill Gammell is hoping his Arctic drilling plans will pass silently by.

We can't let that happen.

Here's whole bunch of things you can do (from bloggers to holidaymakers) to help build the momentum we need to keep the Arctic off limits to oil drillers like BP and Cairn Energy.

If you're on Facebook:

If you're on Twitter:

  • We'll be posting using #arctic as a hashtag for the moment.
  • Let people know what you think, let us know what you think (we're on @greenpeaceuk), get vocal and passionate

If you have a website/blog:

  • Embed our live coverage of the Arctic action on your website. Copy and paste this code into your page: 
    • <iframe src='http://embed.scribblelive.com/Embed/v5.aspx?Id=24167&ThemeId=1899' width='600' height='800' frameborder='0' style='border: 1px solid #000'></iframe>
  • Post the action pictures
  • Post our Arctic pictures
  • Write about what's going on, make sure your readers know how you feel
  • Ask us questions. you can always drop us a tweet with any questions on @greenpeaceuk and we'll get back to you as soon as we can
  • If you don't blog, why not set one up? Wordpress, Blogger and Tumblr are easy options.
  • Let us know what you're up to. if you do write/post anything tweet us and we'll point other people to your site

And finally, If you're on holiday:

Talk about it. Tell the person sitting next to you on the train. Or the person selling you ice-cream. Or the barman pulling you a pint.

Whoever it is, let them know how you feel - Arctic drilling is an outrage, and it has to stop. 

More information on Cairn and Arctic drilling:

Article tagged as: arctic, cairn, cairn energy, climage change, climate, go beyond oil, oil, oil spill
Comments Commenting is now closed

Excellent news! Always good to see the oil industry stopped in its tracks by brave climbers. Good luck and keep up the brilliant work!

By Jakehillwalker - 22 April 2011 at 9:00am
  • 2 people agree

Thanks for the comments - Arctic drilling is an outrage.

Here are some pictures if you want to be reminded of what's at stake:

http://www.greenpeace.org.uk/blog/climate/arctic-whats-stake-20110422

By jamess - 22 April 2011 at 9:46am

anne482 to answer your moronic question Greenpeace's fleet of ships have newly fitted, more efficient, diesel electric propulsion; on board recycling of waste water, leaving only clean water pumped overboard; a waste based heating system; bilge water purifiers,15 times more effective than current legislation demands; TBT-free hull paint; ammonia based refrigeration and air-conditioning rather than climate changing and ozone depleting Freon gas - the first Dutch registered vessel to be so fitted; and an environmentally and economically efficient propulsion system to reduce CO2 emissions.

And when the weather is right they use sails and wind power.

If you wasn't such a hater you could have found this out for yourself. 

You can put your head back in the sand now.

Keep up the great works folks many people want to carry on burning fossil fuels regardless of the consequences because it suits there lifestyle, thankfully there are people like us who say enough is enough.

By David Hardy - 22 April 2011 at 11:31am

Thanks for all the comments - I've updated this page with a bunch of things you can do to help spread the word. Get involved!

By jamess - 22 April 2011 at 11:49am

Always refreshes my optimism to see Greenpeace in action.

Let's end oil before oil ends.

By Jeff Rice - 22 April 2011 at 12:15pm
  • 1 person agrees

Keep up the good work, and also help get Cairn Energy off Aegon (Scottish Equitable) Ethical Pension.

By petematth - 22 April 2011 at 1:14pm

Well done, keep up the good work.  A few of us can make a massive difference against the oil industry & get the mesage to the public.

By Rod - 22 April 2011 at 8:22pm

I'd agree. Screw the skeptics, the paid for spammers, and the misguided (but perhaps honest) oil workers.

This is what I pay my direct debit for, and hopefully the taste of more to come. The time has past to be polite to these Fuc****s who are screwing up the future for all of us. Direct Action now!

By emptyhand - 25 April 2011 at 12:38am

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