Also by tracy

The standoff with the Danish navy continues in the Arctic today. They're guarding Cairn Energy's oil drilling operations in the Davis Straits which the company revealed today has found gas.

The day has also revealed what a hazardous area this is for drilling and the crew of the Esperanza got to see why locals call the area iceberg alley.

The oil drilling rigs are accompanied by a number of tug boats that must rope and tug icebergs away from the rigs if they get too close. The fire ships were also using hoses against smaller icebergs today and limit the number of icebergs near the drilling sites.

This morning we've heard from Ben on board our ship Esperanza that they are currently anchored about 2km from the deepwater drilling rig Stena Don in the Davis Straits between Canada and Greenland. The crew left London 12 days ago to confront dangerous deepwater drilling in the Arctic and today they've been met by a Danish warship and warned that the ship will be raided and the captain arrested if the ship breaches the 500m security zone surrounding each of the rigs.

But it's a UK company that has come to one of the most remote and harsh environments on the planet in pursuit of the last drops of oil. Cairn Energy is currently drilling two wells off the west coast of Greenland and has plans for two more wells in the area before the end of the summer. And now they are being protected by the Danish equivalent of the navy Seals. The crew on the ship have told us they've seen three navy inflatable boats in the waters around the rig.

It was a very early start this morning. I'm not much of a morning person and the adrenaline was pumping, so I was a bit worried about driving through central London my nerves feeling fuzzy and frazzled. But as I motored through the quiet streets of London at 5am in silence behind the wheel of a Toyota Prius I started to feel better. Because I have to admit, I really like driving.

I grew up in North America and it wasn't summer without a good road trip. I have eco-guilt about it, but I love the freedom, covering huge distances, being able to stop anytime and anywhere and enjoy the view or a bit of local culture. But I don't own a car - I don't need one in the city, and I don't want one because of the resources they eat up and the climate impacts. Well, until now.

Update 6 Jan 10: They've been released! Our four activists endured 20 days in a Copenhagen jail following a peaceful protest at the State Banquet for world leaders attending the UN climate summit. The four activists still face trial in the Danish courts, and possible prison sentences. You sent over 12,000 letters to the Danish Embassy in London during their detention - thank you so much for your support ensuring their release.

Four of our activists face the prospect of Christmas in jail this year over charges relating to a protest at the Heads of State dinner at the Copenhagen climate summit. But the leaders who did practically nothing about the greatest threat to our planet got away.