Echoing voices around the outside of Manchester's M E N arena venue was just the lull before the frenzy.Way before the official doors opening, we had been briefed, kitted out in special oil black Save The Arctic tabards and instructed in how to use the ipads.
After the group photoshoot, we were ready to take another step, collectively, to ask the fans of Radiohead to help us to Save The Arctic.Once the mad rush to get to the front and in the shadow of the stage was over, people settled and relaxed to soak up the atmosphere that only a Radiohead gig can create.
Unlike a few of my fellow Greenpeace activists i was treated well by the Radiohead fans. Many people i asked to help us Save The Arctic were very pleased to do so, especially using the ipads to fill in their own details. Surprisingly to me, the majority of people found it easy to use the ipad once i pointed out to them it was just like a computer or large cell phone and they merrilly tapped their details into it.
Radiohead are trully a global band, this was made clearly evident to me by some of the countries the fans came from who signed up to my ipad. In no particular order i signed up fans from Australia, New Zealand,Norway,Finland,Spain, France, Denmark and the Czech Republic as well as many more fans from the UK. At times the fans massed and stood in front of bars and food areas and of course in front of merchandise stalls too, but many more stopped to see, photo and admire Paula the Polar Bear, a life size replica of the real thing. Fans seemed more willing to sign up to the Save The Arctic and have their names placed on the Arctic Scroll once they had seen just what a massive and beautiful animal may be lost forever if we do not save the Polar Bear's habitat in the arctic.My fellow activists brought the bear to life by being inside and animating Paula, a sureal sight among so many smaller humans inside a large concert venue.
Eventually the band were ready to hit the stage and it was time for us to pack things up and take our seats to watch one of the best live bands currently on the planet. They did not disappoint their thousands of fans either, the music was fantastic and the light show mesmeric.
Looking back now, with a little more time on my hands due to campaining to Save The Arctic in Sheffield and York on many weekends, i will if i may, take this opportunity to thank all of my fellow activists who have given their time,energy and passion to this very important campaign. Also i would like to thank my fellow activists for their friendship, patience and tollerance in the face of what can sometimes be frightening, scary and insulting.My special thanks go to all of the compassionate people who i have signed up to the Save The Arctic scroll and to everybody who has signed up to the campaign,together we can stand up and tell Shell and other oil firms with their eyes on the pristeen arctic waters and land to STAY OUT OF THE ARCTIC.
Text to sign up to the Arctic Scroll free text number 60002
or go online
Let us create a global sanctuary in the arctic and STOP SHELL from drilling in its waters.
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