Greenpeace’s ship, the Arctic
Sunrise was also seized by the Russian authorities. 28 Greenpeace activists, a
photojournalist and a videographer have been charged with piracy and
hooliganism. They can face a jail term
of up to seven years. They are currently in the prison at Murmansk ,
Russia
The members also highlighted the
key role that India
could play in securing the protection of the wider Arctic
for the pursuit of scientific research and international peaceful
collaboration. ‘The crew of the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise took part in a
peaceful protest expose the threat of oil drilling and climate change in the Arctic .
Due to the retreating ice, new areas are being made accessible for industrial
exploitation which will further endanger the already threatened environment of
the Arctic . The melting of the ice in the Arctic
will be catastrophic for all of us.
The world leaders must take the
magnitude of the situation into account and work together to save the Arctic
rather than destroy it’, said Biswajit Mohanty, Conservationist, activist.
A number of legal experts from
around the world have commented on the seizure of the ship, Arctic Sunrise as
well as on the piracy and Hooliganism charges on the Arctic 30. Also, the government of the Netherlands
has filed a request for Provisional Measures with the International Tribunal
for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), requesting it to order the release of the
Arctic Sunrise vessel and all on board.
Discussing India’s role in the
Arctic, Pari Trivedi, Media Officer, Greenpeace India elaborated that, ‘India’s
capacity as an observer on the Arctic Council and our deep interest in the
issue of climate change gives us an opportunity to show global leadership, in
calling for the Arctic region to be made a natural reserve, shared by all
nations and devoted to peace and science. The Indian leaders can join the world
in creating a positive message to safeguard the fragile environment of the Arctic .’
Renowned Sand Artist, Sudarshan
Patnaik also shared the podium to speak for the Arctic 30 and said that, ‘The
Arctic 30 have protested peacefully on behalf of all the countries and their
people. I am deeply moved by their action to save the planet from environmental
destruction and wanted to show solidarity for their release. Hence I am going
to create a massive sand art in Puritomorrow to highlight the cause. The future
of the Arctic is the future of our mother Earth and what
better way to demonstrate this than the art that is a part of me.’
Greenpeace India
urges the Indian leaders to protect the Arctic and
extend solidarity to free the Arctic 30. Greenpeace has practiced non-violent
activism from its initiation and will continue peaceful protests to release the
Arctic 30 who are prisoners of conscience who took such action on behalf of all
humanity.
No comments:
Post a Comment