While several of our international Greenpeace colleagues gear up for an epic journey to the North Pole next month, volunteers and activists around the world are preparing to take the Arctic to their communities and politicians.
As part of his new role as Secretary of State, Senator John Kerry will be a U.S. delegate on the Arctic Council. A champion for global warming legislation in the Senate, Secretary Kerry now has the power to advocate for Arctic protection through the Arctic Council. The quote below from the Secretary himself gives us reason to believe that he’ll do the right thing when it comes to Arctic drilling.
“This fight against drilling in the Arctic Refuge is a fight about our principles. Its about standing up for our environment, our families and our future, and I wont give up this fight.”
What better way to remind him what’s at stake than a global day of action about our love for the Arctic.
The Arctic Council is meeting in Sweden in May. Now’s your chance to send a message to Secretary Kerry.
Thousands of people are expected to come together on April 20 to form human banners spelling out I Arctic. Volunteers in hundreds of cities in more than 30 countries are signed up and spreading the word, from Buenos Aires to New York and from Oslo to your town. Join the fun here!Tweet #ILoveArctic at @JohnKerry to send your message.
Together we will call on political leaders to protect the Arctic from activities that put this fragile environment at risk, such as oil drilling and industrial fishing. Join in the global day of action now!
No Arctic oil drilling
US President Obamas government review this month found that Shell, a massive company with profits in excess of $26 billion last year, was not prepared for the extreme conditions in the Arctic. Shell’s ill-preparedness resulted in a series of accidents and the New Year’s Eve grounding of its drill rig the Kulluk.
Shell was forced to press “Pause” on Arctic drilling for 2013. Now we need to call on governments to press “Stop.”
