{"id":696,"date":"2013-02-07T19:28:00","date_gmt":"2013-02-07T07:28:00","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/new-zealand\/press-release\/we-did-it-for-the-future\/"},"modified":"2025-06-25T01:47:01","modified_gmt":"2025-06-24T13:47:01","slug":"we-did-it-for-the-future","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.greenpeace.org\/aotearoa\/story\/we-did-it-for-the-future\/","title":{"rendered":"We did it for the future"},"content":{"rendered":"
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It’s almost a year since we climbed the Shell-contracted drilling rig, Noble\u00a0Discoverer.\u00a0 Landing on the pier that day we felt dwarfed by the vast 53 meter drill tower that sat atop this rusting hulk which Shell was to use to pioneer their drilling programme in the Arctic.<\/p>\n

Insignificant as we were we felt something had to be done \u2013 a light had to be shone on Shell\u2019s insane plans to drill for oil in the icy Arctic wilderness.<\/p>\n

Not in my wildest dreams did I think we would s\ucceed as we did remaining atop the drill tower for over 77 hours.<\/p>\n

During daylight hours I explained dozens of times to outlets from CNN to the Taranaki Daily news why we were taking such a dramatic stand.<\/p>\n

For my part I feel I owe it to my children to be counted among those demanding immediate action on climate change.\u00a0 If we don\u2019t stand up to companies like Shell and call them to account for their reckless pursuit of oil into the farthest unspoiled reaches of the world, who will?<\/p>\n

The arctic is like a vital organ of the earth \u2013 a regulator of the world\u2019s temperature.\u00a0 As it melts we see ever more erratic weather \u2013 the marker of intensifying climate change.<\/p>\n

By the fourth day when the police finally ascended the tower to arrest us, 130,000 added their voices to our call that Shell quit the arctic<\/p>\n

It\u2019s the thing I\u2019m proudest of, that we spearheaded what would become an international call of over 2 million people who have joined the campaign to save the Arctic.<\/p>\n

Following our action the world has watched an unfolding list of mishaps and failures in Shell\u2019s Arctic programme (1).\u00a0 It has become an issue that can\u2019t be ignored and the US government is now reviewing Shell\u2019s plans for 2013.<\/a><\/p>\n

To me, that terrible old tank \u2013 the 45 year old Nobel Discover \u2013 is a perfect example of Shell\u2019s craven disregard for the Arctic.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ll say this for them, Shell\u2019s certainly not risk averse \u2013environmental or financially.\u00a0 Shell\u2019s Arctic foray has cost them and their investors billions and was for the most part a failure.<\/p>\n

The last thing they wanted was the spotlight we shone on them from that port town in New Zealand.<\/p>\n

But you and your grandchildren don\u2019t have to join me up a drill rig to have your say in turning the high Arctic into a sanctuary just click here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

(1)\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Shell drill program \u2013 the mishaps:<\/p>\n