
Last week, the news that the ferry service would have to offer a hybrid schedule for its Islesboro runs on Tuesday and Wednesday of this week came as an unwelcome surprise for most islanders. High profile supporters included Sir Paul McCartney, Madonna, Jude Law, Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, Angela Merkel, David Cameron, François Hollande, Ban Ki-moon and Hillary Clinton.Peter Willcox of Islesboro worked for 38 years as captain for Greenpeace vessels. If they accept this amnesty they will have criminal records in the country where they live, and all for something they didn’t do,” said Ana Paula Maciel, a Brazilian who was also on the ship when it was taken over.Īccording to Greenpeace the campaign to free the Arctic 30 has seen 860 protests in 46 countries and in more than 150 cities worldwide. “Right now my thoughts are with our Russian colleagues. It’s unclear what the fate of the four Russian nationals in the Greenpeace party will be. “We went there to protest against this madness. We may soon be home, but the Arctic remains a fragile global treasure under assault by oil companies and the rising temperatures they’re driving. “Now it’s nearly over and we may soon be truly free, but there’s no amnesty for the Arctic. “We sailed north to bear witness to a profound environmental threat but our ship was stormed by masked men wielding knives and guns,” he said. They were arrested on September 18 following protests at an Arctic offshore oil rig.Ĭaptain of the Arctic Sunrise Peter Wilcox says he is relieved that his ordeal looks set to end, but angry that the crew were detained for so long. Legal proceedings against the campaigners, who were recently released on bail, are also set to come to an end.


The Russian Parliament today voted for an amendment granting amnesty to defendants charged with hooliganism, which covers the 30 strong crew of the Arctic Sunrise ship.Īccording to a statement released by Greenpeace the a final vote at 4pm Moscow time (12 GMT) confirmed the 26 foreign nationals in the crew are free to leave Russia. Greenpeace activists who spent two months in Russian prisons for protesting against Arctic drilling for oil and gas have been granted an amnesty by the Duma. C ampaigners set to return home to families for Christmas, although fate of four Russian colleagues still unclear
