[Editor's note: An earlier version of this article said 13 activists were detained, but in total, 14 activists were detained before being released.]
The battle continues to try to block Shell Oil from using Seattle as a staging area for its Arctic drilling operation.
14 Greenpeace activists in kayaks were taken into custody by the U.S. Coast Guard as they blockaded Shell's Polar Pioneer drilling rig from leaving Elliott Bay in Seattle's Puget Sound; the Coast Guard said they violated a rule requiring protesters stay 500 yards from the rig. The activists, who included Seattle City Council member Mike O'Brien, had secured themselves with enough supplies to last for hours while additional protests were taking place on shore. About fifty other activists on the water were not stopped as the Polar Pioneer left the bay and those detained were released by mid-morning.
@CMMikeOBrien joins the flotilla to "save the Arctic" and stop Shell. @elijsanders pic.twitter.com/IP3xjSeXFs
— Alex Garland (@AGarlandPhoto) June 15, 2015
“Shell was trying to get the Polar Pioneer out of Seattle under cover of darkness, but the kayaktivists prevented them from leaving for several hours and exposed what they were doing to the world,” said Greenpeace Arctic communications manager Travis Nichols. The "kayaktivists" were on the water at 4 a.m. when they got word that the Polar Pioneer was on the move.
Greenpeace's activism against Shell's drilling plans has been ongoing. In April, six protesters intercepted the same oil rig, the Polar Pioneer, in the middle of the Pacific Ocean 750 miles northwest of Hawaii. They climbed onto the rig and occupied it for almost a week. Meanwhile, in Seattle, opposition to Shell's drilling plans has been growing as people have tried to stop its rigs from departing the city for the Arctic. One protest involved thousands of people, including 500 in kayaks.
Paloma Henriques, one of the "kayaktivists" who was taken into custody, said: “I’m just one voice out here, but I know I’m not alone. I believe that confronting Shell will encourage more people to take a strong stand against them and other companies who are seeking to destroy this planet for profit. We are here to send a message to President Obama that it’s not too late to stop Shell from destroying the Arctic.”
“Shell wants to haul its 40,000 ton Arctic destroyer to Alaska as soon as possible, but these courageous individuals are saying, ‘Shell No,'" said Greenpeace Executive Director Annie Leonard. "Every minute that brave protesters can delay Shell’s Arctic drilling plans is another chance for President Obama to reconsider his disastrous approval of oil drilling in Alaska. The President’s decision on Arctic drilling will be a deal-breaker for his climate legacy, but it’s not too late for him to stop this catastrophe before it starts.” Read Page 1
In May, Obama gave the go-ahead for Shell to make another attempt to drill for oil in the Chukchi Sea off the Alaska coast after equipment failures derailed its plans to drill in 2012-2014. According to Greenpeace, both of Shell's rigs, the Polar Pioneer and the Noble Discoverer, have failed routine inspections.
Faith Gemmill, executive director of Resisting Environmental Destruction on Indigenous Lands, emphasized what could happen when the rigs arrived at their destination to highlight the importance of the activists' protests.
"We are grateful and stand with the protesters in Seattle who are determined to stop Arctic Drilling before it starts," says Gemmill. "Shell’s Arctic venture is seriously reckless. This company has no capability to address an oil spill in unpredictable ice conditions and has proven in previous attempts that they are not equipped for the harsh and volatile conditions of the Chukchi Sea. The future of the Inupiat way of life is on the table, how can this company be so callous with their decisions? Not only is Shell’s plans risky, but also detrimental to all Alaska Natives that share the burden of current climate chaos. We will continue to support them facing down this giant. We call on all those of conscience to raise their voice in opposition to this insane venture now."
Seattle became a battleground when its Port Commission approved a lease with Shell to use its facilities which those opposed said was done without adequate environmental review or public notice and did not comply with the port's intended use. Seattle Mayor Ed Murray said that the Port of Seattle must apply for a new permit.
In a sane world USCG and SPD would be corralling Shell's arctic drilling rig, not clearing its path. #ShellNo pic.twitter.com/XMwhg8sV4P — Mike McGinn (@mayormcginn) June 15, 2015
"While requiring a permit may not stop the Port’s plans, it does give the Port an opportunity to pause, an opportunity to rethink the issue,” Murray said. “This is an opportunity, I believe, for the Port and all of us to make a bold statement about how oil companies contribute to climate change, oil spills and other environmental disasters and reject this short-term lease. To prevent the full force of climate change, we need not continue with the past. It’s time to turn the page. Things like oil trains and coal trains and oil-drilling rigs are the past. It’s time to focus on the economy of the future—clean energy, electric cars and transit, green homes and an environmentally progressive business community.”
Watch this video to see the "kayakativists" blockade Shell's Arctic-bound oil rig:
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Here are three new films to watch this Earth Week that will transport you from pole to pole and introduce you to the scientists and activists working to save our shared home.
1. The Year Earth Changed
Where to Watch: Apple TV+
When to Watch: From April 16
The coronavirus pandemic has brought home the stakes of humanity's impact on the environment. But the lockdowns also proved how quickly nature can recover when humans give it the space. Birds sang in empty cities, whales surfaced in Glacier Bay and capybara roamed the South American suburbs.
The Year Earth Changed captures this unique year with footage from more than 30 lockdowned cities between May 2020 to January 2021. Narrated by renowned wildlife broadcaster David Attenborough, the film explores what positive lessons we can take from the experience of a quieter, less trafficked world.
"What the film shows is that the natural world can bounce back remarkably quickly when we take a step back and reduce our impact as we did during lockdown," executive producer Alice Keens-Soper of BBC Studios Natural History Unit told EcoWatch. "If we are willing to make even small changes to our habits, the natural world can flourish. We need to learn how to co-exist with nature and understand that we are not separate from it- for example if we closed some of our beaches at for a few weeks during the turtle breeding we see that it can make a huge difference to their success. There are many ways that we can adapt our behavior to allow the natural world to thrive as it did in lockdown."
2. After Antarctica
Where to Watch: San Francisco International Film Festival
When to Watch: 12 a.m. PST April 9 to 11:59 p.m. April 18
In 1989, Will Steger led an international team of six scientists and explorers to be the first humans to cross Antarctica by dogsled. Steger and his team weren't just in it for the adventure. They also wanted to draw attention to the ways in which the climate crisis was already transforming the icy continent and to rally support for the renewal of the Antarctic Treaty, which would keep the continent safe from extractive industries.
In After Antarctica, award-winning filmmaker Tasha Van Zandt follows Steger 30 years later as he travels the Arctic this time, reflecting on his original journey and once again bringing awareness to changes in a polar landscape. The film intersperses this contemporary journey with footage from the original expedition, some of which has never been seen before.
"Will's life journey as an explorer and climate activist has led him not only to see more of the polar world than anyone else alive today, but to being an eyewitness to the changes occurring across both poles," Van Zandt told EcoWatch. "But now, these changes are happening in all of our own backyards and we have all become eyewitnesses. Through my journey with Will, I have learned that although we cannot always control change, we can change our response. I feel strongly that this is a message that resonates when we look at the current state of the world, as we each have power and control over how we choose to respond to hardships, and we all have the power to unite with others through collective action around a common goal."
After Antarctica is available to stream once you purchase a ticket to the San Francisco International Film Festival. If you miss it this weekend, it will screen again at the Minneapolis St. Paul International Film Festival from May 13 to May 23.
Tasha Van Zandt
3. The Race to Save the World
Where to Watch: Virtual Cinema
When to Watch: From Earth Day, April 22
While many films about the climate crisis seek to raise awareness about the extent of the problem, The Race to Save the World focuses on the people who are trying to stop it. The film tells the story of climate activists ranging from 15-year-old Aji to 72-year-old Miriam who are working to create a sustainable future. It follows them from the streets to the courtroom to their homes, and explores the impact of their advocacy on their personal lives and relationships.
Emmy award-winning documentary filmmaker Joe Gantz told EcoWatch that he wanted to make a film about climate change, but did not want to depress viewers with overwhelming statistics. Instead, he chose to inspire them by sharing the stories of people trying to make a difference.
"Unless millions of people take to the streets and make their voices heard for a livable future, the politicians are not going to get on board to help make the changes needed for a sustainable future," Gantz told Ecowatch. "I think that The Race To Save The World will energize and inspire people to take action so that future generations, as well as the plants, animals and ecosystems, can survive and thrive on this planet."
Check back with EcoWatch on the morning of Earth Day for a special preview of this inspiring film!