Greenpeace Disrupts Business As Usual for Gazprom

By Briana Madden, Reader Supported News

01 September 12

ver the last week or so, the media seem to have removed a few layers of denial, allowing them to see at least one aspect of the stark reality that is global climate change. More specifically, attention has been drawn to the warming of the Arctic and to the record melting of the ice in that region. This is due, in part, to the battle lines drawn by Greenpeace activists like Basil Tsimoyianis.

Greenpeace climber Basil Tsimoyianis, 25, from Los Angeles, California. (photo: Denis Sinyakov/Greenpeace)

Five days ago, activists from Greenpeace International began an action against Gazprom, an energy company that holds the world's largest gas reserves and owns the world's largest gas transmission network, according to the company's web site. Gazprom's Prirazlomnaya oil rig was targeted by Greenpeace because of the company's intent to drill for oil in the Arctic, becoming the first to do so.

Greenpeace has risen as a defender of the Arctic, trying to prevent it from becoming the new frontier for oil drilling and subsequent contamination. As many as 14 activists from countries around the world have come together to disrupt business as usual for Gazprom.

A team of Greenpeace activists attach themselves to the anchor chain of the Anna Akhmatova, a Gazprom passenger vessel, with a banner that reads "Minimum Ice, Maximum Risk." (photo: Denis Sinyakov/Greenpeace)

I spoke with activist Basil Tsimoyianis, who was aboard the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. Tsimoyianis lives in San Francisco, California, and has been an industrial climber for nine years. When asked what kind of planning went into this action, he said, "I've been preparing my entire life for this type of work."

Tsimoyianis, along with five other protesters, staged an occupation of the oil rig beginning on Friday, scaling it via mooring lines from inflatable speedboats. They remained aboard the Prirazlomnaya for fifteen hours.

Kumi Naidoo (right), Executive Director of Greenpeace International, climbs the Prirazlomnaya oil platform as part of a team of six activists. (photo: Denis Sinyakov/Greenpeace)

Early Monday morning, activists attached themselves to the anchor of the Anna Akhmatova, in an attempt to prevent the ship from transporting workers to their construction jobs on the Prirazlomnaya rig. Greenpeace said the Anna Akhmatova continued to move the workers anyway and the Greenpeace boat was lifted into the air by the mooring line, dropping the activists into the water.

A team of Greenpeace activists, including the Executive Director of Greenpeace International, Kumi Naidoo (center), attach themselves to the anchor chain of the Anna Akhmatova to prevent it from transporting workers to the Prirazlomnaya oil rig. (photo: Denis Sinyakov/Greenpeace)

Two activists attached to mooring lines linking the Anna Akhmatova and the Prirazlomnaya oil platform are lifted into the air as the Anna Akhmatova proceeds with boarding. (photo: Denis Sinyakov/Greenpeace)

The project was delayed several years and Gazprom predicts the Prirazlomnoye oil field, located in the Barents Sea, will yield 6.6 million tons annually. Construction on the Prirazlomnaya is close to completion, marking the looming start of Gazprom's pioneer voyage into the destruction of one of the most delicate regions on the planet and one of the last left untarnished by industrial greed.

The possible disasters that can result from this drilling are extensive. Greenpeace says Gazprom's plans for dealing with a potential oil spill are "substandard," putting the Arctic and its fragile ecosystem at risk.

Gazprom claims it invited Greenpeace to take part in "constructive dialogue," but Greenpeace says it has not received any communication from the company since the action began on Friday. In fact, the captain of the Arctic Sunrise was denied his request to board the rig and explain the group's mission and Greenpeace International Executive Director Kumi Naidoo's radio requests to address workers remain unanswered.

Greenpeace ended its protest as the announcement was made by the US National Snow and Ice Data Centre that arctic sea ice has broken the record low, set in 2007. The melt season will last a few more weeks, allowing for even more loss of sea ice.

Tsimoyianis said he felt the protesters had accomplished what they needed. The activists got their message out to the world, loud and clear, and disrupted Gazprom's plans.

Gazprom has not officially responded to Greenpeace's interruption of its construction, but its workers have shown a wide range of sentiment toward the activists. According to Tsimoyianis, when they first arrived many workers questioned their presence and made it clear they were not welcome. On the second day, the workers were generally more sympathetic. They realized that the protesters' actions were not directed at the people working but rather at the rig and at the company itself, he said.

Greenpeace activists in inflatables are sprayed with hoses by Gazprom workers. (photo: Denis Sinyakov/Greenpeace)

Once they got over their differences, there was more communication from the workers through email or by radio, and some workers even began to offer their help to the activists. "It's unfortunate when people try to pit us against each other," said Tsimoyianis.

Greenpeace said workers told them over the radio that the activists made it impossible to do their jobs. According to Tsimoyianis, the desired outcome of the protest was just that.

By taking part in the action against Gazprom, his goal was to raise awareness of the problems that will be caused if the Prirazlomnaya rig is finished and put to use. He said he hopes the public will bring their concerns to their politicians and join the fight.

A small victory for the Arctic was announced Wednesday in the form of the cancellation of a different Gazprom energy project in the Barents Sea. The company intended to develop the Shtokman oil field but pulled the plug on the project, saying that financing is too high right now to continue.

It is unlikely Gazprom will keep its drills out of this area for long. Vsevolod Cherepanov, a top Gazprom official, made it clear the project is only paused for now. The company will continue to negotiate.

In the meantime, Greenpeace has shaken Gazprom's routine and placed the dangers of drilling in the public eye.

"Our campaign against Gazprom, Shell, and all other oil companies planning to go there, will continue, confronting reckless Arctic oil drilling and inspiring more people to join the nearly two million who have already added their voices to the call for a global sanctuary in the Arctic," said Naidoo.

Briana is a senior journalism major at Illinois State University and Associate Editor for Reader Supported News.

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