On a chilly autumn day in 2013, a group of brave activists stood on the deck of our ship the Arctic Sunrise looking up at an unbelievable sight - Putin’s commandos clad in balaclavas and automatic rifles abseiling from a huge helicopter to seize our ship. 

They were part of a Greenpeace crew that embarked on a daring mission to draw global attention to the dangers of Arctic oil drilling. This mission would become a defining moment for the environmental movement – but not in the way we'd planned.

Go behind the scenes of one of Greenpeace’s boldest missions in the new BBC2 series On Thin Ice: Putin v Greenpeace, airing at 9pm tonight.

This group of Greenpeace activists and journalists came to be known as the Arctic 30. You may remember the events that unfolded back then, how they found themselves locked up in a Russian prison, staring down the barrel of a 15-year jail sentence - for a peaceful protest. Their story sparked a global outcry and hundreds of thousands of supporters took to the streets and campaigned online on their behalf. 

So many of you were involved in helping to bring them home and returning our ship, the Arctic Sunrise, to the seas. Watch the series on BBC2 tonight - because this is also your story. 

The events featured in the documentary took place 11 years ago - but they are still deeply relevant today. They reveal the unjust and disproportionate lengths that giant oil companies and their allies in government will go to protect their obscene profits. As the climate crisis accelerates, they are fighting harder than ever to keep us hooked on fossil fuels. Through lawsuits and other intimidation tactics, oil giants like Shell are trying to silence any opposition - so they can continue with, and even expand, business as usual. They tried to silence us then. They failed. They will not silence us now. 

This BBC2 series features previously unseen footage as well as testimonials from the crew, activists and politicians from both sides. It shows the vital role that peaceful protest has to play in the fight against climate breakdown.

In tonight’s episodes, you will witness the courage, skill and commitment of the activists involved. You will also see that we take risks and we make mistakes. Despite everything that happened, and maybe because of it, we are more determined today than ever to stand up for the millions of people whose lives are devastated by climate change, to fight for a liveable planet for our children and future generations and to protect all of nature with whom we share this beautiful world.

With gratitude and my best wishes,

Amy Cameron

Programme Director 

Greenpeace UK

P.S. You don’t have to climb an oil rig to join the fight. Be part of a growing resistance against giant oil companies by donating to our Stop Shell Appeal - and power Greenpeace’s vital work.

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