Shell stations picketed in Greenpeace protests

Several Shell petrol stations in South London were among 70 fuelling stations in the UK picketed yesterday as part of an international day of solidarity with 'the 30 people who were detained on a Greenpeace International ship by armed Russian security forces and imprisoned. Next week will mark two months since the 30 were detained following a peaceful protest against Arctic drilling at a Gazprom oil platform in the Pechora Sea on September 18. On Friday, Russia’s Investigative Committee announced that it will apply for a three-month extension to the detention of the Arctic 30. They will make the applications in front of a judge at hearings next week' (Greenpeace International)

Battersea protest - photo from @mortimerabi

Shell has been targeted as the Arctic oil business partner of Russian energy giant  Gazprom who Greenpeace say have played a significant role in this situation: "The Arctic 30 were arrested and imprisoned after Gazprom asked the authorities to intervene during our peaceful protest. Now the 30 remain behind bars and Gazprom could play a key role in securing their release so they can go home to their families. If Gazprom wanted the Arctic 30 to be free, it could wield significant influence by calling for their release.”

South London protests were held at Forest Hill (Stanstead Road), Bromley Hill (pictured below), Croydon (Whitehorse Road) and Battersea.

Bromley protest - photo from @ladyroisin at twitter