Chandrapur: Environmental activists here staged a peaceful protest at the historic and cultural monuments in the city to stand in solidarity with the 30 people, who were arrested in Russia for peacefully protesting against oil drilling in the Arctic region.
Incidentally, Chandrapur was only city in Vidarbha that was the part of nationwide protest staged in 30 cities across the country on Saturday.
Activists of NGO Green Planet Society, led by Suresh Chopne, Sachin Wazalwar and Yogeshwar Dudhpachre came together to create the message - Free The Arctic 30- in front of the famous historical and cultural monuments including Pathanpura gate, tomb of Gond King Veersha, Jatpura gate and near Chandrapur Super Thermal Power plant in the city.
Wazalwar claimed that the oil drilling in the Arctic by companies like Gazprom is destroying the already fragile environment there. Climate change will impact all of us and no country is immune to it. On September 18, this year, 28 activists from Greenpeace, a videographer and a photographer were arrested by the Russian authorities when they tried to peacefully climb the oil rig owned by Gazprom in the Arctic to protest the drilling. They have been charged disproportionately with piracy and hooliganism and may face a jail term of maximum seven years, he added.
Wazalwar said that Bollywood celebrities like John Abraham, Sonam Kapoor, Anurag Kashyap, Dia Mirza and Nandita Das have come forward to spread awareness about the Arctic-30 and endorse their cause. Around 100 civil society members and 30 prominent scientists from India also appealed to the Russian ambassador to free the Arctic-30.
"Our protest was a humble effort to express solidarity with the 30 persons. We demand immediate release of all the arrested and an end to offshore oil drilling in the Arctic," Wazalwar said. Dinesh Khate, Tushar Lengure, Jubair Sheikh, Satish Tayde, Jitendra Nomulwar, Jitendra Padgelwar and others took part in the protest.
