BODY MECHANICS

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Dear Carole, This is the best Christmas present we could have wished for. The 28 peaceful activists and two journalists seized by Russian authorities in October after protesting Arctic oil drilling have been granted amnesty! On Thursday night, the Russian Government agreed to amend an amnesty bill to include the Arctic 30. Now the bill has been officially adopted by their parliament, which means legal proceedings against them will be halted. They could even be home very soon. It’s been fantastic watching the huge swell of support for the Arctic 30 over the last three months. Together the Greenpeace movement has held 860 protests in 46 countries, and more than 2.6 million people have emailed governments and Russian embassies around the world. This stand of global solidarity has been incredibly inspiring. While the amnesty is a relief for the Greenpeace activists who spent two months in jail after a peaceful protest, this is not the end of their struggle. As Arctic Sunrise Captain Pete Willcox said:  “We may soon be truly free, but there’s no amnesty for the Arctic. We may soon be home, but the Arctic remains a fragile global treasure under assault by oil companies and the rising temperatures they’re driving.” These people should never have been imprisoned in the first place. As Colin Russell from Tasmania, the last of the 30 to receive bail, said:  "I'm really relieved now. There's been no light at the end of the tunnel. I still feel as though I haven't done anything wrong and we were illegally taken in the high seas, international waters. So all that still stands as far as I'm concerned." The Arctic 30 are determined to finish what they started: to end dangerous Arctic oil drilling. Sydney resident Alexandra Harris, who is part of our team in the Greenpeace Sydney office, said:  "It’s strange that we are being forgiven for a crime we didn't commit. But I am relieved and looking forward to moving on with my life. I will continue the battle to save the Arctic, I feel more committed than ever. This is not over yet, it’s only the beginning.” Thanks again, and we wish you a relaxing break over Christmas and New Year. From everyone at Greenpeace Australia Pacific. PS. We cannot stop until dangerous Arctic oil drilling ends. If you haven’t yet signed on to our Save The Arctic petition, help honour the bravery of the Arctic 30 heroes by signing up today.