6 women climbing tallest building in Europe right now to stop Arctic Drilling / #Iceclimb

[Catherina]

Greenpeace UK ‏@GreenpeaceUK 36m

BREAKING: Look up London. We’re attempting to scale the Shard, Europe's tallest skyscraper. More soon on #iceclimb

Livestream here: http://iceclimb.savethearctic.org/ Please sign while you're at it.

This building - modelled on a shard of ice - sits slap bang in the middle of Shell's three London headquarters. They don't want us talking about their plan to drill in the Arctic. We're here to shout about it from the rooftops. Join in by sharing this far and wide.

Victo, Ali, Sabine, Sandra, Liesbeth & Wiola

Why are we doing this?

We're attempting to scale the Shard to send a message to the headquarters of oil giant Shell.

In the last 30 years we've lost 80% of the Arctic sea ice.

The white ice cap at the top of the world has shrunk so much that scientists say the North Pole could be ice free any time in the next few decades. The last time there was no Arctic sea ice was 800,000 years ago.

The survival of polar bears and other iconic species is threatened by that melt. But the Arctic is more than just a home for polar bears. The vast white ice sheets reflects the sun’s rays back into space, cooling the entire Earth.

As the ice disappears our global weather becomes more unpredictable. Farming gets harder. Hunger gets worse.

The Arctic is a vital part of our home and that's why it matters to everyone on our shared planet to protect it.

Shell and other oil companies want to use the melting Arctic to drill for oil. They want to drill in the places they can only now reach because the ice is melting. And burning that oil only accelerates the melt.

It's a vicious circle that only makes sense if you're an oil executive thinking about your company's short-term profits. Or you're a politician hoping some quick money will help you win the next election.

But we are not those people. We have a responsibility to think bigger than that.

What we decide today about the Arctic and climate change will affect humanity long after these oil company logos and opportunistic politicians are forgotten.

That's why we're up here, scaling this skyscraper modelled on a shard of ice. As we look down, we're in the midpoint of Shell's three London offices. From here we want to send them a message they won't forget.

If we make it to the top, we hope to install a giant piece of art that will show the true beauty of the Arctic and why we're telling Shell to keep its rusty rigs away. We can see them, so we know they can see us.

But that's enough about what we're doing. We want to hear from you. What will you do to save the Arctic?

Let us know by sending us a message.

http://iceclimb.savethearctic.org/

[Egalitarian Thug]

1. There's #5 for ya. n/t

[Catherina]

2. Thanks. I asked them to give Shell a finger for me when they get to the top

before they unhurl whatever it is they're going to unhurl. At least I guess that's the surprise. There's a surprise when they get to the top.

[Life Long Dem]

3. Don't fall!

GoPro!

[PuraVidaDreamin]

4. This is FREAKING AWESOME!

Women! GetcHER CLIMB ON!

[LisaLynne]

5. Wow!!

Thanks for posting this!

[Coyotl]

6. Tweeters: Show your support by sharing #iceclimb

[Catherina]

13. I get dizzy just looking at that picture lol. Thanks for posting those

He reports: "A Greenpeace volunteer armed with a high strength telescope has arrived and people are queueing up to catch a glimpse of the climbers as they near the top.

"Having taken a brief look, the women - in two groups of three with one leader in each - look visibly tired. They have been climbing for 12 hours now and Greenpeace optimistically hope they are an hour from the top.

...

15.14 John Sauven, executive director of Greenpeace UK, has praised the women’s effort as “extraordinary" and "heroic".

Mr Sauven said: "This is particularly arduous. It's not just because it's the tallest building in Europe and quite a difficult climb - the women are carrying massive weights with them, nearly 14 kilograms which is quite a heavy suitcase for a man or woman in the street.

...


"We are worried that they think there is something they can use to get them all the way to the top, there isn't enough of the structure.

"They have been using a purely cosmetic architectural element of the building. It's never been designed for climbing on or to be used for anything like that. It's purely part of the architect's design of the building.

"They have been using parts of that to climb on, but as we said from the moment they started the danger is that the closer you get to the top there is no more of that structure available. That's been communicated with them throughout."

...
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/10173067/The-Shard-Greenpeace-protesters-scale-Britains-tallest-building-live.html

[marions ghost]

7. Love it!

Know where these women are from?

they are brave

[Catherina]

9. 6 women, no permission. All I know are 4 twitter profiles lol

Last edited Thu Jul 11, 2013, 11:11 AM - Edit history (1)

Greenpeace UK ‏@GreenpeaceUK 11m

An early #followFriday for the #iceclimb team. 4 tweeps tweetng from the sky: @Ldeddens @Victohenry @Sandra_lamborn @Aligarrigan

Liesbeth Deddens @ldeddens

Marketing+communication, outdoor sporter, Dutch living in Switzerland, curious and energetic.

Schwyz, Switzerland · lotje.ch

Victoria Henry @victohenry

Mostly activism, bicycles, climbing and travel. A bit of oceans campaigning and digital malarky from my job. Impatience personified.

London

sandra lamborn @Sandra_lamborn

Stockholm

Ali Garrigan @AliGarrigan

Victoria Henry ‏@victohenry 31m

Oh good, the next part is overhanging. Mom, if you're watching now... Don't!
Details
Victoria Henry ‏@victohenry 38m

This is so unreal. I laid in bed all last night convinced I wouldn't be able to do it. And here we are! #iceclimb
Details
Victoria Henry ‏@victohenry 55m

Just did a load of live phone interviews on the phone from our belay point. As if I wasn't bricking it bad enough already!
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Victoria Henry ‏@victohenry 3h

Update. Still safe, still hanging on. Not gonna lie, it's exhausting. Into final stretches now #iceclimb

Ali Garrigan ‏@AliGarrigan 42m

Really near the top! It's a bit cosy hanging in a cluster at the belay points #iceclimb
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Ali Garrigan ‏@AliGarrigan 2h

To all the people inside the Shard - thanks for all the waves and smiles! Keeping us going #iceclimb
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Ali Garrigan ‏@AliGarrigan 2h

Still going strong after 4 pitches. Nerves in check and no rope tangles 3 pitches to go #iceclimb

Beth Phillips ‏@somewhatbizarre 11m

The other two are from Canada and Poland according to the livestream

Greenpeace UK ‏@GreenpeaceUK
Ignore the police helicopter and the fatigue, keep going girls! #iceclimb @GreenpeaceUK
Retweeted by Greenpeace UK

[marions ghost]

11. thanks

Europe mainly, except for Canada. Awesome.

[a kennedy]

8. kick

[Catherina]

10. They're almost at the top!

Photographers lying on the floor now getting ready to shoot that lol.

I went to sleep, woke up and they're still climbing! They've been climbing over 11, 12 hours already.

[Catherina]

12. only 60 meters left to go! You go!!!

Helicopter showing up now. Wow, is that high!

[Catherina]

14. !They made it! Police waiting for them all to be safely inside before arresting them?

15 hours straight of free-climbing. The crowd doesn't want the police to arrest them.

Greenpeace UK ‏@GreenpeaceUK 36m

THEY'VE DONE IT!!! 6 #iceclimb climbers at the top of Europe's tallest builidng, waving a flag for humanity, to save the Arctic.

[muriel_volestrangler]

15. Banner unfurled:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-23266281

[Catherina]

17. Thank you! I missed it posting the latest NSA story. That's gorgeous!

So inspiring. So awesome!


Edit: That's Wiola right at the top

[Nye Bevan]

16. What's the problem with drilling in the Arctic?

I assume that there will be proper environmental safeguards. And fences to prevent polar bears wandering anywhere dangerous.

[Catherina]

18. Livestream from down on the ground, anticipating their arrest. Confirmed. Arrested

#iceclimb climbers about to emerge (and get nicked): http://bambuser.com/v/3732130


I hope they're not arrested! Police car waiting.

Edit: Arrested and carted off. The crowd was cheering for them

[muriel_volestrangler]

19. Official British Mountaineering Council route description:

A photogenic and very public crag. Offers an adventurous and arresting challenge for climbers who can manage the delicate approach. Strangely, whilst actual crag appears to be banned, ethics in this area have a long history of debate and it looks like drilling is permitted.

Crag is closed due to high police presence and global web casting. See http://iceclimb.savethearctic.org/ for details.

Approach at night, wearing dark clothes and in an unmarked van. The intitial tricky pitch to the roof of London Road station gains an spacious belay ledge. Initial care must be taken to avoid disturbing any nearby policemen. However, once on the 72-storey route, climbers can relax and live webcast, tweet and unfurl banners

Due to a tricky descent (involving two nights in a police cell) this is not a suitable group-use venue. See http://www.shell.co.uk for group use permissions.

https://thebmc.co.uk/modules/RAD/viewcrag.aspx?id=1050

They've classed ir as 'sandstone' - I guess because it's silicon dioxide ...