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Russia’s oil rigs to move north. But one early September morning in 2013 thirty men and women from eighteen countries—the crew of Greenpeace’s Arctic Sunrise—decide to draw a line in the ice and protest the drilling in the Arctic.
Thrown together by a common cause, they are determined to stop Putin and the oligarchs. But their protest is met with brutal force as Putin’s commandos seize the Arctic Sunrise. Held under armed guard by masked men, they are charged with piracy and face fifteen years in Russia’s nightmarish prison system.
Ben Stewart—who spearheaded the campaign to release the Arctic 30—tells an astonishing tale of passion, courage, brutality, and survival. With wit, verve, and candor, he chronicles the extraordinary friendships the activists made with their often murderous cellmates, their battle to outwit the prison guards, and the struggle to stay true to the cause that brought them there.
Thrown together by a common cause, they are determined to stop Putin and the oligarchs. But their protest is met with brutal force as Putin’s commandos seize the Arctic Sunrise. Held under armed guard by masked men, they are charged with piracy and face fifteen years in Russia’s nightmarish prison system.
Ben Stewart—who spearheaded the campaign to release the Arctic 30—tells an astonishing tale of passion, courage, brutality, and survival. With wit, verve, and candor, he chronicles the extraordinary friendships the activists made with their often murderous cellmates, their battle to outwit the prison guards, and the struggle to stay true to the cause that brought them there.
Price: $26.99
Pages: 336
Publisher: The New Press
Imprint: The New Press
Publication Date:
05 May 2015
ISBN: 9781620971109
Format: eBook
"With its colorful dialogue, moral dilemmas, and scenes of physical danger, Stewart’s book would make a great movie… the prison life the book reveals is eye-opening, and Stewart describes it with great verve.”
—Foreign Affairs
"The story you are about to read is extraordinary. It is one of fear, hope, despair and humanity. But we still don’t know how it ends. That is up to all of us. Including you. Please encourage your friends to help bring a hopeful conclusion to this moving story."
—Paul McCartney
"The Arctic is in grave danger. This terrific book illuminates, with thriller-like pace and crackling humor, the story of thirty people who risked their freedom for its protection. Anyone who admires direct action, wants to know what to do about the peril we are all in, or who cares about the future of their children should read it now."
—Emma Thompson
"A gripping story of tremendous courage that reads like a thriller. By putting their bodies on the line to stop the drilling, the Arctic 30 became global symbols for a resurgent climate movement, one willing to do whatever it takes to close down new fossil fuel frontiers. This is real heroism, and Stewart’s excellent account will surely inspire many others to join the fight for a humane and livable planet."
—Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine
"A fascinating tale of bravery in the face of totalitarian cruelty. A true page-turner and an important book for our times."
—Gary Shteyngart, author of Little Failure and Super Sad True Love Story
"A riveting adventure story, with real-life heroes and planet-sized stakes."
—Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
"Reads with the heart-racing pace of a sensational action-adventure story. . . . Paints a vivid picture of the plight of each activist, thrusting readers directly into the action. This riveting account will excite and inspire and provides a thrilling read."
—Library Journal (starred review)
"A stirring narrative of protest and government oppression."
—Publisher's Weekly
“Enormously compelling and important, Stewart’s account commands attention on each and every powerful page.”
—Booklist (starred review)
—Foreign Affairs
"The story you are about to read is extraordinary. It is one of fear, hope, despair and humanity. But we still don’t know how it ends. That is up to all of us. Including you. Please encourage your friends to help bring a hopeful conclusion to this moving story."
—Paul McCartney
"The Arctic is in grave danger. This terrific book illuminates, with thriller-like pace and crackling humor, the story of thirty people who risked their freedom for its protection. Anyone who admires direct action, wants to know what to do about the peril we are all in, or who cares about the future of their children should read it now."
—Emma Thompson
"A gripping story of tremendous courage that reads like a thriller. By putting their bodies on the line to stop the drilling, the Arctic 30 became global symbols for a resurgent climate movement, one willing to do whatever it takes to close down new fossil fuel frontiers. This is real heroism, and Stewart’s excellent account will surely inspire many others to join the fight for a humane and livable planet."
—Naomi Klein, author of The Shock Doctrine
"A fascinating tale of bravery in the face of totalitarian cruelty. A true page-turner and an important book for our times."
—Gary Shteyngart, author of Little Failure and Super Sad True Love Story
"A riveting adventure story, with real-life heroes and planet-sized stakes."
—Bill McKibben, author of Eaarth: Making a Life on a Tough New Planet
"Reads with the heart-racing pace of a sensational action-adventure story. . . . Paints a vivid picture of the plight of each activist, thrusting readers directly into the action. This riveting account will excite and inspire and provides a thrilling read."
—Library Journal (starred review)
"A stirring narrative of protest and government oppression."
—Publisher's Weekly
“Enormously compelling and important, Stewart’s account commands attention on each and every powerful page.”
—Booklist (starred review)
Ben Stewart is a former Guardian Student Journalist of the Year, and is now head of media at Greenpeace. He was one of the six protesters cleared of criminal damage to Kingsnorth power station in a groundbreaking trial, whose verdict the New York Times described as one of the seminal moments of 2008. He lives in London.