Actor Emma Thomson joined Greenpeace protestors – and a giant polar bear puppet – outside Shell’s London HQ in a continued protest against the oil giant’s Arctic activity.
Greenpeace intends to keep the polar bear – the size of a double decker bus and with six protesters locked inside – in place until Shell’s Arctic drilling window ends later this month.
Oscar-winner Thompson performed an original poem to Shell bosses.
Last month, Shell received the final permits it needs to start drilling for oil in the Arctic Ocean.
Thompson, said: “I’ve been to the Arctic, I’ve seen the beauty, I’ve seen the wildlife, and my heart breaks to think that Shell is up there right now, drilling for the oil that threatens not only their habitat but ours.
“Make no mistake about it, we’re next. That’s why I’ve come to their HQ. I’m here to say no. I’m here to say this has to end. I’m one of millions of people demanding that this company pulls out of the Arctic, and this huge polar bear is roaring with our voices.”
Last week singer Charlotte Church performed outside Shell’s South Bank building.
A Shell spokeswoman said: “Shell respects the right of people to protest against the activities we undertake to ensure the world’s energy needs are met.
“However, it is disappointing that Greenpeace continually chooses to focus on mounting publicity stunts rather than engage constructively in the debate about how to meet the world’s growing demand for energy while reducing CO2 emissions.
“We believe we can play an important role in developing the Arctic’s energy resources.
“We choose to explore there because we have the expertise and experience to operate responsibly and be profitable at the same time.”
The US Government gave Shell the final permissions to begin drilling into the Arctic seabed and has until 28 September to carry out operations prior to a winter shutdown.
President Barack Obama delivered a doomsday speech in Alaska this week, stating that climate change left unchecked would soon trigger global conflict and “condemn our children to a planet beyond their capacity to repair”.
Shell’s past attempt to drill in the Arctic in 2012 was plagued with multiple operational failings culminating in the running aground of its drilling rig, the Kulluk.
In recent weeks, other figures from the arts and entertainment world such as Peter Capaldi, John Hurt and Maisie Williams spoke out against Arctic drilling and Greenpeace has been protesting outside Shell’s London HQ for weeks.
Public figures such as Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed concerns about Arctic oil drilling.
Shell has already spent $6 bn, and is expected to spend a further $1 bn this year on Arctic exploration.
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