The letter paints a bleak picture of solitary confinement in a prison in Murmansk, the largest city inside the Arctic circle, while displaying hope and humour (Sun Herald today, p. 4: http://tiny.cc/hrsk5w).
Ms Harris writes (full text below):“We're allowed to leave our cell and walk for one hour each day. We’re locked in what can be described as an outdoor chicken pen. It's horrible. But yesterday I saw that someone had scratched 'Save the Arctic' into the wall. It made me laugh.
“To get myself through the long days and nights I think of my family. I dream of the day I can run into their arms.
“If there's one good thing to come of this horrible situation it's just that - the world is talking about Arctic oil and I've played a role in that. That's why the 30 of us are here.”
James Lorenz, Manager of Communications at Greenpeace Sydney and letter recipient said:
"Alex lives In Tony Abbott's electorate. We're calling on him to do everything he can to bring her home safety. We miss her.”
"Knowing Alex she will keep campaigning after her return, to save the Arctic from oil drilling and preserve it for future generations."
Background
Alex Harris, originally from Devon, is a digital communications officer who has worked at Greenpeace in Sydney for over two years, responsible for the Arctic campaign in Australia. She lives in Manly and is an enthusiastic scuba diver who volunteers for local environmental projects including beach litter cleanup days in Sydney. She has previously volunteered in an orphanage in Vietnam. The Arctic campaign is her first at Greenpeace.
Alex volunteered, along with 27 other Greenpeace campaigners from 18 countries including 58 year old Tasmanian radio operator Colin Russell, to visit the Arctic on the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise. The aim was a peaceful protest against Russian oil giant Gazprom which is working to drill for oil in the Arctic.
On September 18, the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise took peaceful action at Gazprom’s Prirazlomnaya platform. The Russian Coast Guard reacted strongly: after firing warning shots and detaining two activists under armed guard, they then seized the ship and towed it to the port of Murmansk.
28 Greenpeace activists, and a freelance photographer and a videographer, were first charged with piracy by the Russian authorities. This has since been changed to ‘hooliganism’ which carries a maximum 7 year jail term. The Murmansk Lenin District Court ordered that the Arctic 30 could be detained up until at least November 24 while allegations against them are investigated by the country’s authorities. Lawyers acting to defend the thirty have appealed against their detention. In latest developments, the Dutch government has lodged a rare application at the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea (ITLOS), asking it to order the immediate release of the Greenpeace ship Arctic Sunrise and all those who were aboard for the peaceful protest against Gazprom’s Arctic oil platform, the Prirazlomnaya.
Letter text
Thursday 10 October - Day 14
Dear James
I honestly believed I'd be out of prison by now. I'm slowly coming to terms with the prospect of spending two months here. But it's not knowing what will happen after that that I find really hard. I prayed for the first time in my life the other day. I prayed for freedom and courage.
I am definitely getting stronger. I try to keep myself 'busy' with little things like doing the laundry, sweeping the floor and doing exercises. I sound like Cinderella! I also write a lot. I listen to a lot of music as it helps to lift my spirits. My friend Camila [Speziale, 21 years old, Argentinean] is in the cell next door so we tap on the wall in beat with the music. We've just been tapping to 'everything's gonna be alright' in Bob Marley's no woman, no cry. I really hope it will be alright. As Ana Paula told me, 'you can't give up hope - it's the only thing we've got'.
I heard the Arctic sunrise mentioned on the radio the other day. It was in Russian so I couldn't understand it but it's great to know the world is talking about us. On a good day I get to see my lawyer and hear news of protests all over the world. You wouldn't believe the difference the news makes. It really makes me feel better and I thank every single person who has joined a protest or sent an email. If there's one good thing to come of this horrible situation it's just that - the world is talking about Arctic oil and I've played a role in that. That's why the 30 of us are here.
We're allowed to leave our cell and walk for one hour each day. We're locked in what can be described as an outdoor chicken pen. It's horrible. But yesterday I saw that someone had scratched 'Save the Arctic' into the wall. It made me laugh.
To get myself through the long days and nights I think of my family. I dream of the day I can run into their arms. I heard that my sister joined the protest in London and has been speaking on TV - that makes me so proud.
I also think of the other 29, who I now consider family, locked up here. I think back to the days when we were all together on the Arctic Sunrise, so proud and excited to be heading to the Arctic working on such an important campaign. Those days seem so long ago now. Even though I can't see them I know I'm not alone and that make me stronger.
When we were taken off the ship to be arrested we were escorted by the coast guard ship and then by a bus. It felt like a scene from the cold war. It was dark. The bus was old and smelt of metal - I could taste it in my mouth. We were driven through a series of derelict buildings. There were more guards than there were of us. I was scared. I told my friend Phil that I was worried that I wouldn't cope in a solitary cell not knowing what was going to happen. He told me I'd be fine. To always remember that there are a lot of people on the outside working very hard to release you. I have to constantly remind myself of that now.
Alex xxxxx
For more information and comment, please contact:
Alison Orme Media and Communications Greenpeace Sydney 0432 332 104
Photos of Harris at bail hearing: http://tiny.cc/d7y54w
Others available on request.