The event was part of Greenpeace’s month-long run of Titanic-themed orchestral protests against Arctic drilling outside Shell’s offices on the South Bank.
As an addition to the Requiem, Charlotte sang a version of ‘This Bitter Earth’ accompanied by a string ensemble – a poignant combination of works originally by Max Richter and Dinah Washington.
The live recording of Charlotte’s one-off performance will be made available as a free download shortly afterwards to help reach more people to let them know about the threat Shell’s drilling poses to the Arctic.
Charlotte said: “I can’t see how anyone could see footage of the Arctic melting and not feel moved. It’s terrifying to think of what we’re doing to this planet. This song just felt so appropriate to why I came here today. I wanted to capture the sorrow and regret that feels tied up with the melting ice, and the bitter irony of Arctic oil drilling.”
The series of performances, entitled ‘Requiem for Arctic Ice’ and inspired by the famous story of the quartet continuing to play as the Titanic went down, is intended to rouse Shell’s UK staff to challenge their bosses on Arctic drilling and urge them to change course.
Just over a week ago Shell got the final permits it needs to start drilling for oil in the melting Arctic Ocean. It’s got a window of mere weeks to strike oil and billions of dollars on the line. But every second it drills it’s risking an oil spill in icy waters that would be impossible to clean up and disastrous for the people and unique wildlife that call the Arctic home.
Charlotte continued: “I can’t believe the risks that Shell is willing to take. The Arctic ecosystem is already weakened because the ice is melting, yet Shell is willing to risk an oil spill there that they wouldn’t be able to clean up. It’s a disaster waiting to happen.”
Climate change is melting the Arctic sea ice at an alarming rate, and this March the Arctic experienced the lowest sea ice maximum ever recorded. As the ice recedes, it becomes easier for oil companies to reach further into the Arctic and extract the reserves of oil and gas buried beneath the ocean floor.
Shell has faced increasing public pressure over its Arctic drilling plans, including a ‘Kayaktivist’ protest movement in Seattle, which has spread into Canada and Europe. 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 public figures such as Al Gore, Hillary Clinton and the Archbishop of Canterbury expressed concerns about Arctic oil drilling.
The extreme Arctic conditions, including giant floating icebergs and stormy seas, make offshore drilling extremely risky. The US administration acknowledged a 75% chance of a large oil spill over the lifetime of the wells. And scientists say that an oil spill in the Arctic would be impossible to clean up, endangering the Arctic’s unique wildlife.
Earlier this year, researchers concluded Arctic drilling is incompatible with limiting global warming to 2 degrees above pre-industrial levels, a target agreed by most governments.
Shell’s past attempt to drill in the Arctic in 2012 was plagued by multiple operational failings culminating in the running aground of its drilling rig, the Kulluk. Shell has returned to the remote Chukchi Sea with the same contractor, Noble Drilling, which pled guilty to eight felonies following its last Arctic venture. Shell’s second rig contractor, Transocean, was implicated in the Deepwater Horizon disaster.
This season, Shell has already suffered setbacks, including a huge tear in the hull of one of its support vessels, which carries important safety equipment for its Arctic drilling project.
Shell has already spent $6bn, and is expected to spend a further $1bn this year on Arctic exploration.
ENDS
Pictures, footage, and an audio file of the performance will be available here after the performance: https://www.dropbox.com/sh/r2nfq62r1qb45z2/AABXuEyeOVir6MlPeVMFL628a?dl=0
Video of the Arctic and its wildlife, the first Requiem for Arctic Ice orchestral performance, and the Greenpeace USA action blocking Shell’s ice-breaker in Portland, Oregon: http://we.tl/U4dA4eWDbT
For more information or interview requests please contact Stefano Gelmini on 07506 512442, sgelmini@greenpeace.org
For photos and video contact photo.uk@greenpeace.org or call 0207 865 8294.
Read more about Shell's Arctic misadventure.
About ‘This Bitter Earth’
‘This Bitter Earth’ performed by kind permission of Max Richter/Mute Song and Sony ATV.
The version of “This Bitter Earth” performed comprises two separate works performed in combination:
· “This Bitter Earth”, originally performed by Dinah Washington and written by Clyde Otis (vocal). Published by Sony ATV. https://www.sonyatv.com/
· “On The Nature of Daylight”, composer by Max Richter (string accompaniment). Published by Mute Song.http://mutesong.com/
About the Requiem
The Requiem is made up of four movements contributed by composers including Oscar winner Rachel Portman, John Metcalfe, who co-produced an album with Peter Gabriel, Nehemiah Luckett and Chris Garrard. The compositions by Nehemiah Luckett and Chris Garrard are original scores, created for Greenpeace, while the compositions by John Metcalfe and Rachel Portman have been previously released as part of other projects.
