Auckland, February 27th 2012 -- The occupation of an Arctic-bound Shell drillship by six Greenpeace activists including actor Lucy Lawless ended this morning after police climbed the ship's drilling tower and arrested the group. The protest was into its fourth day and the activists had spent over 77 hours on top of the 53 metre drilling tower.
The activists are currently being processed by police and are expected to be available to comment briefly to media once they are released.
Despite the fact that the charge of "unlawfully being on a ship" was available, prosecutors have chosen to charge the protestors with the more serious charge of burglary. Greenpeace insists that no property was taken or damaged during the occupation.
"This chapter has ended, but the story of the battle to save the Arctic has just begun," said Lucy Lawless, before being arrested. "Seven of us climbed up that drillship to stop Arctic drilling, but 133,000 of us came down."
She continued, "We will continue to stand in solidarity with the communities and species that depend on the Arctic for their very lives until Shell cancels its plans to drill in this magical world, and makes the switch to clean, sustainable energy."
The six activists who were arrested this morning are
Mike Buchanan from Christchurch.
Shayne Comino from Christchurch.
Raoni Hammer from Christchurch.
Shai Nades from Wellington.
Vivienne Hadlow from Auckland.
Lucy Lawless from Auckland.
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