Greenpeace MY Arctic Sunrise expedition to witness Arctic sea ice reaching the lowest level since records began in 1979. According to the National Snow and Ice Data Center, on September 16th 2012, the sea ice covered only 1.32 million square miles, or 24 percent, of the Arctic Ocean, the lowest amount ever recorded.

The campaign to save the Arctic then continues in Russia and in the Barents Sea. Greenpeace takes action to stop attempts by oil companies to exploit the region’s resources for short term profit. Activists, including Greenpeace International Executive Director, Kumi Naidoo, take part in a series of actions held to prevent Gazprom from completing the work that will allow them to begin drilling in this fragile region. Gazprom looks set to begin full commercial drilling operations by early next year, becoming the first ever company to start commercial oil production in the offshore Arctic.