A wave of ‘Arctic cyclists’ will pour through the streets of Manchester this weekend to help stop the ‘reckless game of Russian roulette’ being played with the environment.
The event is part of Greenpeace International’s global day of action and will see a flood of white-clad cyclists parading across the city.
Along with over 75 cities worldwide, Manchester’s ‘ice ride’ will be used as a platform to raise awareness of rising sea levels and calls for a cessation of oil drilling in the Arctic.
Greenpeace volunteer Elliot Bovill said: “People in Manchester will join tens of thousands more across the globe who are taking to the streets to demand that the Arctic be declared global sanctuary.”
“Companies like Shell should be stopped from playing a reckless game of Russian roulette with this vitally important region, and our climate.”
The Arctic-inspired cyclists will depart from the Hilton Hotel and make their way around the city’s most iconic landmarks.
The event will occur at around the same time as the Arctic sea ice minimum – the time in late summer when the ice sheet around the North Pole is at its smallest size.
Last year the amount of sea ice dropped to an all-time low and it is estimated that three quarters of summer ice has been lost since 1979.
“If we allow our addiction to dirty fossil fuel to destroy this region, we’re all going to pay the price for it as our planet keeps warming, sea levels rise, and the weather becomes more unpredictable,” Mr Bovill said.
Image courtesy of Agrant141 with thanks.
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