March 29, 2024

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Charlotte Church free recording from Shell !

Greenpeace has released today a free recording of Charlotte Church’s one-off live performance at Shell’s HQ in protest against Arctic drilling:
Yesterday, the singer-songwriter gave a soulful rendition of ‘Requiem for Arctic Ice’ in front of a crowd of Greenpeace supporters, passers-by, and TV cameras.
Forced under a bridge next to the Shell building by the torrential rain, about two hundred people listened in silence as the Welsh-born artist 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 event was part of Greenpeace’s month-long run of Titanic-themed orchestral protests against Arctic drilling outside the oil giant’s offices on the South Bank.
Charlotte has made her one-off live performance available as a free download to help reach more people and 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.’
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.’