Free The North 30

Frank Hewetson and the rest of the Arctic 30 remain in Russian prison.

There is nothing good about this place.

"23 hour day lock up. One hour a day 'exercise'. No hot running water. Light on 24-hours … It's a mixture of hope and despair."

His partner and mother of their two children said to The Guardian, "I think he could consider that he might be getting a bit old for this kind of game. He could do a slightly less crazy version. Hopefully, he won't have too much appetite for doing it again in a terrible hurry."

Free Frank, free the Arctic 30, free the world.

Murmansk to St. Petersburg

Russian authorities have transferred Frank Hewetson and his twenty-nine Greenpeace activists from Murmansk to a St. Peterburg prison. This might seem like good news, however families and friends have yet to be in contact with the prisoners and the charge of environmental hooliganism carries a sentence of seven years.

This charge was leveled against the punk protest band PUSSY RIOT for performing in a Russian church.

Pussy Riot band member Nadezhda Tolokonnikova was recently transferred to a new penal colony in Siberia as punishment for her protests against prison conditions at her previous gulag.

I hope Frank and friends are okay.

Until then FREE THE ARCTIC 30 and PUSSY RIOT too.

Far From Home - Frank Hewetson

Frank is from London, United Kingdom.

He is a father of two.

Frank has worked for Greenpeace in the UK and Australia since 1989. His commitment to environmental activism is tireless, and he has taken part in many Greenpeace campaigns over the years. He is a respectfully determined and intelligent man.

Frank is a loving husband and father. He plays ping pong as a hobby, and gets intense pleasure from planning outdoor adventures with his family and their dog Pluto.

Frank was motivated to join the trip by his passion for protecting the Arctic from dangerous drilling for fossil fuels.

External websites and media

Menus and mundanity in Murmansk: A letter from Greenpeace activist Frank Hewetson from behind bars in Russia.

The Independent on Sunday, 26 October 2013

He's in a cell 23 hours a day, he's worrying about me and the kids — even in his sleep.

The Evening Standard of London, 9 October 2013

Free Frank Hewetson and the Arctic 30

Last month my friend Frank Hewetson was arrested for hooliganism by Russian authorities. 27 other Greenpeace activists and two photographers were also incarcerated for taking part in a protest against Arctic oil exploration. Initially they were charged with piracy. Hooliganism is the same charge levied against the punk band PUSSY RIOT.

They got seven years.

His wife hasn't heard from Frank in a month.

Greenpeace is trying to free them.

Please help by going to this URL and signing the petition for the Arctic 30.

http://www.greenpeace.org/international/en/campaigns/climate-change/arctic-impacts/Peace-Dove/Arctic-30/

Thank you.

Free Frank From Murmansk

In January 2012 Frank Hewetson and I raced in Hampstead Heath. 50 yards. The Greenpeace activist leader beat me by a foot. "Barely." I crowed, since Frank was 42 to my 59. "But I spent the last two months in a Greenland prison." He had been arrested by Danish police for storming onto an Arctic oil rig. "24 hour sun with sullen Inuit convicts." "No excuse." We had started at the same point. Unfortunately Frank has once more been arrested along with 29 other Greenpeace members charged with piracy. This time by Russian authorities. I'm good friends with his wife. "Frank is an environmental activist trying, on behalf of us all, to defend the Arctic from exploitation by the oil companies through peaceful non violent protest. His children and I are very concerned for him but know that he will be cheered by the support of millions of people worldwide which is bringing the destruction of the Arctic to international attention." Frank's a good man, but the Russians don't like anyone stepping on their toes, so the pirates have been imprisoned above the Arctic Circle in Murmansk. Winter is close. The Zeks in the prison like fresh meat. Numerous celebrities such as Jude Law, Paul Simenon of the Clash, and fashion designer Vivian Westwood have protested in front of the Russian embassy for the release of the arrestees. please go to this URL to sign the freedom petition. http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/2013/10/05/greenpeace-demonstration_n_4049131.html?just_reloaded=1 We thank you.