‘The beauty of the Arctic is overwhelming. The cold, the silence and extraordinary sounds as the ice creaks, rumbles and falls. The pristine environment, with life popping out to welcome you when you least expect it. A unique place that people across the world want to protect.’ (source greenpeace)


ten years ago, ludovico einaudi specially composed ‘elegy for the arctic’ and performed it for the first time on a floating platform in the arctic ocean (norway).

Ten years on, and in every sense of the word, that frozen moment remains as beautiful and moving as ever, but the reality is extremely sad, for the question is no longer ‘what would it take to raise awareness?’ nor even ‘why have we done nothing?’, but rather ‘how have we managed to make things worse?’.

Yet the fight for these convictions must continue. Every gesture, every action that helps to slow down the pace at which we are currently hurtling headlong into a brick wall will help to limit the damage and offer a brief reprieve. But to turn a blind eye to this reality – our reality – by imagining that it will always be possible to flee when the time comes is a sickening and selfish act.

The harm done yesterday is already beyond repair, but the good we do today will enable us to live a better tomorrow. so let us open our eyes and act now, for better late than never.