As concerns grow for the health and well being of the “Arctic 30”, 28 Greenpeace activists and two reporters charged with piracy in Russia, vigils were held around the world calling for their safe release.

Actor Jude Law took part in one such demonstration outside the Russian Embassy in London over the weekend.  Other protests took place in Spain, France, New Zealand, Russia, and in Hong Kong. 

Russian forces staged a commando-style raid on the Dutch-flagged “Arctic Sunrise” after the Greenpeace activists tried to protest a Russian oilrig starting up in a pristine part of the Arctic.  Australians and New Zealanders are among the thirty who have been charged with piracy.  Some are being kept in solitary confinement and others are locked up in extremely cold cells, according to Greenpeace.  Three have been taken to a prison 150 kilometers away from the others.  The prisoners allegedly don't have access to enough drinking water.

The Netherlands is appealing to UN's Tribunal for the Law of the Sea, saying the Russian charges are ridiculous.

“I don't understand why this could be thought to have anything to do with piracy, I don't see how you could think of any legal grounds for that,” said Dutch Foreign Minister Frans Timmermans.