Greenpeace is calling on people to come together in a ''global day of solidarity'' in support of the 30 people charged with piracy at a Russian oil platform in the Arctic.

The organisation is staging protests today across the UK and around the world, including a demonstration at the Russian Embassy in London.

Daily Echo:

Protests are also set to take place in UK locations including Edinburgh, Swansea, Bristol, Liverpool and Southampton.

It comes after Russian investigators charged the entire crew of a Greenpeace ship with piracy.

The country's Investigative Committee said in a statement the charge - which can result in a 15-year prison term upon conviction - was filed on Thursday against 16 members of the crew. The other 14 crew members were similarly charged the day before.

Daily Echo:

The Russian coast guard seized the Arctic Sunrise and everyone aboard following the September 18 protest at the offshore platform owned by Russia's state-controlled energy giant Gazprom.

The activists are now in custody in the northern city of Murmansk.

Greenpeace denies any wrongdoing and described the charge as ''absurd and outrageous''. It will be asking people at the protests to write messages of ''peace and solidarity'' on paper doves, which will then be sent to those detained in Murmansk.

Daily Echo:

In a note on the Greenpeace website, the organisation said it is ''essential for the freedom of the 30'' - and the safety of the Greenpeace Russia office, staff and ''Russian friends and family'' - that no anti-Russian or anti-Putin slogans, imagery or speeches are used at the protests.

''Criticism of the Russian authorities and court process can have a direct impact on the legal cases of the 30, so please help us to keep events focused on support for the Arctic 30 and our need to protect the Arctic and our climate,'' it added.