they invited us to tagalong. it's a bumpy ride to their research hub 40 miles offshore. you fall in this water, you could easily die within just three minutes. we're welcomed aboard "the esperanza," greenpeace's ship. and life onboard is what you might expect. tofu for lunch, a serious recycling program and an eclectic crew from all over the world, who dedicate their lives to the cause. >> in this remote, unforgiving environment, we all know it would be impossible to clean up an oil spill. we can't risk it. >> if you drop any kind of development because a spill can occur? or do you have systems and backup systems or other backup systems to deal with a spill, which shell does, and be allowed to proceed? >> it's a tough battle, sometimes, to choose. >> reporter: for those who call the arctic home, like point hope, alaska, mayor, steve omittuk, there's no easy answers. >> people need money. they need our economy to come up. but we need our way of life, also. >> reporter: drilling would bring in much-needed jobs. but steve says his community would always rely on life in the