(Photo: Youtube Screenshot / NBC News)
Two climate change activists from the group Just Stop Oil were arrested on Wednesday after spraying Stonehenge with orange powder paint. The incident was documented in a video posted by the activist group on X (formerly Twitter).
The protesters were identified as 21-year-old Oxford student Niamh Lynch and 73-year-old Rajan Naidu from Birmingham. The two were apprehended shortly after executing the protest, following an intervention by two bystanders who attempted to prevent the paint-throwing.
Just Stop Oil's Statement
Just Stop Oil stated that this demonstration was a call for the UK's next government to commit to a "legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030." The UK is scheduled to hold its next general election on July 4. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the act, labeling it a "disgraceful act of vandalism." At the same time, Labour Party leader and main electoral contender Keir Starmer described Just Stop Oil as "pathetic," according to the Associated Press.
In a statement released on X, Naidu advocated for a "Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty," and clarified that the paint used was "orange cornflour."
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"Either we end the fossil fuel era, or the fossil fuel era will end us," Naidu proclaimed. He drew parallels to international treaties established fifty years ago to mitigate the dangers of nuclear weapons, emphasizing the necessity for a modern treaty to phase out fossil fuels and support economies, workers, and communities reliant on oil, gas, and coal.
Naidu continued, "The orange cornflour we used to create an eye-catching spectacle will soon wash away with the rain, but the urgent need for effective government action to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of the climate and ecological crisis will not. Sign the treaty!"
Investigation by English Heritage
English Heritage, the group overseeing Stonehenge, said it had launched an inquiry to establish if the monument had been harmed. This raised concerns from Michael Pitts, an archaeologist and expert on Stonehenge, who noted that it featured megaliths that are difficult to manipulate and covered prehistoric carvings that have not yet been explored. Pitts also pointed out that any sort of surface damage to the stones is a major concern for him.
The protest took place one day before the summer solstice, a celebratory event held at Stonehenge annually when thousands of people come to party on the midsummer night of the year in the Northern Hemisphere. The timing of the action reflects their goal of gaining the most exposure possible during a period when the site receives a great deal of attention.
Public Reaction
This is one of the most recent actions that demonstrate Just Stop Oil—an organization that uses rather audacious actions to draw attention to the need for change in climate policies on the continent. The controversy regarding their actions persists until today, as they struggle to mitigate climate change and, on the other hand, can enrage the general public for their disruptive tactics.
As the investigation into the Stonehenge protest proceeds, the broader conversation about climate change, fossil fuels, and environmental activism remains critical. It will influence public opinion and political discourse ahead of the upcoming general election.
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