Just Stop Oil protesters placed a high-vis jacket on an ancient Greek statue at the British Museum on Friday.
The notorious environmental activist group Just Stop Oil has stirred up lots of controversy in the last few years in the UK, as well as around the world, for their dynamic acts of protest.
This time, Just Stop Oil made news yet again with their newest protest at the British Museum in London.
The latest act of Just Stop Oil involving a Greek statue
On October 25, 2024, two members of the activist organization Just Stop oil targeted an ancient Greek figure of Demeter of Knidos, the goddess of agriculture and fertility, to highlight the critical need for climate action around the globe.
Around 10 AM local time, the activists entered the museum and dressed the impressive, life-sized marble figure, which dates back to around 350 to 330 BC, in a bright orange high-visibility jacket normally worn at construction sites and other workplaces.
They also put up a speech bubble next to the ancient Greek sculpture with the slogan “Just Stop Famine.”
This latest act by Just Stop Oil attempted to put the spotlight in local and global news on the link between climate change and food security, as humanity will most probably have to deal with the potentially destructive effects of global warming on agriculture in the near future.
Following the controversial move by the group, the gallery remained open to the public, as there was no damage or any other kind of destruction in the display room of the museum where the ancient Greek statue is being exhibited.
What Just Stop Oil protesters claim
In a statement posted on their website, Just Stop Oil asked that the UK government collaborate with other countries to eliminate fossil fuel production and combustion by 2030. “Famine or a world without oil. What’s it to be?” the statement noted.
The activist group noted in their statement:
“The climate crisis is threatening our food security and these impacts will only get worse until we stop burning fossil fuels. If you think famine only happens elsewhere, think again. Our rich nation status will not protect us from what is coming. A collapse in the Atlantic ocean currents would destroy our ability to grow food and you can’t eat money.”
The activists highlighted the climate crisis’ impact on farming in England, as well as the ongoing drought in numerous African countries such as Lesotho, Malawi, Namibia, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. Each of these countries have proclaimed states of national emergency due to crop and livestock losses.
This demonstration is part of a series of events organized by Just Stop Oil at several UK museums and cultural organizations. Just Stop Oil has planned a demonstration in London’s Parliament Square for Saturday November 2nd at 11:30 AM “to take part in the Politics is Broken bloc at the Palestine Solidarity Campaign’s National Palestine March,” as stated.
