​​In the U.K., two members of the direct action climate group Just Stop Oil were arrested after they spray-painted the words “1.5 is dead” on the grave of Charles Darwin at London’s Westminster Abbey Monday. The protest follows the news last week that 2024 was the hottest year in human history, with the average global temperature rising by 1.6 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels. This is one of the activists. Alyson Lee: “2024 was the hottest year on record. We have already passed through the 1.5 degree that was supposed to keep us safe. Millions are being displaced. California is on fire. And three-quarters of all wildlife has disappeared since the 1970s.” The activist later said she believed Charles Darwin would approve of their protest “because he would be following the science, and he would be as upset as us with the government for ignoring the science.”
  • kapulsa@feddit.org
    3·
    9 hours ago

    This was very brave. I applaud these activists. We should all do the same until politics listen and act accordingly.

  • Zaktor@sopuli.xyzEnglish
    19·
    17 hours ago

    Not graffiti on smooth stonework! Winston, fetch my clutching pearls!

      • Leate_Wonceslace@lemmy.dbzer0.comEnglish
        4·
        14 hours ago

        Okay, assume that’s the case.

        So the fuck what?

        I keep seeing counterpoints that assume that intent informs effectiveness, when that’s demonstrably just not the case. If your statement is relevant, that means you must be able to draw a causal link between that hypothesis being true and the campaign being ineffective.

  • TommySoda@lemmy.world
    13·
    18 hours ago

    Every time I see something like this my brain always assumes it’s people that actually have the opposite goal and are just trying to make actual activism look bad. Like how all of the “stop smoking” ads are made by tobacco companies. But in all honesty it’s probably just me overthinking it and these guys are just dumb.

    • FooBarrington@lemmy.world
      1·
      3 hours ago

      What “stop smoking” ads are made by tobacco companies? When googling, I found a “Philip Morris-funded Foundation for a Smoke-free World”, but nothing about ads.

      • TheFriar@lemm.ee
        1·
        2 hours ago

        TRUTH was funded by tobacco giants—because the government made them. It was a settlement agreement, if I’m remembering correctly.

  • doctortofu@reddthat.com
    6·
    17 hours ago

    Vandalizing graves and museums - what a great way to get supporters and make people sympathetic to your cause…

    I have further ideas - how about beating some pre-schoolers or burning a homeless shelter to protest global warming? Or perhaps throwing mud at the elderly? Drowning some puppies? Since clearly these people believe all publicity is good publicity, think how much buzz that would generate!