In London, activists threw soup at a Van Gogh painting. They were protesting new oil and gas production.
Please stop using oil
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Please stop using oil
In London, activists threw soup at a Van Gogh painting. They were protesting new oil and gas production.
Please stop using oil
Just Stop Oil environmentalists have been in the spotlight since Friday's protesters threw Heinz tomato soup at Vincent van Gogh's home. sunflower Painting at the National Gallery in London. On Saturday, the pair were joined in court by another Just Stop Oil supporter who painted yellow paint on the Scotland Yard sign.
Members of the UK-based group have previously attracted attention by plastering paintings in museums and blocking roads and even racecourses.
The campaigners say their goal is to “get the government to commit to ensuring an end to all new licenses and consents for the exploration, development and production of fossil fuels in the UK”.
Earlier this month, the British government began issuing new approvals for oil and gas exploration in the North Sea off the east coast of England.
The protest movement claims to be practicing nonviolent civil resistance to force the government to take action.
Just Stop Oil said its members were arrested more than 1,000 times throughout the spring during months of protests in which people blocked oil terminals.
Just Stop Oil protesters blocked a road behind Downing Street in London on Wednesday.
Rob Pinney/Getty Images
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Rob Pinney/Getty Images
Just Stop Oil protesters blocked a road behind Downing Street in London on Wednesday.
Rob Pinney/Getty Images
Most of its operating funding comes from the Los Angeles-based Climate Emergency Fund, which began with a $500,000 foundation grant from Getty oil heiress Eileen Getty. Film director Adam McKay donated $4 million and joined the board last month.
Since Friday's soup incident, some critics have pointed out that Just Stop Oil accepts donations in virtual currency, which is known to have devastating effects on the environment.
“Which is more valuable, art or life? Are you there?” he shouted. ”
The UK is facing an energy crisis, with 13% of the average household income expected to be spent on household energy and car fuel. This follows the European Union's decision to ban most Russian oil by December.
Fossil fuels are the largest contributor to climate warming emissions. The climate has already warmed by more than 1 degree Celsius since pre-industrial times, leading to more extreme wildfires, hurricanes, and heat waves.
