Environmental activists made headlines last Friday when they targeted the historic Magna Carta at the British Library in London. The activists, aged 82 and 85, used a hammer and chisel to smash the case protecting the iconic document. They stated that their actions were aimed at drawing attention to the dangers of climate change.
London’s Metropolitan Police quickly arrived at the scene and arrested the two individuals involved in the incident. As a result of the vandalism, the British Library’s Treasures Gallery, where the Magna Carta is displayed, has been temporarily closed.
This act of protest is part of a larger trend of vandalism towards famous art and historic pieces. Recent incidents include activists pouring soup on the glass protecting the Mona Lisa at the Louvre in Paris and throwing mashed potatoes at a Claude Monet painting in Germany.
The group Just Stop Oil, known for their campaigns against fossil fuels, has been targeting various landmarks and art pieces in their protests. This includes storming a stage production and targeting a Vermeer painting.
In addition to these incidents, climate activists recently turned the water of Rome’s Trevi Fountain black in protest against the fossil fuel industry. These acts of vandalism serve as a stark reminder of the growing concern and activism surrounding climate change and the fossil fuel industry.
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