Notice how every headline talking about these protests makes it sound like they damaged the painting. Including this one.
And it’s working, as you can see from the comments here.
Unpopular opinion. This is a terrible way to protest
Climate change is THE issue. I have seen first hand glaciers disappear over the last 10 years. Protests need to happen.
However endangering and/or damaging irreplaceable historical objects and art is not going to win you any friends and is not the way to protest. These guys look like loons to the general population. Most people would consider them vandals rather than protesters
Yeah, but, unfortunately,
- Your opinion is not unpopular, it’s the most common one
And
- This is a proven, and wonderfully effective way to protest. Getting the media to report on things at all, is an enormous, and repeatedly researched driver of discussion and awareness. And the climate emergency is not acted upon enough, and the continued criminal actions of the Oil industry are also painfully underreported.
I wish from the bottom of my heart this natural sense of justice of yours was the way to solve these issues, but those rich fucks are literally relying on, and fanning the flames of this mental pitfall, to keep people more passive on this issue.
Data and science says this protest, just like most other protests, works.
Protest in any way you see fit, different kinds of protest “work” on different people and structures. Just go and actually participate in whichever you believe in.
Here’s the Lady herself explaining her actions (which in no way damaged the painting).
Absolutely ridiculous that they’re given any time at all.
EDIT a letter
I’m not giving twitter any more clicks, but sounds like it’s worth watching.
And yet the people ruthlessly pillaging the planet as we all plea for them to stop get to keep compounding their wealth while world leaders aid them. Fuck this world. The art won’t matter when no humans are around to appreciate it.
I know it’s not popular in this community, but we really need to understand that protest takes on many forms, and the Stop Oil protests have - for whatever reason - focused on a very unhelpful form.
We could talk about the reasons for that particular focus, or the other forms of protest that would be better.
Which protests would you approve of, and would anyone know they even happened beyond those who physically encountered them? Maybe some orderly sign waving on the side of a non-major road so no drivers are distracted?
Yes, big fan.
First, I must confess that over the last few years I have been gravely disappointed with the white moderate. I have almost reached the regrettable conclusion that the Negro’s great stumbling block in the stride toward freedom is not the White Citizen’s Council-er or the Ku Klux Klanner, but the white moderate who is more devoted to “order” than to justice; who prefers a negative peace which is the absence of tension to a positive peace which is the presence of justice; who constantly says “I agree with you in the goal you seek, but I can’t agree with your methods of direct action;” who paternalistically feels he can set the timetable for another man’s freedom; who lives by the myth of time and who constantly advises the Negro to wait until a “more convenient season.”
Everyone always tells protesters they are protesting wrong but we are talking about Just Stop Oil right now due the their protest.
Prison is just a reality of the fight for freedom. Support our troops! >:(