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Monday, 17 October 2022

When climate activism goes very, very wrong

S(o)uper dumb: Two activists from Just Stop Oil were arrested for throwing the contents of two cans of soup on Vincent Van Gogh’s Sunflowers on Friday, according to the BBC. The protestors also glued themselves to the wall underneath the painting in protest of continued fossil fuel extraction. The painting, which has an estimated value of GBP 72.5 mn, has since been cleaned (it was covered with a thin protective layer) and is back on display in London’s National Gallery.

They’re having a busy weekend: Activists backing Just Stop Oil have been gluing themselves to famous artworks in Europe for several months to protest what they say is inadequate climate action. Members of the anti-fossil fuel campaign also defaced an Aston Martin showroom in London's Park Lane with orange paint yesterday, while other campaigners glued themselves to the road in Park Lane, Sky News reports.

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