Aysu Biçer
19 June 2024•Update: 20 June 2024
LONDON
In a daring and controversial protest, two supporters of the environmental group Just Stop Oil decorated Stonehenge with orange powder paint on Wednesday.
The protest, which took place around noon, comes just one day before thousands of people are expected to gather at the ancient site to celebrate the Summer Solstice, which occurs twice a year when one of Earth's poles reaches its maximum tilt toward the Sun.
The activists are demanding that the incoming UK government commit to a global agreement to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels by 2030.
This action follows the Labour party's recent pledge to halt future licenses for new oil and gas projects if they form the next government.
"The UK’s government in waiting has committed to enacting Just Stop Oil’s original demand of ‘no new oil and gas’. However, we all know this is not enough. Continuing to burn coal, oil and gas will result in the death of millions. We have to come together to defend humanity or we risk everything.
“That’s why Just Stop Oil is demanding that our next government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030," a Just Stop Oil spokesperson said in a statement.
The spokesperson warned that if no meaningful action is taken, resistance will escalate, involving supporters from several countries, including Austria, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands, and Switzerland.
The choice of Stonehenge for the protest was symbolic, as the ancient site is a testament to historical cooperation across Europe.
Niamh Lynch, 21, a student from Oxford and one of the protesters, explained her motivation: "Stonehenge at solstice is all about celebrating the natural world – but look at the state it’s in! We all have a right to live a life free from suffering, but continued burning of oil, coal and gas is leading to death and suffering on an unparalleled scale."
Lynch emphasized the need for a shift in climate policy, stating: "It’s time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind – what is our legacy? Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy."
