IS THIS THE RIGHT WAY TO PROTEST?

 

Climate change is alarming nowadays and a lot of people are committed to the environmental cause. But these days, these people have turned into rioters and are definitely crossing the line.

 Watch what happened to Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” at the National Gallery in London. 

 

The world was shocked when these two young girls entered the museum wearing shirts with their slogan “Just stop oil”, and started throwing tomato soup against the painting. They glued their hands on the wall and one of them shouted: “What is worth more: art or life?”. Then she goes on: ”Are you more concerned about the protection of a painting or the protection of our planet and people?”

Then it happened again. This time at Potsdam, at the Barberini Museum. Two German activists threw smashed potatoes against a Claude Monet painting. 

 

A few days ago, instead, at The Hague, an activist glued his own head to Vermeer’s “Girl With a Pearl Earring”, and another poured tomato soup over him. 

Luckily, none of the paintings were ruined, as they were protected by glass. The situation, however, is out of control. Invaluable paintings are being targeted by these people, who want to be heard and want us all to understand how serious the matter is.

They started these riots to ask governments to stop the extraction of fossil fuels and stop burning them. But the question is: is this the right way to protest?

If you feel angry while watching these people ruin priceless works of art, then probably the answer is no.

But these people want us to feel angry and furious, just like they feel for the climate cause they fight for.

 Some people complained about the fact that these people are protesting for the environment, but are actually wasting food. So, is this correct? Is this being a real activist? Protesting for a serious issue while feeding another big one: food waste and famine?

One of the activists even dug her own grave, saying: ”People are starving. People are freezing. People are dying. We are in a climate catastrophe and all you are afraid of is tomato soup or mashed potatoes on a painting”.

She said “people are starving“ right after throwing food at the painting. This should make us think.

These are just a few episodes of climate activists ruining works of art. But, as much as I’m concerned about climate change, I still don’t think this is the right way to protest and be heard. Cultural heritage is as important as climate change and deserves protection, as well as the our natural environment.

Maria D., 5sc