Climate Activists Target Darwin's Grave in Protest Against Global Warming
In a bold protest against government inaction on climate change, members of the climate activist group Just Stop Oil spray-painted “1.5 is dead” on the grave of Charles Darwin at Westminster Abbey in London. This action, carried out on Monday morning, directly follows the confirmation that 2024 was the warmest year on record, with average global temperatures surpassing the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius above preindustrial levels.
The two women charged in the incident, Alyson Lee, 66, and Di Bligh, 77, asserted that their protest aimed to highlight the urgency of addressing climate change. Lee stated, “We are trying to get the government to act on climate change. They are not doing enough.” Bligh emphasized the significance of their choice of location, asserting that Darwin, as a scientist, would agree with their frustration towards the current climate crisis.
The Metropolitan Police confirmed the arrest of the two women on suspicion of causing criminal damage with powdered paint. A spokesperson for Westminster Abbey indicated that there would likely be no permanent damage to the memorial and that the abbey remained open to visitors.
The recent data from the European Union’s Copernicus Climate Change Service underscores the importance of such protests, revealing the significant impacts of human-caused climate change on global temperatures. Experts emphasize that exceeding the 1.5-degree limit, a key goal of the Paris Agreement, could lead to catastrophic environmental consequences.
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