They are not attempting to damage cultural artifacts. There have been several of these attacks in Europe by environmentalists and they always select target with protective class.
It's a great way to demonstrate and get attention.
It's a great way to demonstrate and get attention.
I do not support this style of protest, but their reason is something like:
"They are absolutey tired of the spoiled rich (old) people, who continue to fuck up the planet like before and continue to get away with it, with no serious action being done about climate change."
I'm not kidding. This is an asymmetric conflict of the powerless against the powerful. Obviously their methods are going to have to be asymmetric. If you end up siding with the powerful, well, you are taking a side whether you like it or not.
Just look at the world. Look. Only heavy indoctrination may make you interpret the world as I be fucking up the planet. I feel like a German guy who was born during WWI and who is accused of being the source of all problems in the world, squeezed between having to reimburse France for war damages done by my parents (which Germany did until 1991) AND squeezed with the economic recession of 1932 in Germany.
Just leave those paintings alone.
I think I did. And I see many different people, in many different countries, making many creative, but similar excuses to not actually do anything different, if it is only slightly inconvenient.
"Just leave those paintings alone."
And it seems you directed this at me, well did you read the part, where I said I do not support this protest?
Also, where did I or anyone else here directly accuse you of anything?
Or do you consider yourself to be a "spoiled rich old guy"?
I can also explain to you, when a angry dog will bite, does that me make a dog?
My stand is, to make progress and overcome conflicts, one has to understand the other side at least a little.
And in this case, no I am not a climate activist. I do not see much point in activism. But I do see a point, in trying to get people to work together to solve the common problems, like climate change.
Wrong adress, I am not an activist of any kind.
"Things like being able to light a Christmas tree as a community are things we do to unite and not have to worry about how shitty the place is for 10 minutes."
Did I told you, you may not do this anymore?
"The world has always been fucked up"
I disagree to this. But yes, the human world always had problems. But the problems usually did not go away by themself, but by people working together on solutions.
They may label themselves as environmentalists etc - because they have to label themselves as something if they don't want to just be considered vandals - but I think the answer that's most likely is some type of personality disorder.
1. Get in the news
2. ???
3. Environment is saved!
Allegedly, they did this to reduce the burning of fossil fuels, not (as seems more likely to me and others) to act like a bunch of poorly-socialized three-year-olds throwing a tantrum.
How many fewer barrels of oil would you estimate will be burned over the course of the coming year as a direct result of this "protest"? Say, to the nearest million. Be sure to show your work.
Any? No? Then it didn't actually "work", did it?
At this point most are sticking to the same outlook they had 10-20 years ago.
Attention is what is needed in attention (political) economy, sure, but I do wonder why they've chosen (classical) art specifically? I kind of miss the big witty stunts done by the Yes Men and alike.
Probably not, but one might think that there would be better "targets", artificial as they may still be? Remember the scene in Fight Club?
I don't know how that furthers their cause.
How do people not know the Mona Lisa is protected by a sheet of glass, and has been for years?