LONDON – Environmental activists from the group Just Stop Oil have covered parts of Stonehenge with an orange powder. Britain’s most renowned prehistoric structure will host summer solstice celebrations tomorrow. The powder is described as “orange cornflower” by Just Stop Oil.
Just Stop Oil is a climate activist group based in the United Kingdom. The group was formed in 2022 and aims to compel the UK government to halt new fossil fuel licensing and production. The group argues that continued investment in fossil fuels is incompatible with mitigating climate change and achieving the goals set out in the Paris Agreement.
Just Stop Oil is known for its direct action tactics, which often include civil disobedience and public demonstrations designed to disrupt activities associated with fossil fuel consumption. Their actions which have included blocking roads, disrupting sports events, and targeting major infrastructure related to oil production and distribution, are intended to draw public and governmental attention to their cause and to pressure policymakers into making significant changes to energy policy.
Just Stop oil claimed responsibility on X. The group’s website was down at the time of publication of this article.
In a video posted on X by Just Stop Oil, two activists are seen spraying the ancient monument with orange paint using fire extinguishers.
🚨 BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Spray Stonehenge Orange
🔥 2 people took action the day before Summer Solstice, demanding the incoming government sign up to a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.
🧯 Help us take megalithic action — https://t.co/R20S8YQD1j pic.twitter.com/ufzO8ZiDWu
— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 19, 2024
Just Stop Oil stated on X,
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.
Failure to commit to defending our communities will mean Just Stop Oil supporters, along with citizens from Austria, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland will join in resistance this summer, if their own Governments do not take meaningful action. Stone circles can be found in every part of Europe showing how we’ve always cooperated across vast distances – we’re building on that legacy.
The environmental protesters were a a 73-year-old from Birmingham and a 21-year-old from Oxford, , Just Stop Oil said in a press release. Photo via Just Stop Oil
The official Stonehenge X account called the incident “extremely upsetting,” noting that several stones, which date back to the late Neolithic period, were covered in orange paint. The Stonehenge UK account wrote ” Just stop oil protestors damage Stonehenge 😭.”
“Orange powdered paint has been thrown at several of the stones at Stonehenge. This is obviously extremely upsetting, and our curators are investigating the extent of the damage,” the post read. Despite the incident, the site remains open, according to English Heritage, which manages Stonehenge.
In preparation for the summer solstice gathering on Thursday, English Heritage which administers Stonehenge published “conditions of entry,” emphasizing respect for the site. “Stonehenge is a World Heritage Site, a Scheduled Ancient Monument, and is seen by many as a sacred place. We ask that all those attending respect it and those celebrating around it,” their website stated.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak condemned the protest on X, writing, “Just Stop Oil are a disgrace.”
Protestors spraying powder on Stonehenge Photo via Just Stop Oil
Last month, the same group garnered attention when two protesters damaged the glass protecting the Magna Carta at the British Museum in London. Climate activists have been staging increasingly high-profile protests, often targeting valuable artworks such as the Mona Lisa and Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers.”
BBC correspondent Paul Clifton wrote that the three stones closest to the public path were”splattered” with paint. He noted that many tourists appeared “slightly bemused” by the situation. “Stonehenge managers and security guards are standing by the path,” he said. “There’s a suggestion that because it is powder paint and the weather is dry and sunny, it might be removed without lasting damage, but experts need to inspect the stones before forming an opinion.”
Just Stop Oil stated on the X account that “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.”
The group added, “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.” “It’s time for us to think about what our civilisation will leave behind – what is our legacy? Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy.”
An English Heritage spokeswoman confirmed the site remains open and described the spraying of the monument as “extremely upsetting.” She assured that the annual summer solstice celebrations would proceed as planned, taking place overnight on Thursday.
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