shock tactics
British climate activists don’t want to get stuck anymore
Climate activists from Just Stop Oil have taped their hands to a painting in London. photo
© Kirsty O’connor/PA Wire/dpa
No more sticking, smearing on artwork or blocking roads! The British climate activist group Extinction Rebellion announces: “We are stopping”.
For the time being, the activists of the Extinction Rebellion movement in Great Britain no longer want to stick themselves to works of art and block roads in protest against the lack of climate protection. The group announced this on New Year’s Day in a statement entitled “We’re Quitting”. The disruptive actions – which are quite controversial among the population – were important to stir up and to denounce systematic political failure in the face of the climate crisis. However, “tactics would have to be continuously developed”: From now on, there will be more emphasis on putting pressure on responsible politicians by mobilizing the broad masses of society for forms of collective protest.
In recent months, climate activists in several countries have repeatedly stuck to works of art, smeared them with tomato soup and mashed potatoes, blockaded buildings and glued themselves to streets. Proponents speak of a shock tactic to raise awareness of the climate catastrophe. For opponents, these are acts of vandalism or at least annoying hindrances in everyday life.