Eco-activist radicals from 'Just Stop Oil' vandalize Stonehenge [VIDEOS]

Environmental activists tried to leave their mark on the historic Stonehenge site in England's Wiltshire county by vandalizing it on Wednesday. British environmental group Just Stop Oil claimed responsibility for the incident and later shared video footage of the incident on social media. The video shows two activists spraying an orange substance on three of the megalithic stones at the prehistoric monument of Stonehenge.

🚨 BREAKING: Just Stop Oil Spray Stonehenge Orange

🔥 2 people took action the day before the summer solstice, demanding that the incoming government sign a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.

🧯 Help us do megalithic actions — https://t.co/R20S8YQD1j pic.twitter.com/ufzO8ZiDWu

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 19, 2024

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The sprayed substance was later identified as “orange powder paint” made from cornstarch that Just Stop Oil said would wash away in the rain. The group said their message was a demand for the British government to prioritize action on the catastrophic effects of climate change. According to Just Stop Oil, the government must take meaningful action and commit to legally binding agreements to phase out fossil fuels by 2030.

🚔 ARRESTED AT STONEHENGE

⛓️ Rajan and Niamh have been arrested after covering up #Stonehenge in orange powder paint.

🧡 The paint is made of cornstarch, which will wash away with the rain, but the urgent need for effective government action to mitigate the catastrophic… pic.twitter.com/KKXuBrhWCn

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 19, 2024

After the presentation, the two activists were arrested for their actions, and footage also shows their arrest by police officers. The English Heritage charity, responsible for looking after Stonehenge and many other important historic sites in England, confirmed the damage to the stones. Heritage officials announced plans to assess the extent of vandalism that has recently taken place at the site. In its statement, the organization expressed its disappointment at the incident and called for calm to protect the nation's heritage.

“Obviously this is extremely upsetting and our curators are investigating the extent of the damage…Stonehenge remains open to the public.” – Spokesperson for English Heritage

The incident has been criticized and condemned by some because Stonehenge is a world historic monument and a symbol of ancient British heritage, with no direct link to climate change or the use of fossil fuels. The English Heritage Charity reiterated the importance of preserving the monument, which remains open to the public. The charity stated the need to protect the identity of the nation's history and cultural heritage for future generations.

🦺 Naimh, 21, a student at Oxford University, is one of the people arrested for performing at Stonehenge today.

💬 “Stonehenge at Solstice is about celebrating the natural world, but look at the state it's in! We all have the right to live a life free from… pic.twitter.com/f0NeQlFalk

— Just Stop Oil (@JustStop_Oil) June 19, 2024

You can read the Just Stop Oil press release below:

Two Just Stop Oil supporters have decorated Stonehenge with orange powder paint. They are calling for the incoming UK government to commit to working with other governments to agree a fair plan to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030. [1]

At around 12pm, the two supporters began spraying the iconic rocks at the ancient site near Salisbury. Thousands of people are expected to descend on the site tomorrow to celebrate the summer solstice.

Today's action comes days after the Labor Party's manifesto re-committed them to halt all future licenses for new oil and gas, should they form the next government.

A spokesperson for Just Stop Oil said:

“The UK government-in-waiting has pledged to enact Just Stop Oil's original demand for 'no new oil and gas'. However, we all know this is not enough. Continuing to burn coal, oil and gas will lead to the deaths of millions. We must come together to defend humanity or risk it all. That's why Just Stop Oil is calling for our next government to sign a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels. 2030

If they don't commit to standing up for our communities, Just Stop Oil supporters, along with citizens of Austria, Canada, Norway, the Netherlands and Switzerland will join the resistance this summer, if their own governments don't take meaningful action . Stone circles can be found in all parts of Europe showing how we have always cooperated across great distances – we are building on this legacy.”

One of those taking action this morning is 21-year-old Oxford student Niamh Lynch, who said:

“Stonehenge at Solstice is about celebrating the natural world, but look at the state it's in! We all have the right to live a life free of suffering, but the continued burning of oil, coal and gas is causing death and suffering on an unprecedented scale.”

“It's time we think about what our civilization will leave behind: what is our legacy?

Being inert for generations works well for rocks, not climate policy.”

Also acting is Rajan Naidu, 73, from Birmingham, who said:

“Either we end the age of fossil fuels, or the age of fossil fuels will end us. Just as fifty years ago, when the world used international treaties to defuse the threats posed by nuclear weapons, today the The world needs a Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty to phase out fossil fuels and support dependent economies, workers and communities to move away from oil, gas and coal.”

“The orange cornmeal we used to create an eye-catching spectacle will soon be washed away by the rain, but the urgent need for effective government action to mitigate the catastrophic consequences of the climate and ecological crisis will not. Sign the treaty!”

Until world leaders act to protect us, Just Stop Oil supporters, working with other international groups, will take the proportionate steps necessary to generate much-needed political pressure. This summer, areas of key importance to the fossil fuel economy will be declared sites of civil resistance around the world. Register to take action at juststopoil.org.

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