• Five@slrpnk.netOP
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      6 days ago

      There were very similar conspiracies popular during the suffragette struggle, the civil rights era, and the gay rights movement. They were all just as embarrassing as this one is now.

      This kind of spectacle activism has a long history of creating political change while minimizing violence. Pigeon-holing these brave people as pawns in some MAGA-style conspiracy de-humanizes them and makes it easier to ignore their serious message.

  • seathru@lemmy.sdf.org
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    8 days ago

    Well. Play stupid games, win stupid prizes. Now your org gets to pay for cleanup if they don’t just tell the 2 that got arrested “Good luck, you’re on your own now”

    What’s the correlation with Stonehenge and the fossil fuel industry? No one visiting is going to see the vandalism and think “Maybe I should lessen my personal dependence on fossil fuels.”, they’re just going to hear how it was this asshole group that happens to be named ‘Just Stop Oil’. I highly doubt that’s changing anyone’s mind (for the better).

    Don’t get me wrong, I’m all for activism. Hell, I’m all for destructive activism; Block access to oil wells, sabotage infrastructure (preferably in a way that doesn’t cause more environmental damage in the process), burn down some private jets. But don’t go around being an asshole unrelated to your cause just to get your name out. That’s not helping anything.

    • EasternLettuce@lemm.ee
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      7 days ago

      The media is lying and misrepresenting this event. They didn’t use spray paint, it was dyed corn starch. Water will remove any trace that they were there

      • Elise@beehaw.org
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        5 days ago

        The title is definitely misleading. The article does mention that it’s not spray paint though, and that it could impact the lichen.

    • Elise@beehaw.org
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      8 days ago

      I think it’s based on the idea that all attention is good attention, and you pick the lesser of two evils.

      What you are suggesting is already the case, but it tends be be less visible. For example did you know about this?

      • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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        7 days ago

        “Picking” the lesser of two evils implies there is some kind of exclusive relationship between climate change and vandalism. As if this action had some kind of effect that counters climate change.

        But it doesn’t.

        • Elise@beehaw.org
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          7 days ago

          I didn’t imply it, I explicitly started with that.

          You might not believe that all attention is good attention, but can you imagine that some people do see it that way? In fact I’ve seen a docu about a photographer who believes disruption is the only way to get people’s attention.

          • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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            5 days ago

            Then what are the two evils you’re referring to, and which action are you referring to with picking the lesser evil?

            • Elise@beehaw.org
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              5 days ago

              They are climate activists so I imagine climate change is one of the two evils. The other one is potentially upsetting the lichens and people’s feelings.

              You might not agree with their decision, but I don’t find it irrational.

              • intensely_human@lemm.ee
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                4 days ago

                Right, that’s what I thought you were referring to, and responded to. Ruining stonehenge versus the climate. Or vandalism generally versus the climate.

                We’re not picking between these things. They’re independent variables.

                • Elise@beehaw.org
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                  3 days ago

                  Disturbing the lichens on stonehenge vs generating awareness is clearly connected, since it grabbed our attention without millions of euros of advertising.

      • Jake Farm@sopuli.xyz
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        7 days ago

        Are they protesting the specific location of the factory or the concept of factories?

        • Elise@beehaw.org
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          7 days ago

          I’m not deep into that specific topic, I just brought it up as a large environmental action to show that these things do happen and are not as visible as you might imagine.

          That being said I think there are different perspectives. As far as I understand it the factory was built without good justification, and it has a negative impact on the environment.

  • Laconic@beehaw.org
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    7 days ago

    If you’re willing and able to get arrested for the cause then go assault an oil executive. Maybe light his car on fire. Shut down a pipeline. Block a coal train. Etc. I hate to cricize anymore more committed than I am, but I really think this is counter productive. Attack the actual source of the problem. This is like punching your grandma to stop your dad from hitting your mom.