Rishi Sunak and Sir Keir Starmer have jointly condemned the actions of Just Stop Oil activists who targeted Stonehenge with orange powder paint. The group, comprising Rajan Naidu, 73, and Niamh Lynch, 21, approached the ancient monument with canisters and sprayed orange powder paint, causing a “disgraceful act of vandalism” according to the UK prime minister. The Labour leader described the group as “pathetic” and demanded that those responsible face the full force of the law.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, just a day before the summer solstice is celebrated at Stonehenge, which is a World Heritage site. The damage done to the monument is considered “outrageous” by Sir Keir, and the site remains open to the public despite the vandalism. English Heritage, the organization responsible for the site, is investigating the extent of the damage and assessing the impact on the stones.
Just Stop Oil claims that their action was to demand that the incoming UK government sign a legally binding treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030. The group argues that the continued burning of fossil fuels will result in the death of millions and that it is essential to take collective action to defend humanity. They used orange cornflour paint, which they claim will soon wash away with the rain.
Sir Keir Starmer (Via Sir Keir Starmer/Twitter)
Rajan Naidu, from Birmingham, and Niamh Lynch, a student from Oxford, released a statement on behalf of Just Stop Oil, saying that it is time for the world to think about its legacy and to take collective action to phase out fossil fuels. Naidu stated that if the world does not end the fossil-fuel era, the fossil-fuel era will end humanity.
The incident has sparked widespread condemnation, with the UK prime minister calling for those responsible to issue a condemnation of the act. The Labour leader has also demanded that those responsible face the full force of the law. The Wiltshire Police have arrested two people on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument, and the investigation is ongoing.
The timing of the incident is particularly significant, as it occurred just a day before the summer solstice, which is celebrated at Stonehenge. The site is expected to draw large crowds on Thursday, with thousands of people gathering to mark the longest day of the year. The incident has sparked widespread debate about the impact of climate change and the need for collective action to address the issue.
