Two activists, Jennifer Kowalski, 28, and Cole Macdonald, 22, who were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage after appearing to spray orange paint over private jets at Stansted Airport in Essex, UK. The activists, who claim to be members of the environmental group Just Stop Oil, entered the airfield and painted two private jets using fire extinguishers filled with orange paint.
According to eyewitnesses, the activists cut a hole in the airfield’s metal fence using an angle grinder and then spray-painted the fuselage and windows of two parked white planes with orange paint. The video footage shows one of the activists wearing a Just Stop Oil T-shirt and appearing to spray the planes, before both activists sit together in front of the planes on the tarmac.
Essex Police received reports of people gaining access to a private area of the airfield at around 5am, and officers were on the scene shortly after. The two activists were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage and interference with the use or operation of national infrastructure. The airport and flights are operating as normal, according to the police.
The activists’ motive for the protest is to bring attention to the issue of climate change and the use of fossil fuels. In a statement, Kowalski, the former sustainability manager from Scotland, said that she had to take desperate measures to make her voice heard because working in sustainability provided her with no ability to make the necessary changes to prevent the collapse of the natural systems. The group is demanding an emergency treaty to stop the extraction and burning of oil, gas, and coal by 2030.
The incident is not the first of its kind. Earlier this week, two Just Stop Oil activists sprayed orange paint on the prehistoric Stonehenge monument in a similar protest. The group’s message is clear: billionaires who use private jets and exploit the system should be held accountable for the destruction of the planet.
Jennifer Kowalski (Via Jennifer Kowalski/Twitter)
The police Chief Superintendent Simon Anslow emphasized that while the force is prepared to deal with incidents of this nature, they are not anti-protest but will take action where criminal acts take place. The arrest of the two activists highlights the growing tension between environmental activists and the authorities, who are struggling to balance the demands of protesters with the need to maintain order and protect the public.
As the world grapples with the urgency of climate change, incidents like this one serve as a stark reminder of the need for immediate action. The protesters’ message is that the current system is unsustainable and that drastic measures are needed to address the crisis. The police’s response is a testament to the increasing challenge of policing protests and the growing divide between the public and the authorities.
The incident highlights the complex issues surrounding climate change, private jets, and the role of billionaires in the global economy. As the protesters’ message spreads, it is clear that the public is increasingly aware of the need for drastic action to address the crisis. The question remains as to whether the authorities will take a harder stance against environmental activists or whether the protesters will be able to bring about the change they seek.
