The activists were arrested on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument.
The protest was in response to the Labour Party's manifesto that does not promise a fossil fuel phase-out by 2030.
They are members of the group Just Stop Oil.
Two climate activists, Rajan Naidu and Niamh Lynch, vandalized Stonehenge with orange powder paint.
In a bold and attention-grabbing protest, two climate activists from the group Just Stop Oil vandalized the ancient Stonehenge monument in southern England just a day before thousands were expected to gather there to celebrate the summer solstice. The protesters, Rajan Naidu, a 73-year-old from Birmingham, and Niamh Lynch, a 21-year-old student from Oxford, covered the prehistoric site in orange powder paint made from cornflour that will wash away with rain. The activists were arrested on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument. Just Stop Oil claimed responsibility for the act and criticized the Labour Party's manifesto, which has vowed to not issue any new oil and gas drilling licenses. The group is demanding that the next government sign a treaty to phase out fossil fuels by 2030, as continuing to burn coal, oil, and gas will result in the death of millions. English Heritage, the organization managing Stonehenge, expressed extreme upset over the incident and indicated that experts are assessing the extent of the damage. Despite the vandalism, Stonehenge remains open to visitors. The site's managers and security are closely monitoring the area for any further incidents.
Climate activism group Just Stop Oil vandalized Stonehenge in the UK as part of a protest against fossil fuels.
Niamh Lynch, a 21-year-old Oxford student involved in the stunt, stated that continued use of fossil fuels leads to death and suffering on an unparalleled scale.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(25%)
The article contains selective reporting as it only reports details that support the author's position of the activists demanding an end to fossil fuels. The author also uses emotional manipulation by quoting Niamh Lynch stating 'continued burning of oil, coal and gas is leading to death and suffering on an unparalleled scale.'
The author quotes Niamh Lynch stating 'continued burning of oil, coal and gas is leading to death and suffering on an unparalleled scale.'
She added, 'It's time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind - what is our legacy? Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy.'
The other vandal was identified as Rajan Naidu, a 73-year-old man from Birmingham.
Fallacies
(85%)
The author makes an appeal to emotion by using phrases like 'death and suffering on an unparalleled scale' and 'what is our legacy?'. This is a form of emotional fallacy. The author also uses a dichotomous depiction by presenting only two options: either end fossil fuels or face death and suffering.
"It’s time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind – what is our legacy? Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy."
"Either we end the fossil fuel era, or the fossil fuel era will end us."
Bias
(80%)
The author expresses a clear bias towards the climate activists' cause by quoting their statements and describing their actions as 'a wider protest against fossil fuels' and 'demanding the incoming UK government commit to working with other governments to agree an equitable plan to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030'. The author also uses language that depicts the activists' actions as heroic, such as 'vandalized an ancient landmark' being changed to 'a wider protest against fossil fuels' and quoting Niamh Lynch saying 'It’s time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind – what is our legacy? Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy.'
Just Stop Oil, the organization behind the Wednesday incident, is demanding ‘the incoming UK government commit to working with other governments to agree an equitable plan to end the extraction and burning of oil, gas and coal by 2030.’
Niamh Lynch said ‘It’s time for us to think about what our civilization will leave behind – what is our legacy? Standing inert for generations works well for stones – not climate policy.’
Two members of the Just Stop Oil climate advocacy group were arrested for dousing Stonehenge monument with orange powder.
Rajan Naidu, a 73-year-old Birmingham resident and one of the activists, explained that the pigment used is made of orange cornflour that will wash away but the urgent need for government action to mitigate climate crisis remains.
The protesters called on the UK government to commit to ending fossil fuel extraction and burning by 2030.
Niamh Lynch, a 21-year-old Oxford University student and second activist arrested, urged the government to take action against climate crisis as continued burning of oil, coal and gas leads to death and suffering on an unparalleled scale.
Stonehenge is a circular monument believed to date from the late Neolithic period, approximately 2500 BCE. Its purpose is not clear but it may have been used to track the sun’s movements and had spiritual significance.
Last week, over 400 climate scientists in the UK released an open letter urging party leaders to commit to a more ambitious program to cut greenhouse gas emissions ahead of July 4 general elections.
Just Stop Oil wants the incoming British government to work with other nations on a legally binding Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and support other countries in transitioning to clean energy.
Continued burning of coal, oil and gas will result in the death of millions.
Accuracy
No Contradictions at Time
Of
Publication
Deception
(100%)
None Found At Time Of
Publication
Fallacies
(85%)
The article contains an appeal to authority and a dichotomous depiction. The appeal to authority is found in the quote from Just Stop Oil's press statement, which references the left-leaning Labour Party and their commitment to enacting the group's demand. The dichotomous depiction is present in the description of Stonehenge at solstice as either a celebration of nature or a symbol of human suffering caused by fossil fuel consumption.
Just Stop Oil wants the incoming British government to work with other nations on a legally binding Fossil Fuel Non-Proliferation Treaty and support other countries in making a transition to clean energy.
Two individuals, Rajan Naidu and Niamh Lynch, vandalized Stonehenge by covering it in orange powder paint on Wednesday.
The incident occurred just before the Summer Solstice celebrations at the 5,000-year-old site.
Wiltshire Police arrested the two individuals on suspicion of damaging the ancient monument.
Just Stop Oil, an environmental group, claimed responsibility for the vandalism and stated that the paint was made from cornflour and would wash away with rain.
