Protests have become a central part of campaigns calling for urgent responses to global challenges.
Environmental movements, in particular, have embraced increasingly visible and controversial tactics to draw attention to the climate crisis.
These actions often spark debates about their impact and the balance between advocacy and public respect.
On Monday, members of the environmental group “Just Stop Oil” defaced Charles Darwin’s grave at Westminster Abbey in London.
Darwin Would be Appalled
Using orange paint, they wrote “1.5 is dead” on the marble tombstone, a reference to the reported breach of the 1.5-degree Celsius global temperature threshold above pre-industrial levels in 2024.
The group released a video of the act, with one activist stating that surpassing this limit signaled a critical failure in addressing climate change.
She claimed Darwin, the father of evolutionary theory, would be appalled to see the world facing what she called a sixth mass extinction caused by human activity.
Darwin, who died in 1882, is buried in Westminster Abbey’s Scientists’ Corner, alongside other notable figures such as Sir Isaac Newton and Stephen Hawking.
The site holds significant cultural and scientific importance and is one of London’s most visited landmarks.
Westminster Abbey officials acted quickly to address the incident, stating that cleaning efforts had begun immediately and that the memorial was not expected to suffer permanent damage.
The Abbey remained open to visitors and worshippers during the cleanup.
London’s Metropolitan Police responded to the incident, arresting two activists on suspicion of causing criminal damage.
The women were taken into custody and transported to a police station for questioning.
“Just Stop Oil” is known for its bold and disruptive methods, which have included interrupting public events, targeting works of art, and defacing prominent buildings.
Similar actions have been reported in other countries, where activists aim to call attention to the urgent need for action on climate change.
