Climate activists target Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' in Florence's Uffizi Gallery
Climate activists target Botticelli's 'Birth of Venus' in Florence's Uffizi Gallery
Authorities cleared the room at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, and the two protesters were brought by carabinieri for questioning.
Two climate activists on Tuesday targeted Botticelli’s masterpiece “The Birth of Venus” hanging at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery, attaching images of recent flood damage in the Tuscany region on the protective glass.
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Meanwhile the rich people that are responsible for the majority of climate damage stand in their own private collections completely undisturbed.
Sure this grabs headlines, but momentarily and often preaching to the converted or the disenfranchised.
I'm not saying I have any good answers, and I'm sure we'll all burn and starve thinking of ways to change the minds of people that have power... But there has to be some way to take the protest to them in ways that actually inconveniences them, as opposed to the people that already broadly support this cause.
And yeah, it grabs headlines, briefly, but look at how the media is complicit with the companies and individuals and governments causing the destruction. If they were really bothered about this sort of protest, the chances are you wouldn't see it. The fact we are seeing it probably means that they've evaluated it to cause more contention among the voters, which works in their favour.
I realise I'm starting to sound like a conspiracy nut. Too many references to shady power and control... But sanctioned protest isn't protest at all. It's a sideshow that makes people think they are helpless or that work is being done when it isn't.
And before the "acshurly this wasn't sanctioned" reply... No, you're right, not explicitly, but we still allow people to walk into public buildings without the sort of security you find at airports. I do wonder if that will start changing. I already know a few that won't let you walk around with bags of any kind, and next up comes a frisk and an interview.
Also, it's good to mention that no damage is being done here. The way some media reports it, you'd swear they were destroying valuable public art. They really aren't, but it gets spun that way.
Nothing you said sounds like a conspiracy, unless folks are ignorant.
But you're right, the most effective protests create inconvenience to those in power. In the US, that his historically meant costing a lot of money at the minimum.
But yeah, these guys didn't cause any damage. They created a scene, sure, but all they did was try to raise awareness of a very real problem. And when you look at the response to this, which doesn't even do any harm, it makes it feel pretty obvious that the public is not ready for change and does not support it.
rich people have the entirety of the state defense apparatus to protect their property.
this is at least a start.