Two environmental activists from Just Stop Oil have been arrested after pouring orange powder on a replica dinosaur skeleton at the Natural History Museum in London.
The protestors, consultant gastroenterologist Will Stableforth and physiotherapist Steve Fay, used a children’s powder paint fountain to cover a 2.67-tonne titanosaur cast in orange cornstarch on Thursday (26 October), Just Stop Oil said in a press release.
During the action at the museum, the pair displayed a banner which read, “For health’s sake – Just Stop Oil”. They then waited for the police to arrive.
The Metropolitan Police said the protesters were arrested on suspicion of criminal damage before being taken into custody.
In a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter, the Metropolitan Police wrote: “Two people have been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage at the Natural History Museum.
“Two activists from Just Stop Oil vandalised one of the exhibits with orange paint. They are in police custody.”
Before the protest, Stableforth said: “As an NHS medical consultant I’ve spent many years looking after patients with diseases which, at their root, are caused by fossil fuels.
“I have done everything legal I can to get our message across. Most of that has been ineffective; so it’s time to break the law. I cannot see another way at this time.”
He continued, “The climate crisis is a healthcare emergency for every single one of us. We demand an end to any new fossil fuels and immediate climate action prioritising public health rather than big business.”
“Like this long extinct dinosaur, we are in grave danger of following in its footsteps. We know we are in a climate emergency with breakdowns in weather patterns and deaths of millions on the near horizon, yet our government pursues ever greater exploitation of oil and gas reserves,” Fay said.
“If we don’t act now, the repercussions will grow ever larger. As a health professional I know this will cause great suffering and death for many millions of people.
“I have made the decision to take non-violent direct action because I have a moral obligation as a healthcare professional to do all that I can to prevent harm.”
Image courtesy of Just Stop Oil
