Just Stop Oil Activists Sentenced for Van Gogh Soup Incident

Two Just Stop Oil climate activists, Phoebe Plummer and Anna Holland, were sentenced to 20 months and two years in prison, respectively, for throwing tomato soup on Vincent van Gogh's "Sunflowers" at the National Gallery in London. The judge, Christopher Hehir, stated that the painting could have been "seriously damaged or even destroyed" by the soup.

Plummer and Holland had pleaded not guilty to the charges of criminal damage and aggravated trespass. They argued that their actions were a necessary protest against the continued use of fossil fuels, which they believe are driving the climate crisis.

Greenpeace UK's co-executive director, Will McCallum, called the sentence "a draconian and disproportionate punishment for a protest that caused minor damage to a picture frame." He argued that the activists' actions were justified and that they should not be punished for standing up for a liveable planet.

Just Stop Oil is a climate activist group that aims to end the extraction and burning of fossil fuels. They have staged a number of high-profile protests in recent years, including targeting the Wimbledon tennis tournament, the British Open golf tournament, and art galleries and museums.

The group argues that climate change poses an existential crisis for humanity and that its direct tactics are justified. They believe that the government is not doing enough to address the climate crisis and that their actions are necessary to raise awareness and force change.

The sentencing of Plummer and Holland has sparked debate about the role of protest in addressing climate change. Some argue that their actions were justified and that they should not be punished for speaking out against the climate crisis. Others argue that their actions were reckless and could have caused serious damage to a valuable work of art.