Newest destruction at Nazca

[lajoswinkler]

Perhaps you've heard of the irrepairable damage Greenpeace has caused to the World Heritage Site of Nazca lines in Peru.

Activists have entered the site of the hummingbird drawing without any foot protection and... Well a picture is worth a thousand words.

Before.

After.

Over the past 1500 years this drawing has survived criminal colonizators and weather, only to be damaged by this "organization".

http://elcomercio.pe/peru/pais/lineas-nasca-marcas-dejadas-greenpeace-son-irreparables-noticia-1777541

Comments?

[zekes]

wow - it is not okay to mess with this kind of thing - I didn't know it was that noticeable. They've really hurt the site.

[Flymetothemun]

When I first read this story a day or two ago, I thought "They need to be arrested and brought to court". From what I've read, it looks like if they find them they'll get 6 years. The article below says: "Visits to the site are closely supervised - ministers and presidents have to seek special permission and special footwear to tread on the fragile ground where the 1,500 year old lines are cut." It also says " "It's a true slap in the face at everything Peruvians consider sacred,'' Deputy Culture Minister Luis Jaime Castillo said, speaking to news agencies." I honestly think they deserve the 6 years (Although I'd increase it to 10-15 years, to be honest) because of these facts.

I mean, I can understand wanting to protect/help the environment and getting others to protect/help the environment, but sneaking onto land that you need special permissions and footwear to be on and ruining a 1500 year-old historical site and piece of art with cultural significance by walking on it with regular shoes and setting up a little sign on the ground that you could've put on a roadside sign or on flyers is VERY extreme.

I honestly think it's a PR stunt in disguise.

Article: http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-30422994

Edited December 14, 2014 by Flymetothemun

[LordFerret]

These people, plain and simple, are over-educated useless loons... zealots.

[CelticCossack51]

Greenpeace always does stunts like these to get attention wether if it's trespassing or not. This has to be very serious and Indiana Jones has to bring them to 'peace'. I love archaeology and this just gets me livid. I appreciate their cause and motivation to save the environment, but you don't need a whole bunch of invertebrates to lay banners, liberate nuclear reactors, and damage ancient artifacts.

[FenrirWolf]

March to save the environment, cause irreversible erosion in the process

Nice work guys

[King Arthur]

March to save the environment, cause irreversible erosion in the process

Nice work guys

The irony is dropping a "yay renewable energy!" sign on a World Heritage site that can never be repaired, let alone renewed.

I honestly am baffled why in god's name Greenpeace hasn't been labeled a criminal organization yet and eliminated, the crap they keep doing benefits absolutely noone.

From what I've read, it looks like if they find them they'll get 6 years.

Seriously? The price for desecrating a site of priceless historical and cultural significance is a paltry 6 years? That just reaffirms to me that there's no way human civilization is ever going to last for any notable period of galactic time.

[pxi]

The group said it was sorry if the protest at the historical site on Monday caused any "moral offense" to the people of Peru.

You have to wonder if they even comprehend what they have done to the site. And for a photoshot that will get them 15 seconds of exposure.

I'm not sure that imprisoning the people involved is necessarily the ideal thing to do, will that not turn them into martyrs in the eyes of greenpeace and their supporters? Rather, I think the Peruvian government needs to sue greenpeace. Hitting them in the wallet might be a much better deterrent against future stunts like this.

[lajoswinkler]

They need to be fined, I agree. Sucked money dry.

I am actually wondering if they are really this stupid, or their top leaders are paid con-artists working for the fossil fuel industry PR, and they're just followed by an army of buffooning treehuggers who have no respect for humanity and no knowledge of the nature and environment or actually any science.

They behave like teenagers on drugs. Absolutely no wisdom in some of their actions. Too bad this will only strengthen the positions of morons in the "anti GW" headquarters.

And their "apology" is ridiculous.

Greenpeace International

11 December at 17:08 · Edited ·

Without reservation, Greenpeace apologises to the people of Peru for the offense caused by our recent activity laying a message of hope at the site of the historic Nazca Lines.

We are deeply sorry for this.

Edited December 14, 2014 by lajoswinkler

[Ikaneko]

Greenpeace International

11 December at 17:08 · Edited ·

Without reservation, Greenpeace apologises to the people of Peru for the offense caused by our recent activity laying a message of hope at the site of the historic Nazca Lines.

We are deeply sorry for this.

I find it childish that they continue to have a dig at promotion in their apology: message of hope.

No hope for the conservationists who must now spend millions attempting to repair a beautiful site.

The irony of Greenpeace: in their attempt to save a beautiful thing (our world) they end up almost destroying an even more wonderful thing (the Nazca lines).

Their apology was entirely unwholesome and had a tone that barely reflects what they have done. I would have expected them to have written a full letter, along with compensation and a live TV apology.

[Technical Ben]

Many in the past started invasions with the message of "hope" and "peace". The difference between real hope and real peace, is to turn up with it, not just "messages" of it.

Seems Greenpeace turned up with some messages, but no ability to show peace or hope towards those in Peru. While it's "just" art, and not someone's life, it's still really disrespectful. It's the equivalent of Greenpeace chopping down trees in the rainforest! (Who knows what actual environment they may have also damaged, as I assume the land is also protected for the sake of nature? ).

[hugix]

The future is renewable. The past isn't.

Nature is not an excuse to destroy culture. I sure hope that GP will feel this in reduced donations. I am not giving any cent to them anymore!

[Godot]

I definitely respect the goals of greenpeace and other environmentalist organisations.

But this action definitely showed a similar kind of shortsightedness like the one they try to combat.

[Bill Phil]

I wonder... Perhaps the Nazcans had a coordinate system like us.

Who let them do this, though?

[segaprophet]

I can't say what I really think due to the board rules on political posts...but needless to say, yes, I disapprove strongly.

[astropapi1]

Idiots! I can't believe they did this, absolutely infuriating.

Giving jail time to the guys who did this isn't enough, they'd be seen as martyrs of the corporatocracy or some stupid [bull excrement] like that. The Peruvian government needs to sue the ever living [procreate] out of Greenpeace, that'll teach them.

EDIT: Uhm, removed some bad words. Still, this makes me incredibly mad.

[Kinglet]

These people, plain and simple, are over-educated useless loons... zealots.

There is no such a thing as over-education. There is only brainwashing.

[CelticCossack51]

We want peace! We want peace!

*destroys Vancouver*

[Camacha]

Greenpeace seems to have a habit of undertaking rash, damaging actions for primarily their own promotion. Their basic goals are noble, but their modus operandus negates any positive effects. These people have to be stopped. It seems they don't even understand what they have done either, apologizing for any offence and saying "We fully understand that this looks bad. [...] We came across as careless and crass.". Sorry if you were offended seems weak to say the least and is not even actually an apology, and you did not come across, you fully were. Also no mention of the permanent damage caused to a precious and ancient artefact.

UNESCO has pushed to qualify The destruction of world heritage items or sites of particular historical and cultural value as a crime against humanity and this might not be too far off.

[lajoswinkler]

It would be impossible if all of them are into conspiracy to give environmentalism a bad name and to make fossil fuel guys popular, but is it possible that its top people are paid by oil/coal guys, and the army of nincompoops is made of

and alike?

Or most of them are just like that, dumb and shallow?

[Iskierka]

(Who knows what actual environment they may have also damaged, as I assume the land is also protected for the sake of nature? ).

No nature whatsoever, nothing lives there, hence the lines remaining undisturbed for as long as they had. Not fair to trade culture to promote environment, but they aren't the literal opposite of their goals such as PETA.

[rtxoff]

Species extinction, eviromental pollution, rutheless exploitation. Nature is destroyed every day piece by piece through human intervention and it seems nobody cares about it. Convicting Greenpeace for what they do without convicting the people who make the big money by destroying nature is pure hypocrisy. I am very disappointed by most of the reactions here in this thread. Everybody is dooming Greenpeace and nobody is mentioning what is forcing them to take such drastical measures. Also i would have expected some people here to know it better cause i know them and i know that they are not in the exploitation business. What Greenpeace did here was certainly wrong but also what we do every day to our planet is also.

[Godot]

Species extinction, eviromental pollution, rutheless exploitation. Nature is destroyed every day piece by piece through human intervention and it seems nobody cares about it. Convicting Greenpeace for what they do without convicting the people who make the big money by destroying nature is pure hypocrisy. I am very disappointed by most of the reactions here in this thread. Everybody is dooming Greenpeace and nobody is mentioning what is forcing them to take such drastical measures. Also i would have expected some people here to know it better cause i know them and i know that they are not in the exploitation business. What Greenpeace did here was certainly wrong but also what we do every day to our planet is also.

Protesting the irrepairable damage done to the ecosphere by irrepairable damaging a world heritage site isn´t the right way of protest.

And especially a large organization that combats irrepairable damage to this planet should know better than to do such a thing.

[lajoswinkler]

Greenpeace does have a noble cause, but they haven't evolved beyond naive, ignorant environmentalism from the 70s.

One of the key objections to their behaviour is complete and utter ignorance about fission energy and energy production in general, coupled with typical extreme exaggeration of solar/wind capabilities. Stupidity.

One of their early leaders (or founders, can't remember) has left the organization and has become their critic. That speaks volumes. Experienced people leave and are replaced by young, stupid ones. Such policy ensures constant resetting of their microsociety, just like in other examples of similar NGOs. They are working against their cause. They lack something they like to mention too often - sustainability.

Too bad people are misinterpreting scientific research of meteorology, zoology, ecology, climatology and oceanography with often mindless approach of Greenpeace. :/

I am strongly for the preservation of environment, but I'm also familiar with facts so you won't hear me defending unconditional usage of solar panels, for example.

Whatever their policy is, destruction of our heritage as humanity is unacceptable, and their apology is meek at best. They might not actually understand what they've done.

[pxi]

I'd find it hard to believe that they're not aware of the damage they've caused. At this point I'm strongly suspecting that the 'apology' has been worded such that they aren't admitting any responsibility because they know full well they will be facing court action.