There are a lot of ways to help the environment. Throwing paint at famous works of art isn't one of them.
You say you want to make people aware of climate change. The reality is almost everybody has heard of climate change. The problem is some people are denialists: throwing paint at art isn't going to change this and will be used as a stereotype against all environmentalists. A lot of people know it but do little and are going to fixate on some small almost meaningless thing they are doing (recycling/straws/plastic bags) and virtue signal on that. Meanwhile they eat meat and/or drive a big SUV. I'm not sure what is going to change that either, but it isn't this. Some people are so overwhelmed in their current situations they might have little choice for the time being or long term. Throwing paint doesn't change this either.
And right now, for the time being, I think I may fall into the final category. Granted the veganism I can manage. But really let it rip has cost me a lot of my environmentalism, especially when people like these environmentalists go in maskless. It has forced me to go from being car-free to taking steps to be car-lite. And having to run air purifiers 24/7.
And when COVID hit recently I had to resort to buying almost 200 dollars in disposable dishware because I know what my body is prone to. We will be using disposable dishes for months. Not to mention having to air condition a house with windows open when it was 80+ degrees outside. And no I wasn't making my sick child swelter. Not to mention time lost harvesting and planting food. I'm sure there is more I'm not even thinking of now.
But going back to the actual throwing of paint, what does this accomplish?
The museums aren't going to leave it damaged. They are probably going to use chemical to fix it including those with animal products. Those will have to be shipped in a truck. More vehicle emissions.
Write a vegan recipe for your friends to try (even if just one or two do it). Help a family do dishes or a load of cloth diapers and be prepared to mask if they request. Plant a garden-even a small indoor one. If you eat animal products stop. Help teach someone to ride a bike. Form a human bike lane. Fix an unsafe street. Post about climate change. Whatever, just don't throw paint at art.
And at the end of the day, you really just make environmentalists look foolish.
Rachelle Kaufman is trying to be as good to the environment as she can in this difficult COVID filled world. She is also a mother, gardener, and author of a number of books. For more info on her books please visit Amazon.com: Rachelle Kaufman: Books, Biography, Blog, Audiobooks, Kindle
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