Greenpeace does it again.

[Grayfox]

GREENPEACE said its executive director will travel to Peru to personally apologise for the environmental group’s stunt at the world-famous Nazca lines, which Peruvian authorities say harmed the archaeological marvel.

The group said it was willing to accept the consequences. A senior Peruvian official said his government would seek criminal charges against Greenpeace activists who allegedly damaged the lines by leaving footprints in the adjacent desert.

“We fully understand that this looks bad,” Greenpeace said. “We came across as careless and crass.”

Greenpeace activists stand next to massive letters they wrote. Source: AP

Greenpeace regularly riles governments and corporations it deems environmental scofflaws. Monday’s action was intended to promote clean energy to delegates from 190 countries at the UN climate talks in nearby Lima.

But the group signalled in the second of two emails Wednesday that it recognised it had deeply offended many Peruvians.

It said Greenpeace’s executive director, Kumi Naidoo, would travel to Lima this week to apologise. Greenpeace will fully cooperate with any investigation and is “willing to face fair and reasonable consequences,” the statement said.

Aerial view of the Spider (46 meters long) at Nazca Lines. Source: AFP

In the stunt at the UN World Heritage site in Peru’s coastal desert, activists laid a message promoting clean energy beside the famed figure of a hummingbird comprised of black rocks on a white background.

Aerial view of the anthropomorphic geoglyph known as the Astronaut. Source: AFP

Deputy Culture Minister Luis Jaime Castillo called it a “slap in the face at everything Peruvians consider sacred.”

He said the government would seek to prevent those responsible from leaving the country and ask prosecutors to file charges of “attacking archaeological monuments,” a crime punishable by up to six years in prison.

Greenpeace activists arrange the letters delivering their message. Source: AP

The activists entered a “strictly prohibited” area where they laid big yellow cloth letters reading: “Time for Change; The Future is Renewable.” They said after initial criticism that they were “absolutely careful” not to disturb anything.

Castillo said no one, not even presidents and Cabinet ministers, is allowed without authorisation where the activists trod, and those who do have permission must wear special shoes.

Members of the National Culture Institute of Peru evaluate damages. Source: AFP

The Nazca lines are huge figures depicting living creatures, stylised plants and imaginary figures scratched on the surface of the ground between 1500 and 2000 years ago. They are believed to have had ritual astronomical functions.

The Greenpeace delegation chief to the climate talks, Martin Kaiser, said none of the people involved in the action had been arrested.

“I think activists are always taking responsibility for what they are doing,” he said. “We clearly underestimated the sensitivity of the situation.”

He would not say whether any activists face internal sanction for the action.


http://www.news.com.au/travel/world...azca-lines-stunt/story-e6frfqcr-1227155153457


First they "claim" the spanish navy attacks them when they get to close, now they deface a historic site.

 

[Sanji Himura]

They should be arrested and beaten with spoons.

That was sarcasm speaking, but they should at least be arrested.

 

[Lizard]

I am sure Greenpeace actually does their cause more harm than good. People see them and think nah not supporting that.

 

[R5]

I am sure Greenpeace actually does their cause more harm than good. People see them and think nah not supporting that.

Pretty much. I mean its not like these days it's very hard to get noticed legally, but whatever floats their solar powered boat.

 

[Liquid]

Pretty much. I mean its not like these days it's very hard to get noticed legally, but whatever floats their solar powered boat.

Wind-powered boat, surely? That's just a sailing boat.

 

[R5]

Wind-powered boat, surely? That's just a sailing boat.

Ah of course. Rotors and whales don't mix well

 

[Tornado]

I'm all for Greanpeace shaming, but I'm not seeing what they actually did?

 

[boiltheocean]

Did you try looking at the first post? All the relevant info is there...

 

[Tornado]

A truly inspired answer. Thank you for that contribution.



However, I think you'll find if you tried looking at the first post, outside of a vague mention of "footprints in the adjacent desert" (the horror) the overwhelming majority of the article is just pictures of the markings with descriptions, as if it were a travel brochure. None of it actually says what the damage (if any) was to the actual markings, which seems to be the litmus test for what they would have had to do to be considered "attacking archaeological monuments".

 

[boiltheocean]

You're not getting it. No damage was caused to the markings however just walking near them is strictly prohibited for conservation reasons. Trespassing onto a world heritage site is obviously a big no-no and caused a great deal of upset to many people.

 

[Tornado]

Nope, you're still the one not getting it. I'm aware that they were trespassing on almost-literally hallowed grounds, and to do nothing but pull a fairly stupid stunt of questionable value. Definitely arrest them for that. Probably dozens of laws broken between the group.




But, again, I'm questioning how the minister of culture is specifically seeking charges in relation to how they were "attacking archaeological monuments" in addition to the above wandering around where they weren't supposed to. What did any of these idiots do to justify that? They walked around in the sand and put pieces of tarp on the ground.

 

[R5]

Anyone authorised to walk on the landmark site has to wear specialised shoes for the job, which shows just how serious they are about conservation of it. They aren't going to be too pleased about any footprints left by the protestors.

 

[Famine]

However, I think you'll find if you tried looking at the first post, outside of a vague mention of "footprints in the adjacent desert" (the horror) the overwhelming majority of the article is just pictures of the markings with descriptions, as if it were a travel brochure. None of it actually says what the damage (if any) was to the actual markings, which seems to be the litmus test for what they would have had to do to be considered "attacking archaeological monuments".

The Nazca Lines and the adjacent desert are inseparable. The Lines aren't just the patterns of animals - such as the Hummingbird next to which Greenpeace decided to nail their banner - but a whole host of interconnected straight lines across the desert. There's 2,000 square miles of them and to access just about any part of it requires crossing some of the lines. This is why access is by permission only and you have to wear special shoes - the lines themselves were made by simply picking up the top layer of pebbles to expose the brighter layer just below the surface...

The Hummingbird is, fortunately, on the very Northern edge of the plateau, here, but if you zoom out you can see the extent to the south and east. There's a lot of lines in the Lines.

In terms of damage to the "biomorphs" (patterns depicting animals), there doesn't seem to be any. At the moment no-one seems to know what damage to the rest of the Lines themselves has occurred. It seems unlikely that Greenpece could have accessed and inhabited the site without disturbing the desert floor and damaging - or even adding to - the Lines.

 

[CinnamonOD]

Basically, it would be like drawing in the Mona Lisa's background

 

[Grayfox]

What about the plastic used.
I doubt it is biodegradable or even recyclable.

I have always wondered how the hell did someone make those lines and know what they were going to look like.

 

[Grand Prix]

So was their plan to make us more aware of our past? If so, I think it worked.

Idiots.

 

[Dotini]

It is somewhat ironic they did this in the cause of clean, renewable energy. Right now, the cause of clean energy is suffering greatly because the bottom has dropped out of the price of oil, making marginal and expensive producers of cleaner energy uncompetitive, tending to drive them out of business. But it would be just too funny seeing Greenpeace protesting directly for the benefit of suffering Saudi oil sheiks and Texas oilmen. And direct action to raise the price of oil, such as arson of a refinery or sinking a tanker would send them to prison in a hurry.

 

[MatskiMonk]

It is somewhat ironic they did this in the cause of clean, renewable energy. Right now, the cause of clean energy is suffering greatly because the bottom has dropped out of the price of oil, making marginal and expensive producers of cleaner energy uncompetitive, tending to drive them out of business. But it would be just too funny seeing Greenpeace protesting directly for the benefit of suffering Saudi oil sheiks and Texas oilmen. And direct action to raise the price of oil, such as arson of a refinery or sinking a tanker would send them to prison in a hurry.

What people, corporations, manufacturers and everybody else needs to keep in mind, is that the cost of oil has little to no bearing on how clean or renewable it is. Cheap oil merely keeps the man in the street thinking that anything else is a waste of time, and utterly fails to address the sustainability and environmental issues related to fossil fuels.

It's not often I agree with the likes of Greenpeace, and this protest was stupid. But the issues remain, and people need to have the balls to stand up to the oil companies.

 

[Famine]

direct action to raise the price of oil, such as arson of a refinery or sinking a tanker would send them to prison in a hurry.

Nor would it be particularly green. Or peaceful.

 

[Joey D]

While I fully support green activities and protecting the environment, I do not support people ruining ancient sites that hold historical and archaeological importance.

I have always wondered how the hell did someone make those lines and know what they were going to look like.

I think the most commonly accepted theory is that the Nazca people walked the patterns to remove the gravel and rocks from the dirt. Due to the contrast of the "top soil" and the soil underneath the lines were formed. The reason they've been preserved is because the weather on the plateau doesn't really change at all.

To know what they were going to look like, all it would really take is for someone to make a "blue print" and they have people follow it.

 

[Keef]

Does Greenpeace do anything good? Like @Joey D I support a lot of green/natural/inexpensive solutions to problems but Greenpeace as an organization seems to cause more trouble than anything. Or maybe that's because their positive efforts never make it in the news.

To know what they were going to look like, all it would really take is for someone to make a "blue print" and they have people follow it.

It would have required some sort of measuring standard though. Primitive surveying. Did they have any knowledge of astronomy? Some of the lines they made are miles long and as perfectly straight as a freeway through Australia.

 

[Joey D]

It would have required some sort of measuring standard though. Primitive surveying. Did they have any knowledge of astronomy? Some of the lines they made are miles long and as perfectly straight as a freeway through Australia.

They did, but how much they did is debated. Also one of the theories for the line's purpose is a representation of constellations the Nazca people saw.

 

[Robin]

Greenpeace is looking more and more like a frat party on a global jolly these days, bombing around the oceans on their million dollar bond style catamarans ramming into fishing boats!

 

[photonrider]

Aerial view of the anthropomorphic geoglyph known as the Astronaut. Source: AFP


The Nazca lines are huge figures depicting living creatures, stylised plants and imaginary figures scratched on the surface of the ground between 1500 and 2000 years ago. They are believed to have had ritual astronomical functions.
.

Yes. The geoglyphs in question are very small (and more 'public' in nature) compared to the whole Nazca 'landing site' (as it is referred to - even by the locals.)

If you are more than a little interested in the phenomenon I would recommend you get yourself a copy of this:

Or you might read Secret of the Desert by Maria Reiche which will further provide some perspective.

In fairness to Greenpeace (who seem to know just how to get attention - even here at GTPlanet ) we should have a look at other archaeological destructiveness:

The destruction of Troy by Hein Schliemann in the 1870s.
The destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan by the Taliban.
The sacking of Umm al-Aqarib in 2003.
The unchecked vandalism of ancient Babylon by soldiers in 2003 in Iraq.
The destruction of ancient tombs of the Six Dynasties (220-589) which came about by way of constucting an IKEA store in Nanjing, China, in 2007.
The destruction in Atacama and Coquimbo caused by rerouting the Dakar rally in 2009.
The destruction of the El Hibeh in Egypt between 2009 and 2012.
The damage or destruction of archaeological treasures in Aleppo, Ebla and Apamea from 2011 on and still on-going.
The destruction of one of Belize's pyramids (3rd Century BC) at Nohmul in 2013 by a construction company.
The destruction of the 4000 year old El Paraiso pyramid in . . . Lima, Peru . . we seem to have come back to Peru.

The list goes on and on . . .

 

[JMoney]

So... they wanted to protest the destruction of the environment, and did so by (sort of) destroying part of the ancient environment.

 

[Grayfox]

Yes. The geoglyphs in question are very small (and more 'public' in nature) compared to the whole Nazca 'landing site' (as it is referred to - even by the locals.)

If you are more than a little interested in the phenomenon I would recommend you get yourself a copy of this:

Or you might read Secret of the Desert by Maria Reiche which will further provide some perspective.

Sounds like something doctor daniel jackson wrote

 

[photonrider]

Sounds like something doctor daniel jackson wrote

Sounds like . . . hoofbeats?

A read-up first might provide a sounder basis for comparison.

 

[Grand Prix]

In fairness to Greenpeace (who seem to know just how to get attention - even here at GTPlanet ) we should have a look at other archaeological destructiveness:

The destruction of Troy by Hein Schliemann in the 1870s.
The destruction of the Buddhas of Bamiyan by the Taliban.
The sacking of Umm al-Aqarib in 2003.
The unchecked vandalism of ancient Babylon by soldiers in 2003 in Iraq.
The destruction of ancient tombs of the Six Dynasties (220-589) which came about by way of constucting an IKEA store in Nanjing, China, in 2007.
The destruction in Atacama and Coquimbo caused by rerouting the Dakar rally in 2009.
The destruction of the El Hibeh in Egypt between 2009 and 2012.
The damage or destruction of archaeological treasures in Aleppo, Ebla and Apamea from 2011 on and still on-going.
The destruction of one of Belize's pyramids (3rd Century BC) at Nohmul in 2013 by a construction company.
The destruction of the 4000 year old El Paraiso pyramid in . . . Lima, Peru . . we seem to have come back to Peru.

The list goes on and on . . .

You forgot possibly the most significant destruction of ancient culture, setting back humanity by hundreds, if not thousands of years: the burning of the Royal Library of Alexandria, and other ancient libraries similar to it. A giant library of great fame, where knowledge and recorded history of the ancient Greeks, the Romans, and the Egyptians were stored, among other ancient civilizations. A disgraceful act, changing the course of humanity. It wasn't until the Renaissance and Enlightenment periods that we finally began to recover. Even today we are still slowly rediscovering just what exactly these ancient civilizations knew, and fortunately much of the library's contents were saved or transferred over the years before its complete destruction, but some of it is lost forever.

Just a little over a century ago we discovered something called the "Antikythera Mechanism," an analog computer with gears, dated to 100-150 B.C., or possibly even as old as 205 B.C. It serves as proof that the ancient Greeks could build astronomical clocks some 1500 years before they were supposedly invented... It's possible this analog computer is not the first of its kind as well. This of course begs the question, "what else did they know?"

It's easy to think that the ancients were helped by extraterrestrials because they had built such grand artifacts for, what seems like to us, strange reasons. The thing is though, the human brain has not changed all that much physically in 2000-3000 years. There are some very intelligent people today, and there were undoubtedly some very intelligent people back then as well. Give it 2000 years and many aspects of today's culture will seem just as strange and mysterious, if not more strange. We just like to see older civilizations as being dumber the older they are, but the truth is, there hasn't been a straight and linear path for human knowledge. It has been a very bumpy road with lots of dips and crests.

It is very important that we do not take the destruction or alteration of our past lightly, but some people do not learn from history... and are doomed to repeat it.

 

[FoRiZon]

So... they wanted to protest the destruction of the environment, and did so by (sort of) destroying part of the ancient environment.

Do not deny GreenPeace logic!

 

[wvmgmidget]

Logic escaped Greenpeace a long time ago