Two Arrested for Defacing Darwin's Grave in Protest

Two climate activists from Just Stop Oil, Alyson Lee and Di Bligh, were arrested after spray-painting the words '1.5 is dead' on Charles Darwin's grave in Westminster Abbey. Their protest aimed to highlight the climate crisis, referencing the recent confirmation that global temperatures have exceeded the critical 1.5-degree threshold. The activists expressed their belief that Darwin would be alarmed by the current state of biodiversity and climate change, equating it to the ongoing sixth mass extinction. Westminster Abbey officials confirmed that no permanent damage was anticipated, and the site remained open for visitors. The incident follows a report from the EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service, which stated that 2024 was the hottest year on record, further fueling concerns about climate inaction. The activists are calling for the UK government to phase out fossil fuel extraction and burning by 2030 to avert catastrophic climate outcomes.