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An environmental protest aimed at a historic global climate summit in Lima, Peru drew attention for disrupting a Peruvian world heritage site.
The environmental activist group Greenpeace laid a message in cloth over the Nazca Lines, a collection of geoglyphs that date back to 500 B.C. The message read: “Time for change, the future is renewable, Greenpeace.”
But the protesters left visible footprints and overturned rocks.
“This happened under circumstances that are completely unacceptable,” said Peru Deputy Minister of culture Luis Jaime Castillo.
Meanwhile, the world leaders at the summit agreed to a plan committing all 200 countries to cutting fossil fuel emissions for the first time. According to the agreement, countries will create a detailed plan to limit domestic fossil fuel emissions in the next few months, laying the groundwork for a final deal at a Dec. 2015 summit in Paris.
Talks stalled at one point when rich and poor countries argued over how to outline their commitments to climate change action. But a last-minute change allowed the agreement to go through.
The summit came just weeks after the U.S. and China, the world’s two biggest greenhouse gas emitters, made a joint agreement to cut carbon emissions.
John Kerry called on all countries to take action in a speech at the summit. "Every nation has a responsibility to do its part. Only those nations that step up and do their part can claim leadership,” he said.
Warm up questions
- What is climate change? What are some ways that we notice it is happening?
- What are some examples of non-violent ways to protest? Do you think they are effective?
- How do you know something is art? What role does art play in the culture of a people?
Critical thinking questions
- Why do you think the Nazca Lines in Peru have been protected as a UNESCO World Heritage Site?
- What do you think the intention of Greenpeace was? How did most people view their actions? What might be some ways that Greenpeace might be able to apologize and make amends for their actions?
- Whose responsibility is it to make sure the environment is protected globally? Should all countries have the same plans to reduce greenhouse gases and other types of pollution? How should that question be decided?
