Protesters have forced the Science Museum to shut its greenwashing and – as Chris Packham called it – “grotesque” Energy Revolution gallery, which is sponsored by a fossil fuel and arms company.
Chris Packham: Science Museum’s greenwashing is ‘grotesque’
As the Canary previously reported, on Friday 12 April more than 30 protesters led by young people from Youth Action for Climate Justice and members of Scientists for Extinction Rebellion started an occupation of the Science Museum’s new climate gallery, Energy Revolution, over its sponsorship by the coal giant and arms manufacturer, Adani.
They were joined by Chris Packham:
He famously claimed that peacefully breaking the law is the ethically responsible thing to do when it comes to protecting the planet. Packham visited the occupation on 12 April and told the protesters:
For me science is the art of understanding truth and beauty and a lot of that beauty lies in the natural world. Science tells us that the fossil fuel industry is responsible for the accelerating destruction of our natural world. The Science Museum is a place to spark imagination, to provide answers but also to encourage us to ask questions.
The question I’m asking today is a big one, “why on earth are we allowing a destructive industry to sponsor an educational exhibition whilst simultaneously setting fire to young peoples futures?” This is beyond greenwash – it’s grotesque.
The protesters remained in the gallery overnight. The group constructed sculptures of coal which have been placed underneath the gallery’s central display called ‘Only Breath’. The coal is a poignant reminder of Adani’s main business interest and the impact Adani’s actions have on local communities’ air:
The occupation continued on Saturday 13 April. At 2pm, the occupiers had invited members of the public to join them for an interactive assembly discussing alternatives to fossil fuel sponsorship, the truth about the climate impacts of the gallery’s sponsor, and the urgency of keeping fossil fuels in the ground in order to have a liveable future.
Shut it down
However, the museum took the sudden the decision to close the gallery and prevent the public from interacting with the protesters and learning about the realities of the gallery’s sponsor. Clearly, it was rattled by the fact the public might learn the truth about its greenwashing:
‼️People’s Assembly cancelled
the science museum has closed the energy revolution gallery as a result of our occupation! direct action gets the goods ✊
however unfortunately we now can’t host a public assembly. supporters are still warmly invited to visit & help with outreach https://t.co/VOWX0BCSni pic.twitter.com/k6z5fGq0RZ
— 💥youth action for climate justice💥 (@y_climatejust) April 13, 2024
Dr Aaron Thierry, one of the scientists at the protest, said:
It is clear from the decision to shut the Museum’s new climate gallery to the public that the Science Museum’s management is ashamed of us exposing the truth behind the dirty deal and would rather dine with coal giants than listen to young people and scientists.
We are peacefully here to make our point and interact with the visiting public and have been prevented from doing so. The science is clear that there can be no more fossil fuel extraction if we want a liveable future. In partnering with a subsidiary of Adani, the largest private producer of coal on the planet, the Science Museum is blatantly ignoring the science. It’s disgraceful.
🚨Breaking!
The @sciencemuseum have decided to close the ‘Energy Revolution’ gallery to the public rather than let people hear the truth about their polluting sponsor Adani – the largest private coal producer in the world!#AdaniOut #FossilFreeMuseum pic.twitter.com/g4PDvNTYiL
— ScientistsForXR (@ScientistsX) April 13, 2024
Anya, one of the young people occupying the gallery, said of the Science Museum shutting the gallery:
We had hoped to have a dialogue with visitors to the gallery about alternative sponsorship options for the museum in an open and peaceful way. It is disappointing that the museum is afraid to allow this opportunity for learning.
We’re here today with scientists who are able to talk about the key issue of our time and critically engage with the exhibits around us. Walling us off from the public is clearly siding with Adani and protecting the coal giant and human rights abuser from public scrutiny.
Featured image and additional images via Hannah Woodhouse
