Greenpeace has started digging as well

[Trik'Stari]

So. Greenpeace seems to have taken a queue from Ubisoft and started acting without thinking. Several of their protesters layed out the following banner next to one of the most famous of the Nazca Lines, known as "The Hummingbird".

 

The problem? They were trespassing, drove up to the site, and weren't wearing the necessary specialized footwear required of anyone who approaches the site. And I do mean anyone, even heads of state are not allowed to visit the site unless approved, and wearing specialized footwear to prevent damage to the topsoil. The reason for this is that the very attribute of the soil that makes up the nazca lines themselves, means that any "graffiti" is absolutely permanent.

 

This damage, outlined in red, is completely and totally permanent. The group of protesters apparently drove up to the site, and trampled around the geo-glyph. This is made even more ironic by the group's desire to prevent harm to the environment. 

 

 

 

The message was meant to target delegates currently attending the UN climate summit in Lima, inspiring them to enact big changes. Instead, the Peruvian government is seeking to file criminal charges against the Greenpeace protestors for damaging an archeological monument, which could carry a sentence of six years in prison. 

 

In order to make the lines, the Nazca people excavated 10-15 centimeters (4-6 inches) of reddish stone from the ground, revealing the light-colored soil underneath. The soil has a large amount of lime, which hardens and protects the lines from wind erosion. However, the properties of the ground which has allowed these glyphs to endure for over a millennium are why nobody—not even presidents or diplomats—are permitted to walk near the sites without approval and specialized footwear, as footprints can leave marks that will also endure over time. The area was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1994 in order to preserve the images.

Not giving a damn about all of that, the members of Greenpeace willfully trespassed on the famous hummingbird structure in order to lay out their banners which read: "Time for Change! The Future is Renewable.” Though BBC reports a Greenpeace spokesperson said the protestors were careful not to step on the lines themselves, they have damaged the area surrounding it. This is kind of like using permanent marker to write your name on the Mona Lisa and saying, “It’s okay! At least I didn’t write on her face!”

 

The head of Greenpeace issued what many are considering a "non-apology". 

 

 

 

 

Source: http://www.iflscience.com/environment/greenpeace-irrevocably-damages-fragile-nazca-lines-peru-during-publicity-stunt

 

Personally, I find this to be tragically hilarious, considering the nature of the lines themselves, and Greenpeace's apparent desire to protect the environment....by damaging what is arguably an international treasure...permanently. While this might not be "tech news" I thought it worthy of being discussed here on the forums.

 

Thoughts?

 

Edit: I have set the text of the second quote to automatic, I do not know why part of it is still not showing up.

[helpingaskewcokemansarcasm]

If they had more red meat in them their brains would probably work better and this kind of shit just wouldn't happen.

 

[Firearm2112]

So what your saying is I could draw a giant dick in the top soil, and it would be there forever?

[Trik'Stari]

So what your saying is I could draw a giant dick in the top soil, and it would be there forever?

Yes, some property of the soil makes any indentation into it last a hell of a long time, it's why the lines have been there over 1500 years. Something about it makes them resistant to wind erosion.

[AlexGoesHigh]

good thing the peruvian gov sued them almost immediately