Greenpeace is known for taking the law into its own hands — for example, destroying genetically modified crops a few years ago in Australia. But such vandalism pales in comparison to what Greenpeace activists did in Peru this month.
They trespassed onto one of the world’s most fragile heritage sites, ancient etchings in the Peruvian desert known as the Nazca Lines, and left a large sign touting renewable energy. In so doing, reports The New York Times, “the activists left marks that could well linger for decades or even centuries.”
Greenpeace did apologize, but in a tone-deaf fashion that defies belief. “We fully understand that this looks bad,” the group said.
Looks bad? No, the defacement of a major heritage site goes way beyond looking bad. It’s a cultural catastrophe.
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