"Ridiculous action"

This is how Just Stop Oil activist describes her own action.

Phoebe Plummer, 21, from London, was one of the activists who attacked Vincent Van Gogh's sunflower paint at the London Gallery on Friday 14 October 2022.

Image by Los Angeles Times / ( Just Stop Oil / AP)

In an online interview for Free Seed News, she tried to explain the reasons behind her action of throwing cans of soup at the painting, describing it as a "ridiculous action".

Phoebe was not alone. She was followed by 20-year-old Anna Holland from Newcastle. Together they managed to cause what she called "minimal damage", just to the frame of the paint. "We would never consider doing it if we didn't know it was behind the glass."

The interview came a day after her appearance in court outside Downing Street, as angry comments and developments from the shocking scenes went viral around the world.

In the interview, Plummer said she did not expect anyone else to throw soup into paintings. She also said it was the only way to get media attention and "keep the conversation going".

Just Stop Oil stepped up disruptions in London and the countryside after former Prime Minister Liz Truss granted over a hundred new fossil fuel licences for companies to frack for oil and gas in the UK.

Just Stop Oil is another movement that claims to be fighting for climate change in the UK.

Insulating Britain and Extinction Rebellion recently used the same tactics of rush hour disruption to draw media attention to their cause.