Outlandish climate protests are a privilege

It’s often said that you’ll catch more flies with honey than vinegar. Climate activists would do well to remember this as they try to build their movement.

Over the last few weeks, activists with Just Stop Oil have been busy with public protests in museums — using everything from soup to pies to mashed potatoes to bring attention to their cause.

If media attention and outrage is the goal, Just Stop Oil is certainly a successful organization. After all, we’re discussing its work right now. But discussion alone is not a benchmark of success; the context of those conversations matters. Presumably, members of Just Stop Oil would like observers to link arms and join their cause. What they don't seem to understand is these acts don’t win anyone over to their stated goal of stopping new fossil fuel projects, chiefly because the protests are flagrant displays of privilege.