Just Stop Oil “morons” have been accused of rampant hypocrisy for targeting the first day of the second Ashes test at Lords but failing to disrupt a single second of Glastonbury festival. Three eco-zealots raced onto the outfield at the home of cricket, as England took on Australia in the iconic test series.
England wicket-keeper Jonny Bairstow apprehended one long-haired protester, who was armed with orange powder, easily lifting him and carrying him off the famous cricket ground. Meanwhile England captain Ben Stokes confronted another.
Legions of social media users quickly pointed out that the climate activists have keenly disrupted various sporting events in recent times, but during the globally renowned Glastonbury festival, which was streamed 47.5 million times on BBC iplayer, Just Stop Oil appeared to go quiet.
In comparison, the first test at Edgbaston last week was viewed 2.1 million times.
Twitter users speculated that rather than disrupting the hedonistic west country festival, the eco-warriors were keener on enjoying everything Worthy Farm had to offer.
Harry Springer took to the platform and said: “Just Stop Oil protest at horse racing, snooker and cricket but were nowhere to be seen at Glastonbury where tens of thousands drove to by gas guzzlers from all parts of the UK. Hypocrites.”
Another user, Villaboy89, said: “Where were these protestors at Glastonbury?? F****** idiots , they protest in stupid ways by invading sport events or blocking roads , when they can’t be arsed to protest in a safe way and at political events.”
In the wake of Just Stop Oil’s intervention at the cricket in Marylebone, Sladey182 quipped: “So did the hippies do this at Glastonbury or is it just the things they could never do at school that they want to disrupt”.
Another user, Stoney, pointed out that the 53-year-old festival attracts millions of eyeballs and could have been a very effective way of the climate group delivering their message to every corner of the country and around the world. Elton John’s set alone attracted 7.6 million viewers at its peak on Sunday night.
Stoney said: “Just Stop oil were at Glastonbury festival last week were [sic] thousands of cars and hundreds of helicopters were moving in and out of the site. No protest there, even though there was a massive platform to make you point – why not? too busy having fun?”
A report from environmental advisory group The Eco Experts found in 2021 that Glastonbury festival had a net positive impact on the environment.
The experts reported that the festival generates around 224 tonnes of greenhouse gases but saves nearly 600 tonnes thanks to the trees planted on the farm since 2000.
