The Greenpeace team entered a restricted site without permission and without the required preparation (footwear). I don’t know whether they disturbed any of the Nazca lines, but I do know they went in at night. If they intended to avoid stepping on the lines, that is the time when such damage would be hardest to avoid.

It was a poorly conceived plan from the git-go. If they were able to project a message onto Huayna Picchu, they could have done the same at the Plain of Nazca — without any possibility of damage (barring accident.) For that matter, they might have stopped after the Huayna Picchu message, which got a lot of local coverage.

One report (Spanish) with photos

Likewise, the Nazca lines are national treasures of the Peruvian people. That the terrorists of Greenpeace are willing to destroy the lines shows they are determined to promote the global warming mythology, no matter what the consequences.

Buck, you made a mistake in London but it was done without any intention of breaking the law.

The GP action almost from the beginning was intended to break the law. The debacle would have started with “Let’s put a sign on Nazca” and there is nothing wrong with that.

As soon as research began however basic questions like “How do we get there?” would have provided the answer “You don’t. It’s a Heritage site and entry is forbidden and illegal.” It was at that point the action became willfully criminal. Further basic research would have shown how the lines are formed, by removing the dark surface layer to expose the white sand beneath and it would follow from that that any disturbance to the dark surface rocks would permanently damage the site. They simply didn’t care.

I see that the enormity of what they’ve done hasn’t sunk in to some people, including some from GP. Understand this. There are no apologies that will make it right and no remedial action that can be taken. 10,000 years from now as people fly above the Nazca lines they will be seeing the results of your work. What on Earth makes you think that “I’m sorry. I was a bit silly and promise not to do it again.” will cut it?

People also need to consider that when you back an organisation willing to break laws, then don’t be surprised if they break more than just the laws you don’t care about.. What laws can be broken to “Save the Planet”? Think about it. 😉

Marco,

I see many differences, but I will grant that you cannot help.

Marco, in a way, that difference is part of my point.

Putting oneself and others in danger when one can reasonably said they should be conscious of a real danger (my situation) seems much more worthy of condemnation, especially since I was not engaged in what I considered socially important. This would take LESS thought than that used to condemn GP.

When someone is protesting for attention to climate change and apparently has not put anyone in danger, and apparently did avoid disturbing the Nazca lines themselves, it seems reasonable to ask what standard, when evenly applied, would excuse me but convict GP of *not* making a mistake.

Marco,

I not only was aware UK traffic was left-drive, but like many had heard of the dangers. Nevertheless, had it not been for a very strong, quick man in a crowd grabbing me from behind, I surely would have killed myself in London by looking the wrong way.

Did I willfully fail to protect my life?

No. Not informing yourself is wilful ignorance, too. Especially when only a little bit of thinking is required to realize you might need to educate yourself. They went to an archeological site on the UNESCO world heritage list!

It’s like going to the UK, cause a crash on a roundabout, and then say “oh, but no one told me I should go around the left!”.