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'Molasses' poured in BP protest | 'Molasses' poured in BP protest |
(about 4 hours later) | |
The museum says it is grateful to BP for its support | The museum says it is grateful to BP for its support |
An oil-like substance has been poured around one of the British Museum's statues by activists urging it to end its sponsorship deal with BP. | An oil-like substance has been poured around one of the British Museum's statues by activists urging it to end its sponsorship deal with BP. |
The targeted relic, Hoa Hakananai'a, is a giant carving of a human head and torso and is about 1,000 years old. | The targeted relic, Hoa Hakananai'a, is a giant carving of a human head and torso and is about 1,000 years old. |
A group called Culture Beyond Oil carried out the protest. A similar protest targeted Tate Britain in June. | |
The British Museum said the substance involved was molasses, which had not damaged the Easter Island statue. | The British Museum said the substance involved was molasses, which had not damaged the Easter Island statue. |
The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has led to campaigners stepping up their opposition to BP, with protests targeting London institutions backed by the oil company. | The Gulf of Mexico oil spill has led to campaigners stepping up their opposition to BP, with protests targeting London institutions backed by the oil company. |
'Tarnished reputations' | 'Tarnished reputations' |
Culture Beyond Oil said in a statement that it had chosen the object because it "represents the way in which civilisations once considered invincible can collapse in a short period of time". | Culture Beyond Oil said in a statement that it had chosen the object because it "represents the way in which civilisations once considered invincible can collapse in a short period of time". |
The group said the five activists who took part, their faces clad in black veils, were careful not to pour the "non-toxic" substance on the sculpture, which stands on a plinth as part of the museum's Living and Dying display. | The group said the five activists who took part, their faces clad in black veils, were careful not to pour the "non-toxic" substance on the sculpture, which stands on a plinth as part of the museum's Living and Dying display. |
One of the protesters said: "Institutions such as the British Museum are amongst the most valuable assets that this country has, but their worldwide reputation is being tarnished by the sponsorship deal with BP." | One of the protesters said: "Institutions such as the British Museum are amongst the most valuable assets that this country has, but their worldwide reputation is being tarnished by the sponsorship deal with BP." |
Last month there was a similar protest at Tate Britain, whose summer party was disrupted when an oil-like substance and feathers were thrown. | Last month there was a similar protest at Tate Britain, whose summer party was disrupted when an oil-like substance and feathers were thrown. |
The British Museum said: "BP is one of the British Museum's most long-standing corporate partners, supporting the museum since 1996. | The British Museum said: "BP is one of the British Museum's most long-standing corporate partners, supporting the museum since 1996. |
"We are grateful to BP for their ongoing support, which enables us to fulfil our mission of bringing world cultures to global audiences." | "We are grateful to BP for their ongoing support, which enables us to fulfil our mission of bringing world cultures to global audiences." |
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