00:00 In a startling incident at the Louvre Museum in Paris, two climate activists threw soup
00:13 at the protective glass of the Mona Lisa, the iconic masterpiece by Leonardo da Vinci.
00:19 The activists, with "food riposte" on their shirts, advocated for a sustainable
00:23 food system, linking the act to protests by French farmers highlighting issues like low
00:28 wages. The activists questioned the prioritization of art over the right to healthy and sustainable
00:33 food, emphasizing the challenges faced by the farming system and the plight of farmers.
00:38 A video posted on social media captured the moment when the activists breached security
00:42 barriers, tossed soup at the glass protecting the painting, and conveyed their message.
00:47 In response, Louvre employees placed black panels in front of the Mona Lisa and evacuated
00:52 the room. Paris police later announced the arrest of two individuals involved in the
00:56 incident. The food riposte group responsible for the
00:59 action accused the French government of neglecting climate commitments and called for a state-sponsored
01:04 health care system equivalent to ensure better access to healthy food and fair income for
01:09 farmers. Meanwhile, French farmers, expressing discontent
01:13 over wages and bureaucratic hurdles, have been staging protests using tractors, blocking
01:18 roads and dumping agricultural waste at government offices. The government's recent measures,
01:23 including simplifying procedures and ending diesel fuel taxes for farm vehicles, were
01:28 deemed insufficient by some farmers. Prime Minister Gabriel Attal acknowledged
01:32 the challenges faced by farmers, emphasizing the need for short-, middle- and long-term
01:37 solutions. He hinted at additional measures against unfair competition from countries
01:42 with different production rules, importing food to France. Further decisions to address
01:46 farmers' concerns are expected in the coming weeks.
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