Monday 4 July 2022 03:42 PM Just Stop Oil eco zealots glue themselves to Constable's The Hay Wain at the ... trends now Just Stop Oil eco zealots glue themselves to Constable's The Hay Wain at National Gallery after covering painting with new version featured double yellow lines, pollution and an old washing machine By Mark Duell for MailOnline Published: 15:38 BST, 4 July 2022 | Updated: 15:40 BST, 4 July 2022 Viewcomments Advertisement Just Stop Oil activists today carried out a protest at the National Gallery by covering John Constable's The Hay Wain with their own version featuring double yellow lines, pollution and an old washing machine. Two environmental demonstrators covered the famous painting in London with a mock 'undated' version including aircraft, before gluing their hands to the frame in a protest against UK oil and gas projects. The group said their reimagined version of the 1821 painting, which depicts a rural scene on the River Stour in Suffolk, shows a 'nightmare scene that demonstrates how oil will destroy our countryside'. Just Stop Oil said: 'The river has been replaced by a road, airplanes fill the sky, pollution belches from cities on the horizon, trees are scorched by wildfires, an old car is dumped in front of the Mill and the famous Hay Wain cart carries an old washing machine.' Among the protesters today was Hannah Hunt, 23, a psychology student from Brighton, who said: 'I'm here because our government plans to licence 40 new UK oil and gas projects in the next few years. 'This makes them complicit in pushing the world towards an unlivable climate and in the death of billions of people in the coming decades. 'We can forget our 'green and pleasant land' as further oil extraction will lead to widespread crop failures which means we will be fighting for food. Ultimately, new fossil fuels are a death project by our government. 'So yes, there is glue on the frame of this famous painting but there is blood on the hands of our government. The disruption will end as soon as the UK government makes a meaningful statement that it will end new oil and gas licenses.' And Eben Lazarus, 22, a music student also from Brighton, said: 'I support Just Stop Oil's demand for our government to halt all new oil and gas projects in the UK immediately. 'I want to work in the arts, not disrupt them, but the situation we're in, means we must do everything we peacefully can to prevent the total collapse of our ordered society. 'I have a number of younger siblings, the youngest are just ten and twelve, and I refuse to stand and watch them being condemned to a future of suffering. Our government is failing in its fundamental duty to protect us. 'We have covered the Hay Wain with a reimagined version that illustrates the expected impact of our addiction to fossil fuels on our countryside. 'The painting is an important part of our heritage, but it is not more important than the 3.5 billion men, women and children already in danger because of the climate crisis.' Last week, Just Stop Oil activists carried out similar protests in Glasgow, Manchester and London by gluing onto the frames of famous paintings including Van Gogh's 'Peach Trees in Blossom', 'Thomson's Aeolian Harp' by JMW Turner and 'My Heart's in the Highlands' by Horatio McCulloch. Paul Bell 21, a physics graduate from Birmingham, and Edred Whittingham, 24, a student at Exeter University, have now been released from police custody after their action at the Manchester Art Gallery on Friday. They were released on unconditional bail to appear in court on October 5. More to follow Share or comment on this article: All rights reserved for this news site (dailymail) and under his responsibility