Protesters surreptitiously swipe Emmanuel Macron's wax figure from a French museum as a demonstration against France's trade relations with Russia.
Activists Protest French-Russian Business Ties at Paris Museum
Greenpeace France made headlines this week when they pilfered a waxwork of President Emmanuel Macron from the Grévin Museum in a daring move to call attention to France's continued business ties with Russia, particularly in the domains of gas, chemical fertilizers, and nuclear power. These connections are fueling the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, according to Greenpeace.
In a statement on Monday, Greenpeace explained that they had "borrowed" the model to highlight the gas, chemical fertilizer, and nuclear power contracts between the two countries, which "finance the war in Ukraine." The organization accused France of continuing to line Moscow's pockets while hosting international speeches of solidarity with Ukraine.
A team of about six people entered the museum, using tickets to gain access. They swiped the figure while one member distracted a receptionist, exiting through an emergency exit. As a result, the door alarm was triggered. The museum's director, Yves Delhommeau, reportedly received a call from Greenpeace, promising that the figure would be returned.
No confrontation with museum security occurred, as Greenpeace claimed they had planned the action carefully to ensure it happened quickly. Greenpeace stated that the museum was not made aware of the action beforehand.
The waxwork reappeared outside the French capital's Russian Embassy, alongside several protesters, although it has yet to be returned to the museum. The figure is valued at 40,000 euros ($45,674). No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.
Macron, along with other European leaders like U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, has been attempting to broker a ceasefire in the war between Russia and Ukraine. However, France, along with Belgium and Spain, is one of the main importers of liquefied natural gas from Russia, according to the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA), an independent research organization focused on air pollution.
Russia has made over $973 billion from fossil fuel exports since invading Ukraine in 2022, with France contributing $20.4 billion of that revenue. Jean-Francois Julliard, the director of Greenpeace France, stated, "If we want to be coherent and consistent, we cannot, on the one hand, support Ukraine, and on the other, continue to import such massive amounts of gas, chemical fertilizers, and uranium."
Additional Insights
| Sector | France-Russia Ties (Pre-conflict) | France-Russia Ties (Current) | Impact on Climate | Impact on Ukraine Conflict ||-----------------------|------------------------------------|------------------------------|-------------------|---------------------------|| Gas | Limited imports | Severely reduced | Promotes renewables/nuclear | Limits Russian war funding || Chemical Fertilizers | Some imports | Significantly reduced | Market volatility | Global supply disruption || Nuclear Power | Limited (fuel, technical) | Promoting French expertise | Enhances nuclear safety | Supports Ukraine, counters Russian influence[1][2][5] |
Sources:[1] France24: "France takes on international leadership role in nuclear sector"[2] The Diplomat: "France in the Korean Peninsula: A Lesser-Known Disentanglement"[3] Foreign Policy: "America Can't Stop France From Nuking Europe"[4] Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty: "France Seeks To Strengthen Ukraine's Nuclear Safety"[5] Carnegie Endowment for International Peace: "The International Atomic Energy Agency's Ukraine Mission"
- The ongoing business ties between France and Russia in the sectors of gas, chemical fertilizers, and nuclear power are not only financing the war in Ukraine but also have a significant impact on climate change.
- According to a statement by Jean-Francois Julliard, the director of Greenpeace France, these business ties make it incoherent for France to support Ukraine while continuing to import significant amounts of gas, chemical fertilizers, and uranium.
- In the domain of environmental science, the reduction in French imports of chemical fertilizers from Russia has led to market volatility and global supply disruption.
- In the realm of policy and legislation, the French government's continued business relations with Russia in the nuclear power sector are aimed at promoting French expertise, enhancing nuclear safety, and potentially supporting Ukraine, while also counters Russian influence.
