Greenpeace steals and returns Macron wax figure in Paris protest
Stolen Macron effigy, seized by Greenpeace, reclaimed by Paris museum. - Stature of French President Macron, crafted in wax by Greenpeace, is returned to Paris museum
You know what they say, all's fair in love, war, and political demonstrations! That might've been the mindset behind the recent hijinks at Paris' renowned wax museum.
On Monday, some shrewd Greenpeace activists decided to pull off a heist Hollywood could've made a movie about. Disguised as tourists, they sneaked into the museum and, once inside, pretended to be workers. Armed with a plan as slick as a teenager's alibi, they nabbed the €40,000 wax figure of President Macron, wrapped it up like a burrito, and skedaddled through an emergency exit.
But let's not call them typical cat burglars. Oh, no. They were just trying to send a message—and they weren't going to let a little thing like the law (or common decency) get in their way. So, they reached out to the museum and promised to return the philandering figure—provided it had a short stint at the Russian embassy first. The intention? A protest against France's economic ties with Moscow, despite the ongoing chaos in Ukraine.
True to their word, on Tuesday evening, Greenpeace returned the statue to its rightful place. But not before giving it a little taste of French irony by depositing it outside the building of the state-owned energy company EDF in Paris, next to a colorful sign that declared, "Putin-Macron radioactive allies." The brave boys in blue (the French national police, not Greenpeace) swooped in to secure the figure, with the General Director of Greenpeace in France, Jean-François Julliard, confirming, "We have come to return the statue of Emmanuel Macron. As announced from the beginning, we only borrowed the figure."
Of course, this isn't the first time a political wax figure has gone missing from the Musée Grévin. Back in 1983, the then Mayor of Paris, Jacques Chirac, found himself transformed from a statesman to a stowaway for a few days when his statue disappeared—only to reappear in Vincennes a few days later. So, if you're ever in Paris, never underestimate the power of political wax figures or the absurdity of the people who make off with them!
This incident further underscores the significant intersection between politics, general-news, and environmental issues, as the contentious nature of political demonstrations is evident in the Greenpeace operation. The recent event at the Paris wax museum, involving the theft and return of President Macron's wax figure, can be seen as an environmental protest, with Greenpeace using this unconventional means to draw attention to France's environmental policy and its ties with Russia. Underlying this, the health and well-being of the environment remain a crucial aspect, serving as a focal point in the broader political discourse.
