Ex Science Museum director labels Greenpeace a ‘tyrant’ over the Lego Shell campaign
A former director of the Science Museum has waded into a bitter row between Greenpeace and toy maker Lego, by accusing the environmental group of behaving like a ‘tyrant’ in its methods of enforcing its will on whom they sponsor.
Speaking to the Times Chris Rapley, now professor of climate science at University College London, accused Greenpeace of picking a ‘soft target’ following its publication of a video depicting a pristine Arctic environment built entirely from Lego being swamped with oil.
Rapley, who spoke out after Greenpeace turned its attention to pressuring the Museum to sever its own sponsorship ties with the oil major, also rounded on the hypocrisy of many campaigners who rely on fossil fuels for travel and power despite urging the world to discontinue their use.
Shell currently sponsors the Science Museum’s Atmosphere gallery on the science of climate change but Rapley said they were “… quite prepared to accept that climate change was happening and we need to do something about it”
John Sauven, director of Greenpeace UK, said: “I don’t think Shell’s brand should be helped by being put on children’s toys or into the Science Museum until they make a clear statement that they will not drill for oil in the Arctic.”
The spat comes just 24 hours after Lego buckled under the pressure and agreed to end its partnership with Shell by the end of the year.