Two Greenpeace activists have climbed Nelson’s Column (52m) in order to fit a gas mask to the statue at the top as part of a city-wide protest over air pollution. The protesters have altogether managed to get masks on 15 statues across the city, including Nelson’s Column, the Oliver Cromwell statue at Parliament (where they breached security) and Thierry Henry’s statue at the Emirates Stadium. Nearly 10,000 people die from air pollution in London every year, figures that have resulted in the organisation calling for an expanded clean air zone. The current plan for an ultra low emissions zone comes into effect in 2020, but only offers protection for those in zone one.
