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Greenpeace apologizes for Peru stunt

Greenpeace activists stand next to massive letters delivering the message "Time for Change: The Future is Renewable" next to the hummingbird geoglyph in Nazca in Peru, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Greenpeace activists from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Germany, Italy and Austria displayed the message, which can be viewed from the sky, during the climate talks in Peru, to honor the Nazca people, whose ancient geoglyphs are one of the country's cultural landmarks. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd) Greenpeace activists stand next to massive letters delivering the message "Time for Change: The Future is Renewable" next to the hummingbird geoglyph in Nazca in Peru, Monday, Dec. 8, 2014. Greenpeace activists from Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Spain, Germany, Italy and Austria displayed the message, which can be viewed from the sky, during the climate talks in Peru, to honor the Nazca people, whose ancient geoglyphs are one of the country's cultural landmarks. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)

By Associated Press December 10, 2014 1 min read

LIMA, Peru (AP) – The environmental group Greenpeace has apologized to Peruvians upset by its stunt at the world-famous Nazca lines, which authorities say harmed the archaeological marvel.

The apology early Wednesday followed a senior official’s announcement that Peru would seek criminal charges against Greenpeace activists who allegedly damaged the lines by leaving footprints in the adjacent desert.

Greenpeace regularly riles governments and corporations it deems environmental scofflaws.

But Monday’s stunt timed to coincide with U.N. climate talks in nearby Lima may have backfired.

In a statement, Greenpeace said it was “deeply concerned about any offense” Peruvians may have taken.

Activists had laid a message in fabric letters promoting clean energy beside the figure of a hummingbird.

The drawings etched into Peru’s coastal desert are a U.N. World Heritage site dating from 500 A.D.