Daring Stuntmen Climb New York Times Building to Save the Environment (Sort Of)

Alain Robert hanging a banner warning against global warming while scaling the New York Times building.

Photo: Sipa via AP Images

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It seems I'm not the only one who noticed that the relatively new New York Times Building in NYC looks like it is encased in a giant ladder. As my favorite city blog Gothamist points out, previous hours have seen two daredevils climbing up the Old Gray Lady's skirt.

The first dude, Frenchman Alain Robert, made the 52-story ascent in the name of the planet yesterday. According to the reporters inside the building, Robert had unfurled a banner calling attention to global warming. For his efforts he is apparently facing chages of reckless endangerment, making graffiti, criminal trespassing and disorderly conduct.

Robert's banner read "Global warming kills more people than 9/11 every week.” He also wore a t-shirt plugging the website thesolutionissimple.org. In addition to a colorful photo of this "Spiderman" in action, the site seeks support for an online petition asking G8 leaders to make a global agreement for at least a 50% cut in emissions.

Robert is well known as an urban climber, and has even got a notch for the Empire State Building.

In a classic example of copycattery, hours later, 32-year-old Ray Clark followed Robert up the building. Describing himself as an IT worker and "urban climber" from Brooklyn, Clark apparently went slower than Robert. Neither brought any gear -- like ropes, parachutes, jet packs, or anything else that might have been handy. Clark did however don a white t-shirt reading "Malaria No More." All right then.

Interestingly, the ladder-like rods that made it easy for the climbers are actually part of the building's green features. They are supposed to let light in, while blocking heat. One has to wonder if Renzo Piano thought about climbing them.

This is the third post in the new blog URTH Guy, about green Urban Style, Recycling and Reuse, Technology and E-Culture and (hopefully) some Humor. Stay tuned for further posts and design upgrades.

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