Wynn Alan Bruce, 50, a Colorado resident, set himself on fire in front of the United States Supreme Court headquarters on Earth Day last Friday (22/4).
The man who practices Buddhism died Saturday from injuries sustained in a fire after being transported by helicopter to a medical facility.
Several US media reported the action as a protest against climate change.
While his family didn’t come forward, several people posted about Bruce’s life on social media, and he’s been described as an environmental activist, among other things.
Additionally, Kritee Kanko, a climate expert who works for the Environmental Defense Fund (a nonprofit group), said on Twitter that she didn’t think Bruce’s actions were suicidal:
Kanko said, “This man was my friend. He meditated with our sangha (Buddhist community). This act is not suicide. This is an extremely brave act of compassion to draw attention to the climate crisis.”
He also said that Bruce had been planning the action for over a year.
photographer and buddhist
Bruce was also a photographer. He had a studio in Boulder, Colorado for several years.
He also studied photography at Denver Metropolitan State University in Colorado.
The press says Bruce meditated at a center of the Shambhala organization.
There were constant posts about Buddhism and the environment on his social networks.
In January, Bruce shared a photo of monk Thich Nhat Hanh, a prominent figure who sent a letter to Martin Luther King in 1965 honoring fellow monks who were burned alive in protest against the Vietnam War, according to The New York Times. .
Known as the “father of awareness,” Thich Nhat Hanh died in January at the age of 95.
Bruce’s Facebook post reads, “Thanks for sharing your compassion,” along with a photo of the monk.
There are currently no details about Bruce’s family, but he shared a congratulatory message on his Facebook profile last December for his half-brother, who turned 42 at the time.
event
Several media outlets reported that Bruce would reveal his actions in a social media post, but this has not been confirmed.
The man edited a comment he left on one of his Facebook posts two weeks ago in 2021.
Image: Playback/Facebook
He was numbering 4-1-1 with a fire phrase. Editing it on April 2, he added the date when he would take actions in the Supreme Court – coinciding with Earth Day (April 22).
Supreme Court judges are currently debating a case that seeks to limit the US Environmental Protection Agency’s powers to regulate carbon emissions.
source: Noticias
