In Brooklyn, New York City on April 14, 2018, David Buckel immolated himself.

Self immolation is the act of committing suicide for the purpose of protest. David Buckel, who was a lawyer known for his fight for gay rights, lit himself on fire in order to protest pollution. He wanted his death to inspire more preservation of fossil fuels.

He left a note in a bag near his body explaining his intentions. “I am David Buckel and I just killed myself by fire as a protest suicide.” Buckel wrote. “Pollution ravages our planet, oozing inhabitability via air, soil, water and weather. My early death by fossil fuel reflects what we are doing to ourselves, I hope it is an honorable death that might serve others.”

This case has been compared to a self immolation that took place in South Vietnam in 1963. A monk, Thích Quang Duc, also lit himself on fire to make a statement about the pro-catholic laws and discrimination against Buddhism.

“Before closing my eyes to Buddha, I respectfully plead to President Ngo Dinh Diem, asking him to be kind and tolerant toward his people and to enforce a policy of religious equality.” This was the last thing that Quang Duc had written before he doused himself in gasoline and burned himself alive.

These events opened the eyes of the public to the severity of the circumstances and show the how the constant burning of fossil fuels not only affects the planet, but also the lives of human beings.