To celebrate World Environment Day yesterday some people planted trees, some watched Al Gore's "An Inconvenient Truth" and others organized educational events and activities in their communities. Alain Robert really wanted to get some attention so he could make a statement and apparently a discussion or presentation about global warming wasn't quite dramatic enough for his taste.

Instead the activist chose to scale the 52-story tower housing The New York Times and showcase a banner proclaiming "Global warming kills more people than a 9/11 every week." Oh and did we also mention he decided it was an especially smart idea to make the climb using only chalk on his hands and climbing shoes, with no other climbing or safety equipment? It's no wonder the guy's nickname is "Spiderman." Police were waiting for him at the top of the building and promptly arrested him once he got there, while the Times was quick to renounce Robert's actions, saying he "jeopardized their safety and the safety of others. We are taking steps to prevent future occurrences." Apparently not quickly enough; hours later a second man made his way up the side of the building and was also arrested, though his motives for doing so were still unclear.

Robert had his reasons, as well as his share of practice, having climbed more than 70 skyscrapers all over the world. He was most recently arrested in San Paolo, Brazil after climbing a 42-foot building.

Whatever happened to waving signs or wearing a sandwich board and ringing a bell?

» MSNBC Environment