Last Sunday, nine activists from Ultima Group Generation (‘The Last Generation’) were horrified to discover the effects of flooding in the northeastern region of Emilia-Romagna, Italy, which produced six-month average rainfall in just six hours and caused 14 deaths and 23,000 evacuations. Trevi Fountain. Submerged to waist height, ecologists unfurled banners with slogans against the burning of fossil fuels, the main cause of global warming, before pouring a coal-based liquid into the turquoise water of the fountain, which was painted black in seconds. The police arrived minutes later and forcibly removed them to the bewildered stares of the activists. hundreds of tourists Some insulted environmentalists, others applauded.
since december More than a hundred young Italians were charged by the Rome police. Due to climate protests that have already targeted the Barge Fountain in Plaza de España, the Senate building and sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s Four Rivers Fountain with paint or ink. There were also protests FlorenceRenaissance birthplace and in Vatican, It’s where two activists were tried for sticking their hands on the pedestal of the Laocoon statue last summer. All this has made Italy one of the epicenters of the controversial strategy. attack on iconic artworks to draw attention to inaction on the climate crisis.
Heavier penalties for ‘ekovandals’
The far-right government of the Italian Prime Minister, Giorgia Melony, It sent a new law to Parliament a few weeks ago that increases sanctions against those who destroy and harm. artistic legacy. The bill currently in the Senate, Administrative sanctions up to 60,000 eurosat the criminal level, the penalties will vary between six months and five years in prison.
Introducing the new legislative text, Culture Minister Gennaro Sangiuliano said he hopes the text will be ratified as soon as possible after the attack on the Trevi Fountain. ” attacks on monuments by eco-vandals Unfortunately, it becomes a tiring ritual that costs the citizens.” cleaning Plaza Espana barge The cost is 4,500 euros, according to EL PERIÓDICO of the Prensa Ibérica group, Tania Renzi, official of the Roman foundation that deals with the artistic heritage of the city. “It’s more expensive than the Trevi Fountain, but we still don’t know the exact figure,” adds she.
mayor of Rome Roberto Gualtieri Socialist Democratic Party (PD) member ceasefire to environmentalists Reminding that the sewers must be emptied in order to recycle the turquoise water of the Trevi Fountain, Erdoğan said, “The fight against climate change is necessary, but not with these methods that pollute the environment.” 300,000 liters of water.
In an interview with EL PERIÓDICO, Luca TrivellonA Last Generation spokesperson clarifies from Padua that they will not interrupt their actions. He justifies the criticism by arguing that they did not understand the l in the past.Martin Luther King Jr. or fighting for the civil rights of Mahatma Gandhi, but this History gave them reason. And remember that the protests are for a very specific reason: “In 40 years of international meetings and activism, nothing concrete has been achieved against climate change. Just words. We’re headed for a planet that’s three degrees hotter. This will have devastating consequences for future generations. That is why we are carrying out these non-violent actions.”
No permanent damage
Trivellone, a psychology student, said that each of the protests against the monuments weeks ago and with the certainty that there will be no permanent damage. Targets to attack are also chosen according to their importance.
“Why the Trevi Fountain? In the background is a statue representing the health provided by water, because water is life, and seeing our coal black in the water represents that they are killing us with poison. poison of the fossil industry. That’s why we wanted to put the focus there,” he says. Scenario of desolation and destruction caused by floods in Emilia-Romagna.
Meloni would like to put on her boots, visit flood-affected areas, and emergency financial aid package amounting to approximately 2,000 million euros. But his government is reluctant to link the tragedy to an extreme event caused by climate change. “This is not true [lo ocurrido] “It’s going to be something we haven’t seen in decades,” Senate leader Lucio Malan said. brothers from ItalyThe post-fascist party founded by Meloni. “Climate change is not a dogma.”
Authorities warn that it will take years and billions of dollars to recover a region destroyed by landslides. destruction of hundreds of roads. Some towns in Emilia-Romagna are literally in isolation, and mayors fear they will be depopulated overnight. Some Last Generation activists, volunteers clearing mud from the street and supporting the people. But that’s not why this group stopped their actions to express their anger. Forty-eight hours after they painted the Trevi Fountain black, they had already held another media protest in Rome when two activists sprayed mud on the doors of the Senate. Mud causing constant movement of man in Emilia-Romagna.
Source: Informacion
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