Rome’s mayor blasts ‘absurd’ climate protest at Trevi Fountain
A climate change protest through which a gaggle of activists poured diluted charcoal to show the water of Rome’s Trevi Fountain black has drawn a pointy rebuke from the Italian city’s mayor, who is asking for an finish to such actions.
Rome Mayor Roberto Gualtieri is talking out after video confirmed uniformed police wading into the waters of the favored vacationer attraction to take away activists belonging to a gaggle known as “Ultima Generazione” – the Last Generation – in response to Reuters.
“Enough of these absurd attacks on our artistic heritage. Today smeared the #FontanadiTrevi,” Gualtieri wrote on Twitter Sunday. “Expensive and complex to restore, hoping that there is no permanent damage. I invite activists to compete on a confrontational terrain without putting the monuments at risk.”
Protesters with the group, after getting into the waters of the Trevi Fountain, held up banners saying, “We won’t pay for fossil (fuels)” and yelled, “Our country is dying!” Reuters reported.
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Climate activists pour diluted charcoal within the Trevi Fountain throughout an illustration towards fossil fuels, in Rome, Italy, on Sunday, May 21. (Alessandro Penso/Maps through Reuters)
Photos confirmed elements of the fountain’s water turning black. Seven climate activists reportedly participated within the protest.
In a press release, Reuters cited Ultima Generazione as pushing for an finish to public subsidies for fossil fuels whereas additionally drawing consciousness to latest flooding in Italy’s northern Emilia-Romagna area, which left 14 lifeless.
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Climate activists are faraway from the water by police at the Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy, on Sunday, May 21. (Alessandro Penso/Maps through Reuters)
Gualtieri was quoted by Euronews as saying that the fountain cleanup will “cost time, effort and water, because this is a fountain which uses recirculating water”.
“We now have to empty it, and throw away 300,000 liters of water,” he reportedly stated.
In the latest flooding, the coastal area of Emilia-Romagna was struck twice, first by heavy rain two weeks in the past on drought-parched floor that would not soak up it, inflicting rivers to overflow in a single day, adopted by final week’s deluge that killed 14 and triggered damages estimated within the billions of euros.
A climate activist holds a banner whereas standing within the Trevi Fountain. (Alessandro Penso/Maps through Reuters)
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The area’s location between the Apennine mountains and the Adriatic Sea trapped the climate system final week that dumped half the common annual quantity of rain in 36 hours. Authorities on Friday stated 43 cities have been impacted by flooding and landslides, and that greater than 500 roads had been closed or destroyed.
“These are events that developed with persistence and are classified as rare,” Fabrizio Curcio, the leader of Italy’s Civil Protection Agency, told the media.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.