Coal-derived liquid damages Italy’s Four Rivers Fountain
Climate Activists Pour Coal-Based Liquid into Bernini’s Historical Fountain in Rome
The Barcaccia fountain, built in the 17th century by renowned Italian architect Gian Lorenzo Bernini, has been subjected to a protest action by climate activists. The group, called “The Last Generation (Ultima Generazione)” poured coal-based liquid into the fountain and opened a banner reading “Let’s not pay for fossil fuels”. As a result, the water in the fountain turned black.
The protesters stated that their purpose was to draw attention to the disastrous effects of burning fossil fuels on the planet. They chanted, “Our future is black like this water. Without water, there is no life.” Many visitors who were present during the protest were alarmed and reacted to the activists.
The security forces had to forcibly remove the demonstrators, who had engaged in passive resistance against the intervention. The same group had previously poured coal-based liquid into the fountain in April this year.
According to reports, the group had also attacked the historic Vecchio Palace, used as the Municipality of Florence, and the Vittorio Emanuele 2 Monument in Milan in March. These actions have caused great concern among many Italians and resulted in the government adopting a new bill on April 11th that imposes financial penalties on those who damage cultural heritage by carrying out such actions. The bill has been sent to parliament for approval.
This latest incident has yet again drawn attention to the pressing issue of climate change and the negative impact that human actions have on the environment. It is hoped that governments around the world will take decisive steps to combat the crisis before it is too late.
