Climate activists carried out a striking action in Rome by dyeing the water of the iconic Trevi Fountain black. Their goal was to raise awareness about the recent floods that resulted in the deaths of 14 people in northeastern Italy, considering them a warning.
Members of the environmental group Last Generation entered the famous fountain and poured a charcoal-based liquid into the water before being removed by the police.
This protest coincided with the visit of Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni to the Emilia-Romagna region, where she witnessed the damages caused by the floods. Authorities estimated that the intense rainfall lasting for 36 hours was equivalent to six months of precipitation, displacing over 36,000 people and incurring costs in the hundreds of millions of euros.
One of the participants, identified as 19-year-old Mattia, expressed his motivation to join the protest, emphasizing that the tragedy in Emilia-Romagna is a somber warning about the future of humanity.
Last Generation has organized peaceful yet attention-grabbing protests in Italy and other parts of Europe over the past year. Their aim is to urge politicians from all parties to prioritize the fight against climate change. They have carried out similar actions, such as throwing food and washable paint on monuments and artworks, to draw attention to global warming.