Activists take aim at Milan opera house in climate protest
07 December 2022 - 15:53
byReuters
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Ugandan climate activists protest at COP27 in Sharm el-Sheikh, Egypt, November 11 2022. Picture: EMILIE MADI/REUTERS
Milan — Climate-change activists in Italy on Wednesday threw paint at the entrance of Milan’s famed La Scala opera house ahead of the opening performance of the season, local police said.
Activists have staged high-profile protests across Europe in recent months, sometimes targeting museums and art works in calling for tougher action to tackle global warming.
The Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) movement said in a statement they were responsible for the Milan episode.
“Instead of taking the necessary measures to safeguard Italy’s future from drought and climate disasters, politics is locking itself away to enjoy a show for a few people,” it said.
Twelve people were killed on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia in November after a landslide caused by torrential rain devastated a small town.
During the summer, the worst drought in 70 years hit northern areas around the river Po, which accounts for roughly a third of the country’s agricultural production.
Over the past month, Ultima Generazione has hurled soup over a Van Gogh work in Rome, thrown a black liquid on a Gustav Klimt painting in Vienna and flour over a sports car painted by the US pop artist Andy Warhol that was on display in Milan.
Police said they had detained five people following the incident at La Scala, while cleaners swiftly removed the paint from the entrance of the theatre.
La Scala will open its 2022-2023 season on Wednesday, one of the highlights of the Italian cultural calendar, with a performance of the Russian opera Boris Godunov.
It is due to be attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Support our award-winning journalism. The Premium package (digital only) is R30 for the first month and thereafter you pay R129 p/m now ad-free for all subscribers.
Activists take aim at Milan opera house in climate protest
Milan — Climate-change activists in Italy on Wednesday threw paint at the entrance of Milan’s famed La Scala opera house ahead of the opening performance of the season, local police said.
Activists have staged high-profile protests across Europe in recent months, sometimes targeting museums and art works in calling for tougher action to tackle global warming.
The Ultima Generazione (Last Generation) movement said in a statement they were responsible for the Milan episode.
“Instead of taking the necessary measures to safeguard Italy’s future from drought and climate disasters, politics is locking itself away to enjoy a show for a few people,” it said.
Twelve people were killed on the southern Italian holiday island of Ischia in November after a landslide caused by torrential rain devastated a small town.
During the summer, the worst drought in 70 years hit northern areas around the river Po, which accounts for roughly a third of the country’s agricultural production.
Over the past month, Ultima Generazione has hurled soup over a Van Gogh work in Rome, thrown a black liquid on a Gustav Klimt painting in Vienna and flour over a sports car painted by the US pop artist Andy Warhol that was on display in Milan.
Police said they had detained five people following the incident at La Scala, while cleaners swiftly removed the paint from the entrance of the theatre.
La Scala will open its 2022-2023 season on Wednesday, one of the highlights of the Italian cultural calendar, with a performance of the Russian opera Boris Godunov.
It is due to be attended by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen.
Reuters
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