Rome, Italy (CNN) A group of climate activists in Italy has poured what they describe as a “black charcoal-based liquid” into the waters of Rome’s famous Fontana dei Quattro Fiume (Fountain of the Four Rivers) – “to sound the alarm about the black future awaiting humanity”.
“Our future is as black as these waters,” the group called Ultima Generazione, or Last Generation, said on its website.
They added, “Without water, there is no life, and with rising temperatures, we are exposed to drought on the one hand and floods on the other.”
“Tough years lie ahead but if we don’t get to zero emissions right away it will be horrible.”
Pictures showed activists wearing orange vests standing on their waists deep in the fountain. They unfurled orange banners bearing the Italian words: “Our future is as black as these waters” as crowds of onlookers took pictures.
thought to be Same group Climate activists who have led protests at other Italian historic sites including the Barcacia Fountain at the base of Spanish Steps In central Rome, where they poured black liquid into a fountain on April 1.
Similar protests have seen activists adhering to Italian masterpieces at sites such as the Vatican Museums and the Uffizi galleries in Florence.
The group said of its protest at the time: “It is absurd that such a gesture should shock you when we are facing an emergency drought that is putting agriculture and energy production in crisis.”
The group’s members have been arrested by police and are facing charges of defacing a public monument.
“iconic” artwork
Located in Rome’s famous Piazza Navona, the Fiumi Fountain was designed by Italian sculptor Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1651.
Italian Culture Minister Gennaro Sangioliano condemned the activists’ protest and said those responsible “should pay their money out of their own pockets”.
“We have to record another mutilation that endangers the beauty of one of the famous works of art in our country,” said Sangioliano.
He added, “As I have made clear many times, these are acts against the environment that they claim they want to defend because the idea of landscaping includes the beautiful things produced by human genius over centuries of history.”
“Experts talk about the anthropology of the environment. Now again, a lot of water will have to be used for cleaning and the costs incurred to restore the state of the monument – and (paying for it) will be Italian citizens.”
Describing the group as “environmental vandals”, Sangioliano said, “I hope parliament will approve new regulations against them as soon as possible.”