Climate Defenders from Last Generation Group On Tuesday 13 February, photos of a flooded Tuscan town stuck on the protective glass of Botticelli’s masterpiece. Birth of VenusA famous canvas of the 15th centuryE A century representation of Venus rising from water exhibited in the Uffizi Museum in Florence.
Both men were taken to a police station near the museum, the group said in a statement. The Florence Uffizi, one of the most visited museums on the peninsula, is located in the historic center of this jewel of the Italian Renaissance.
“The government continues to pretend that fields didn’t burn in January, that there won’t be water problems this summer, that houses destroyed by floods are accidents and not the result of human choices »One of the two demonstrators cited in the press release condemned Giordano. “And instead of dealing with these real problems, it creates absurd laws” Punishing climate protection actions, he added.
Actions across Europe
The Italian parliament adopted a law in January to increase penalties against perpetrators of actions against monuments or cultural sites, in response to a series of actions by climate defenders. The law was adopted after a judge in Florence ruled in December that two workers who stuck their hands on the glass protecting another painting by Botticelli exhibited at the Uffizi in 2022 did not commit a crime.
The Last Generation organization began carrying out nonviolent actions in Italy around the time of legislative elections in 2022, calling on politicians of all stripes to make climate one of their priorities. According to the European Commission, Italy is on track to achieve higher emissions than its 2030 targets.
The protests in Italy are part of actions across Europe to draw attention to the climate, for example throwing soup, mash or washable paint at works of art and cultural sites.
