Climate change protesters occupy Italian power plants and strip off in Rome

Published on Wednesday 8 July 2009 22:02

ENVIRONMENTAL protesters broke into power stations across Italy and shed their clothes in central Rome yesterday, as world leaders discussed a new deal to combat global warming.

Dozens of activists from 18 countries scaled smokestacks and occupied four coal-fired Italian power plants, hanging banners that called on the Group of Eight summit in central Italy to take the lead in fighting climate change, Greenpeace said.

Italian energy giant Enel, which owns three of the plants, said production had not been disrupted by the protests.

In Rome, activists from charity group Oxfam International wore masks of world leaders and dressed up as chefs, stirring a mock Earth in a pot representing the planet's rising temperature.

On the historic Spanish Steps, environmentalists stripped half-naked in front of tourists and unfurled a banner calling on leaders to "Keep climate cool."

Police briefly detained two women, a French and an American, as well as a Greek man.

The climate change stunts came a day after anti-globalisation groups in the capital blocked roads and rail tracks and clashed with police in violent protests against the G8. Nearly 40 activists were detained.

Several demonstrations have been scheduled in Rome and L'Aquila, the quake-shattered central Italian town hosting the three-day summit.

In one such protest, L'Aquila residents climbed a hill in front of the police school serving as the summit venue and set up giant plastic letters reading "Yes we camp" ahead of US president Barack Obama's arrival.

The wordplay on Mr Obama's "Yes we can" campaign slogan sought to remind the world leaders about the thousands of earthquake survivors who are still living in makeshift tent camps since the devastating tremor on 6 April.

The host country's policing arrangements will be closely scrutinised after the death of an activist the last time Italy hosted the summit, in Genoa.