Thousands urge decisive action in Rome demo

An activist from the US-based Avaaz organisation takes part in a protest against the G20 Summit between the Pyramid of Cestius and Circo Massimo in Rome yesterday. (AFP)

Thousands of people marched in Rome yesterday during the summit of the leaders of the Group of 20 major economies, calling on them to act against climate change and ensure fair access to Covid-19 vaccines.Climate activists led the march, carrying colourful placards, playing drums and dancing as they demanded world leaders save the planet.“We are holding this protest for environmental and social issues and against the G20, which continues undaunted on a path that has almost led us to social and ecological failure,” said protester Edoardo Mentrasti.They marched alongside students and groups of workers in a city on high security alert, with up to 6,000 police and about 500 soldiers deployed to maintain order. Metro stations have been closed and bus routes diverted due to the G20 summit.Italian police are particularly anxious about unrest after recent protests over the country’s mandatory Covid health pass for workers turned violent when neo-fascist activists attacked the headquarters of the CGIL labour union in Rome.In yesterday’s march, a large banner saying “stop patents, vaccines are a global right” was held by demonstrators parading along the banks of the Tiber river.“There is an alternative to a development model based on 20 of the world’s most important heads of state meeting in a room and deciding on the fate of the world,” demonstrator Luca Ianniello said.Demonstrators have been kept far from the summit centre, located in a suburb built by the 20th Century fascist dictator Benito Mussolini.