Berlusconi fiddles while the climate burns
On Saturday morning a Mercedes Benz, a BMW and a Volkswagen, driven by a group of “climate barbarians”, entered the Circus Maximus in Rome led by the new “Emperor Nero” - Berlusconi.
Greenpeace activists, wearing ancient Roman dress, blocked the convoy, unfuling banners reading:
“QUO VADIS, BERLUSCONI?” - Where are you going, Berlusconi?
“VADE RETRO CO2! - Go back CO2!
INQUINATORES NON PREVALEBUNT” - Polluters will not prevail!
©Greenpeace/Alessandro Vasari
The Berlusconi government has decided to side with German carmakers in watering down the EU’s first ever CO2 standard for cars. The Italian government is threatening to block the whole Energy and Climate Package unless the fines for not meeting the targets are so low that car makers could afford to ignore them. It would mean that cars exceeding the CO2 limits by 3 grams per kilometre would attract a paltry €30 fine.
©Greenpeace/Alessandro Vasari
Andrea Lepore, Greenpeace Italy climate and transport campaigner is furious about the deal cooked up between Italy, Germany, France and the UK. “Berlusconi is looking for legislation that just fiddles while the climate burns. European leaders must reject the status quo and deliver real emissions cuts.”
“The Italian government’s position is unacceptable. If its requests are accepted, the European regulation will be absolutely ineffective and no emissions cuts will be delivered. Italy must aim to improve fuel efficiency. Italy should show how its record of producing small cars can be a competitive advantage in the production of lower-emissions vehicles.”
Comments
VADE RETRO CO2 – QUI CAELUM INQUINANT NON VINCENT – QUO VADIS BERLUSCONI?
ROMA, AD DECIMAM DIEM KALENDAS DECEMBRES - Militantes sub signis “PacisViridis” hoc die suam dissensionem patefaciunt asperrimam de caeli contra “barbaros novos”: curruum motoriorum nomina germanica, quae obsessura sunt novam Disciplinam ad acidi carbonici vapores (qui nimis caelum calefaciunt) e curribus motoriis emissos imminuendos.
Praeterea, militantes sub signis “PacisViridis” suam dissensionem patefaciunt asperrimam contra Italicae Rei publicae Administrationem Berlusconi regente: enim, Rector impetum maximum facit et in Disciplinam de curribus motoriis et in disciplinam totam europaeam de roboris fontibus caeloque.
Italicae Rei Publicae Administratio poenas minimas petiit si quae curruum motoriorum nomina violarent modos finesque a nova Disciplina costitutos. Sic stantibus rebus, prevalebunt qui fabricantur currus motorios maxime inquinantes, praesertim Germani.
Militantes sub signis “PacisViridis” petunt ab Italicae Rei Publice Administratione ut favet Disciplinae quae efficaciter inducat nomina curruum motororium ad vehicula efficientes minimeque caelum inquinantes fabricanda.
Ab Italicae Rei Publicae Administratione favenda etiam proposita sint qui intra annum 2020 ad vaporum imminutionem et incrementum roboris fontium qui se renovare possunt obligant.
Enim Collegium Europaeum saepe firmavit caeli tutelam opportunitatem esse angustiori fidei resistendae.
Posted by: Andrea Lepore_Greenpeace Italia | November 27, 2008 5:36 PM
Thanks for the Latin version, Andrea.
I also wanted to add that there's a really cool video of the action on the Greenpeace Italy website.
Posted by: Debra | November 28, 2008 9:18 AM