ITALY: Climate activists face heavy fines for mobilising

Italy’s Extinction Rebellion movement faced heavy fines and further legal costs in fighting back against the fines, forcing it to launch a crowdfunding appeal in November. Actions that attracted fines included a protest in September in the city of Turin, in which eight people chained themselves to the columns of the Royal Palace and set off smoke bombs. While the protest caused no harm, the police subsequently filed eight complaints of causing ‘dangerous ignitions and explosions’ against the protesters.