IN ST MARK’S SQUARE AGAINST DRILLING IN THE NORTHERN ADRIATIC

A completely peaceful demonstration this morning in St Mark’s Square by some Italian environmentalist associations, including Legambiente and Greenpeace, against drilling in the Northern Adriatic, which the Croatian government intends carrying out for energy purposes. The threat to the Veneto coasts and Venice is high not only because of possible pollution but also because of the possible increase in coastal subsidence. For these reasons local bodies and the Veneto regional administration, along with groups linked to tourism, such as hoteliers, and to business, joined forces against the Croatian project. Now the institutions and environmentalists await firm responses from the European Community that could prevent the Croatian project going ahead by interceding with the government in Zagreb.