A strong and symbolic message to denounce the privatization of beaches and ask for a sea accessible to all. The activists of “Mare Libero Napoli” organized a flash mob in the heart of the old town, covering with a fishing net the famous statue of the God Nile, known by Neapolitans as “The Body of Napoli".
The protest: “The sea must belong to everyone”
Cardboard cutouts of fish and octopuses were attached to the statue, while protesters displayed signs and distributed flyers to the many tourists present in the Decumani.
“THE BODY OF NAPLES, SYMBOLICALLY IMPRISONED BY THE NETWORK, IS DENIED FREEDOM, JUST AS WE ARE DENIED ACCESS TO OUR SEA,” AN ACTIVIST EXPLAINED OVER A MEGAPHONE.
IN FACT, THE ORGANIZERS DENOUNCED THE INCREASING PRIVATIZATION OF BEACHES, ACCESSIBLE ONLY TO THOSE WHO CAN AFFORD THE PAYMENT OF ENTRANCE FEES, UMBRELLAS AND DECKCHAIRS.
Towards the National Conference for a Free Sea
The flash mob officially opened the third National Conference of Mare Libero, which will be held in Naples on March 29 and 30. The event will see the participation of associations, environmental experts and Italian jurists, together with administrators and activists from Spain, Greece and Malta.
“IT WILL BE AN OPPORTUNITY TO DISCUSS VIRTUOUS EXPERIENCES IN WHICH THE SEA IS REALLY ACCESSIBLE TO ALL,” THE ORGANIZERS ANTICIPATE.
An initiative that relaunches the debate on the need to protect the sea as a common good, so that it does not remain exclusive to a few, but becomes a guaranteed right for all.
Article published on March 26, 2025 - 20pm
The idea of protesting for the sea to be accessible to all is right, but perhaps it would be useful to find more effective ways to communicate the message. Beaches should be a right for everyone, not just the rich.