G7 in Italy: the summit shocks and scares Puglia
Eight soldiers with machine guns drawn and a helicopter above them. A war image that seems to reproduce a scene from Steven Spielberg’s film “Saving Private Ryan”. And instead, the large mural chosen by the Navy to embellish the facades of the former Saca warehouses (disused military aircraft factory) located on Via Provinciale San Vito, in the Brindisi area.
Right there, on June 13th, the G7 leaders will arrive for the international summit organized by the Italian government in Borgo Egnazia. The “greats of the earth” will enter the Naval Station and reach the Castello Svevo for the gala dinner in the presence of the Head of State, Sergio Mattarella. Among the guests of the summit also the Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, Pope Francis (the first time of a Pontiff), the Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and António Guterres, secretary general of the United Nations.
Giorgia Meloni
The protest of Roberto Fusco, group leader of the M5s in the municipality of Brindisi
“War murals in a city of peace: an unacceptable contradiction”, he wrote in a note Roberto Fusco, group leader of the 5 Star Movement in the municipality of Brindisi. “In our city – we read – it has always been synonymous with peace and harmony, a recent artistic initiative has raised outrage among citizens. The installation of murals depicting war scenes is seen by many as an inappropriate choice and contrary to the values we have always proudly defended. Our city has also built its identity on a constant commitment to peace.”
The five-star members then underlined how events have been organized over the years to promote intercultural dialogue and supported educational projects aimed at teaching new generations the importance of non-violence. “In this context – he explains – the decision to represent the war on the walls of our streets is not only incongruent but offensive. Art certainly has the power to stimulate reflection, but there is a fine line between provocation and insensitivity.”
For them, instead of strengthening a commitment to peace, these murals risk making them banal “the gravity of war, treating it as any artistic subject rather than as a human tragedy to be avoided at all costs”.
Luca Telese, Roberto Fusco and Giuseppe Conte
Even the majority of citizens, as reported Brindisi Report, would prefer these murals to be removed. “Our city deserves works of art that reflect its values of peace and unity, not that contradict them. At a time in history when the world needs symbols of hope and unity, our city must remain true to its fundamental principles . Murals depicting scenes of war have no place in a place dedicated to peace. It is time to remove them – he concludes – and to rethink how art can be used to build bridges, not to evoke painful memories of destruction and conflict”.
The reaction of social media
There are many critical messages on social media. The preparation of the summit, in fact, It caused a lot of inconvenience to citizens and businesses. To ensure the safety of the leaders, the area was subjected to a significant stress test. With thousands of men from the armed forces coming from all over Italy.
Marco Fazio comments ironically: “A beautiful image of peace, congratulations”. Sandra Lanza writes: “Nice, a G7 in the name of war. It makes me sick to my stomach.” For Antonio Argentieri “perhaps it was more appropriate to put images of what is happening in Gaza, like this, as a surprise!”. Roberto Masi also chooses irony: “A hymn to peace indeed!”. Daniela Nisi writes: “Of course, let’s also let them find weapons so they are happier with how they are representing us… the opinion of all of Italy doesn’t count anyway… Even if we are a country that wants peace, they listen as a merchant and we must also praise them… We had to represent peace! Not the Navy!”.
But there are also those who defend the murals on display: Francesca Cozzoli comments: “The ruin of Brindisi are the people of Brindisi!!!! You’re just good at criticizing!!! I want to remind you that military forces are also used for humanitarian aid!!!”. Marcello Discanno is enthusiastic: “Beautiful with the images of the glorious San Marco Regiment, flagship of the armed forces, pride of our Brindisi”.
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