LOTTA
We're sinking, and the Italian police is arresting us: musicians, let's not stop playing
From Venice, the call to action reaches musicians worldwide
We're sinking, and the Italian police is arresting us: musicians, let's not stop playing
Climate artist and activist Lotta invites musicians worldwide to play 'My Heart Will Go On' as the planet, like the Titanic, slowly sinks and peaceful protesters are being arrested
As COP28 enters its final discussion, following the removal of the fossil fuel phase-out proposal from the draft, the song of hope and protest persists. From Venice, climate artist Lotta, one of the 27 individuals charged for Extinction Rebellion's action last Saturday, appeals to musicians worldwide
The planet is sinking, just like the Titanic: who can forget the musicians who, despite everything, kept playing? That's what Lotta was doing with her double bass next to the Rialto Bridge in Venice when she was escorted to the police station along with 26 other activists and a tourist. Now, that song represents the future for all of us
Here is Lotta's appeal at this link, with images from last Saturday's action
In this video by ANSA, Lotta sings the symbolic Titanic song on the banks of the Grand Canal
Venice, December 12th - As COP28 approaches its conclusion, heading into the final discussion after the removal of the Oil & Gas phase-out proposal from the draft agreement, and following UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres's statement that “we are in a race against time: our planet is just minutes away from the midnight of the 1.5-degree limit, and the clock keeps ticking, [...] there are still significant gaps to fill,” 21-year-old activist and climate artist Lotta appeal to musicians worldwide. She calls on them to play, whether on their channels or at their concerts, the symbolic song from the Titanic movie, 'My Heart Will Go On' by Céline Dion, each in their own way, with their unique style. That's the song Lotta was singing last Saturday (here's the video by ANSA), before being escorted to the police station with 26 other Extinction Rebellion activists and a passerby.
"Let's continue playing together; the song of hope and protest cannot be extinguished by arrests and intimidations. Today, I would like to appeal to all musicians worldwide to sing the song that has become a symbol of the Titanic movie, 'My Heart Will Go On' by Céline Dion. Let's keep playing, just as the musicians led by Wallace Hartley did over a century ago, but without being hopeless, because if all the musicians in the world were to take action, we might still be able to change course. Our planet is sinking just like the Titanic, and those who protest are being arrested. That's what happened to me and 26 other activists from Extinction Rebellion last Saturday in Venice during the peaceful action on the Rialto Bridge. While three activists lowered a banner from the bridge and others poured harmless fluorescein into the Grand Canal, I sang the symbolic Titanic song, metaphorically conveying what Guterres himself later confirmed: we are sinking, it's a race against time, not enough has been done even at this COP. It was an indescribable emotion: once again, music served the cause," recalls Lotta, climate artist, and activist. "Some intoxicated individuals were shouting to cut the ropes my friends were hanging from, suggesting that fascism wasn't enough for us, or wishing us death. When I started singing with all the anger and sadness generated by those words, silence fell. Hundreds of people stood and listened to that song of hope."
At that point, the police intervened, stopping Lotta and bringing down the 'spiders,' meaning the activists lowered from the bridge. After gathering the activists a few hundred meters away, they escorted them to the police station, detaining them for six hours.
"A tourist approached us to express his compliments," Lotta continues, "while we were waiting for the boat to the police station, surrounded by at least fifteen police officers: 'Take him!' and off he went to feed the narrative of criminals, eco-terrorists, monsters, and vandals. Scientists worldwide no longer know how to warn us (here's the link to the latest IPCC report), their words are clear and unequivocal, yet their song seems directed at a world of the deaf, and it is precisely to them that we must address ourselves. Let's keep singing together until they can't arrest even the last note."
"Lotta, a climate artist who made the largest Italian squares dance during the national Fridays For Future protest in October with the techno song 'Power,' created in collaboration with the producer Sharxx, played and sang the piece arranged by Sharxx on the banks of the Grand Canal. Now that they have tried to silence her, she issues a plea to all musicians worldwide: that song must not fade away. On social media, in the streets, during concerts, the protest must persist. Follow this link for Lotta's appeal, to which the artist hopes singers in Italy and around the world will join."
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"Lotta is only 21 years old and has already traveled the world thanks to her music and the passion she puts into everything she does. In 2019, she was one of the youngest double bassists on tour in China, performing in over 30 theaters with the Campana Philharmonic. However, the real turning point came when she realized her path was different – to do everything possible to tackle the climate crisis. After a demonstration in Strasbourg where she began to sing, she became aware of the power of music to find a way into others’ consciousness through emotions and has not stopped since. She wrote the show 'Detonation' and, with a 180-centimeter double bass on her shoulders, toured half of Europe, followed by an Italian set of shows.
As she grew, she embraced new challenges, delving into art as a whole beyond just music. Currently, she attends the Scuola Holden to explore new languages, always with the ultimate goal of raising awareness about climate justice. Meanwhile, she continues with other projects on stage - with the orchestra - and in the squares - with techno music -. Last month, she made all the squares in Italy dance during a Fridays For Future national protest with the song 'Power,' created with her producer Sharxx. Then, the squares of Paris requested the piece after watching it going viral on social media.
She maintains relationships with all the major activist organizations in Italy, who invite her to their events as if she were a symbol of the protest. She recently participated in the TedX event in Varese."
Caricato il 12/12/2023
