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Who are the protesters opposite FAO headquarters?
Group draws inspiration from Occupy Wall Street

Staff in Rome may have noticed that a small encampment of people has appeared opposite headquarters. Lauren Sanders and colleagues from the EndingHunger movement visited the group to find out why they are there…

Opposite the main entrance of headquarters, in a green stretch referred to affectionately as il biscotto, you will find a group of tents with a makeshift kitchen area, library, communal space for live music and card games, and even an information centre.

A few of us from the EndingHunger team decided to find out what they were all about. We also wanted to ask them if they would consider being a part of our movement.

Giulia, a group member, welcomed us and explained how they got started.

They began in Piazza Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, then moved to their current spot more recently. Their first night in the open was after the events of 15 October, during which a peaceful social justice protest in Rome – born out of the Occupy Wall Street movement – was hijacked by violent demonstrators.

The first campers slept in cardboard boxes, they say, and gradually people began to donate tents and food.

Approximately 70 in total, the group comes from all segments of society and all age groups. Most but not all are Italians.

Italian Re-evolution – Democrazia Reale Ora – proposes a new society, a return to the values of land, equality and social justice, and an understanding of each other.

Basically, said Giulia, they want a society in which everyone has something to contribute.

Naturally we sensed some common ground with the EndingHunger movement’s goal of universal access to safe, nutritious food.

“What would the people at FAO think about this type of movement?” Giulia wanted to know. “Your goals are similar to ours, no? What could we do to help FAO?”

She signed a hard copy of the petition to end hunger, and agreed to pass it around so that the majority of the camp activists could lend their names and voices.

Living outdoors has not prevented the group from being active – they run events ranging from a discussion last week on “zero waste” to a meeting with officials from the Italian Ethics Commission.

They welcome visitors and anyone who would like to know more about their cause.

For us, we felt it was important to show we were aware of a campaign group set up so close to FAO, to discuss each other’s work and find some common ground.