I was just browsing the news from Italy as I often like to do and I found this article from ANSA to be very interesting. Tomorrow, which is Sunday, a ban goes into effect for nine hours in Rome and Milan limiting driving of vehicles . The ban begins at 8:30 a.m. and lasts until 5:30p.m.
In addition for those hours tomorrow homes may not be heated any warmer than 64.4 degrees. The purpose of the one day ban on fuels is due to “dangerously high levels of common airborne pollutants.”
Certainly this would never fly in the U.S. without massive protests greater than those of Occupy Wall Street. But on the other hand Italy is quite used to planned strikes in the transportation world and it is part of the way of life there. Italians walk a lot as well as have access to multiple modes of transportation in both Milan and Rome.
imarancher
I think most countries generally do as their government tells them, far more so than Americans. Here it takes on near religious fervor in our desire not to do anything the government tells us! Just check out the Occupy Wall Street, et al characters!