The Australian ambassador to Italy David Ritchie encourages Rome residents to take part in the 20th annual Clean Up the World initiative, in particular the capital's main "Puliamo il Mondo" event on Sunday 30 September in the Via dei Fori Imperiali/Colle Oppio area. 

Volunteers, who will collect rubbish from the vicinity, can register with the Italian environmental organisation Legambiente in front of the Colosseum metro station from 09.30 to 13.00. 

Legambiente, in collaboration with RAI television, has progammed events across Italy from 28-30 September. During the Rome event, volunteers will be invited to add their signature to the Legambiente appeal to pedestrianise the area around the Colosseum.

Launched in 1993, Clean Up the World originated in Australia, and is held in conjunction with the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP). Each year the initiative mobilises an estimated 35 million volunteers from 130 countries, making it one of the largest community-based environmental campaigns in the world.

Further information is available at www.puliamoilmondo.it.