"L'unica soluzione - la rivoluzione" (Revolution is the only solution). Thus went the chant yesterday from demonstrators on the first protest of "Genoa G8" weekend. As the march on behalf of non-EU migrant workers came to an end, the good news was that it had passed peacefully.
The bad news is that the peace may not hold. As the leaders of the world's eight most industrialised nations come together for their annual "state of the world" review, they do so against a background of draconian security measures, signalled by an 18,000-strong military presence.
More than 15,000 policemen, armed with automatic weapons, will be helped by an array of military strength and know-how, and 14 foot high steel barriers erected in the city centre. Navy frogmen, army sharpshooters and 12 air force helicopters, plus the US aircraft carrier Enterprise and ground-to-air missiles sited close to Genoa airport will be deployed in the interests of keeping the peace.
In the days before the December 1999 World Trade Organisation meeting in Seattle, events like this were dominated by concerns about possible terrorists attacks, most often from Islamic fundamentalist movements. But since the Seattle meeting the anti-globalisation movement or "Seattle People" have dominated security thinking.
The anti-globalisation front believes that more than 100,000 protesters will arrive in Genoa by Saturday. Serious problems may arise when the protesters attempt to break the security cordon or "red zone" around Genoa's 14th-century Palazzo Ducale, seat of the summit.
Although the vast majority of the anti-globalisation movement are committed to peaceful protests, it was significant to hear one of the most prominent Italian leaders, Mr Luca Casarini of the "White Overalls", promise yesterday: "We will burst into the Red Zone with ropes and the strength of thousands of arms".
To some extent, the "Seattle People" may have already made some significant points. The Italian government's willingness to meet and listen to the protesters means many of the common protest issues - the relief of developing world debt, global warming, the fight against AIDS in the developing world - will find their way into the summit discussions.
The sight of this at a cost of about IR£80 million, makes one wonder if the whole business is worth it.