You should redo this on August 15th too. It's traditional in Italy and some other european countries to soak strangers then, I don't know why. If you enjoy youself on your worthy water-fight, and want to co-opt an existing festival for pacifist purposes, then prepare leaflets advesrting a second event on the 15th. Maybe some Italian can explain the sigificance to us ?

I'd join in, I've a scary stockpile of water guns. If that sounds too soft and whimsical to be true let me just point out, you only need to add a few chopped strong peppers to any water-gun supply to make it a pepper-spray device. Any water gun is a double-edged sword. Any tool is a weapon if you hold it right.

Being a semi-responsible adult I think I should add, if you don't understand chemistry then you probably shouldn't make your own pepper spray, although the instructions are out there. If you mix too much you will blind the person or dog who is attacking you rather than temporarily incapacitating them. Still smarter than carrying a knife though.

On the subject of useful tools, I tried out someone elses (LuddPoohs) design for a better lock-on tube recently. A hardened steel tube contained within a hardened steel tube lubricated with oil. If you try to saw it, the outer tube just spins. You have to weld a rim to the inner tube to stop the outer spinning tube cutting your arm. I'm working on my own design for a telescopic lock-on tube that can be more easily concealed but if there any mechanical engineers who are activists, please improvise yourselves as I'm hopeless with metal. I've heard other theories about possible designs for lock-on tubes but these depend upon a certainty of knowledge about the saws the police /MoD squad employ that I wouldn't risk my arm for personally.