Greta Thunberg continues to stir emotions among many. Now, the Swedish climate activist has been banned from the historic Italian city of Venice. That is because of what she and other protesters did to the famous, historic canals.
Greta Thunberg, 22, continues to spark reactions with her and her friends’ methods for spreading the word about the climate crisis and protesting against the stances of different corporations and countries.
Days ago, she and protestors from Extinction Rebellion, a UK-founded global environmental movement, popped up in Venice, where their actions made many furious.
The climate activists dumped a harmless green dye into the Grand Canals of Venice, sparking strong reactions. The historic canals and the city itself have been a major tourist attraction for decades.
Simultaneously, Extinction Rebellion targeted nine other sites around Italy to coincide with the end of the COP30 United Nations climate conference in Brasilia, where several countries failed to agree on phasing out fossil fuels.
To raise awareness of the “massive” effects of a climate collapse, Extinction Rebellion activists targeted rivers, canals, and fountains in Italian cities Bologna, Genoa, Milan, Padua, Palermo, Parma, Trieste, Turin, and Taranto, as well as Venice.
Greta Thunberg banned from Venice
But if Greta Thunberg wanted to go for a stroll in the city following the protests, it wasn’t possible. The Swedish climate activist was banned from the city for 48 hours and fined $170. According to the Daily Mail, about 35 other activists were also fined and banned.
A banner was also hung at the Rialto Bridge across the Grand Canal in Venice, reading “Stop Ecocide.” Also, the organization staged a flash mob in which the activists dressed in red velvet and concealed their faces, walking through groups of tourists.
Luca Zaia, the governor of the region of Veneto, condemned the activists’ actions as a “disrespectful gesture for our city, its history, and its fragility.”
“I am even more surprised to see Greta Thunberg among the authors of this useless protest, who clearly aim – more than raising awareness about the environment – to give visibility to themselves,” he said.
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