Greta Thunberg was issued a 48-hour ban from Venice after joining Extinction Rebellion activists who dyed the Grand Canal bright green in a weekend protest. The dye, which is non-toxic and commonly used in environmental studies, was poured into the city’s waterways to draw attention to what the group called the “massive effects of climate collapse.”
Extinction Rebellion’s Coordinated Demonstrations
Activists hung a “stop ecocide” banner from the Rialto Bridge and marched in red veils through tourist areas. Similar dye demonstrations took place in Milan, Palermo and Bologna as part of the coordinated action.
Officials Condemn the Protest
Veneto Gov. Luca Zaia sharply criticized the act, calling it “vandalism” that harms the city and creates additional pollution through cleanup. Authorities fined Thunberg and several other participants about $172 each.
A Pattern of Escalating Climate Protests
The action follows a series of high-profile eco-vandalism protests in recent years, from throwing soup on Van Gogh’s “Sunflowers” to gluing hands on “Girl with a Pearl Earring.” Experts continue to debate whether such tactics effectively raise climate awareness.
Thunberg’s Recent Activism Abroad
The Venice ban comes weeks after Thunberg was detained and deported from Israel for taking part in a humanitarian flotilla attempting to break the naval blockade of Gaza. Requests for comment from Thunberg’s team and Venice officials were not immediately returned.
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