Venice Bans Climate Activist Greta Thunberg After canal Dyeing Protest
Venice, Italy – Climate activist Greta Thunberg and 36 other protestors have been banned from entering Venice for 48 hours following a demonstration that saw a canal dyed neon green.The action, carried out by activists associated with the group Extinction Rebellion, prompted condemnation from city officials who deemed it a “disrespectful gesture” toward the city’s history and fragile ecosystem.
The protest aimed to raise awareness about the climate crisis and Venice’s vulnerability to environmental damage, but local authorities reacted swiftly with the entry ban. The incident underscores the escalating tensions between environmental activists employing disruptive tactics and cities seeking to protect their cultural heritage and public order. While the dye used has been persistent non-harmful to the habitat, the protest has ignited debate about the appropriate methods for climate advocacy.
Last Friday, Venice imposed the ban on Thunberg and the other activists identified in connection with the demonstration. Of those involved, 34 are Italian nationals, according to reports from South Tyrol News.
A spokesperson for the city criticized the protest as a self-serving attempt to elevate Thunberg’s profile, stating, “I am even more surprised to see Greta Thunberg among the perpetrators of this senseless protest, which clearly aims – more than raising awareness about the environment – to bring herself to the fore.”
despite the lack of environmental penalties due to the dye’s composition, Thunberg was personally fined 150 euros, as reported by bild. The ban prevents Thunberg and the other activists from entering Venice until the 48-hour period expires.
