Greta Thunberg, the well-known climate activist, faces a temporary ban from Venice following a prominent protest over the weekend.
Thunberg frequently makes headlines through speeches and actions aimed at urging governments to tackle climate change. This past weekend, she joined forces with Extinction Rebellion activists in a significant demonstration across Italy.
Similar to the iconic St Patrick’s Day event in Chicago, many of Venice’s rivers and canals were turned green.
Thunberg was seen protesting with the group on Saturday and, as a result, received a fine of €150 (about $173 or £132) for the demonstration. She, along with thirty-five other activists, was also banned from the city for 48 hours.
In social media videos of the protest, the group justified their actions by stating that they used an environmentally safe dye to highlight the consequences of climate change.
The activists also criticized the Italian government, led by Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, for their lack of support for strong climate measures at Cop30.
On Instagram, the Italian branch of Extinction Rebellion expressed their displeasure with some protestors being held and clarified the intent of their demonstration.
The Instagram post stated: “On the morning of Saturday 22 November, with XR Udine, XR Trieste and XR Gorizia we dyed the waters of the Grande Canal (Trieste), along with the waters of 10 other Italian cities, to highlight the ongoing ecocide.
“We’ve used fluorescein — a non-toxic, biodegradable compound.
“Eight people were detained for several hours for an identification certificate despite having immediately handed over the documents at the request of the police and were released with several complaints.
“With the slogan ‘Stop the Ecocide’, we denounce the ecocidal policies of the Italian Government and call the attention of all people to the devastating effects of the climate collapse.
“Ecocide is the depredation of ecosystems for economic exploitation, the destruction of natural resources brought about by wars and the inertia of governments in addressing climate change.”
Luca Zaia, the governor of the Veneto region, condemned the actions of the climate activists, describing it as ‘a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility’.
“It’s a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment,” he remarked.
Despite the criticism, some social media users have commended the group for their bold action, hoping that such demonstrations will prompt governments to implement substantial changes.