by InTrieste
In a dramatic display of environmental advocacy, Extinction Rebellion (XR) protesters turned rivers and canals in major Italian cities, including Venice’s iconic Grand Canal, a vibrant shade of fluorescent green on Saturday. The visually striking demonstration aimed to draw attention to the urgent need for action on the climate crisis.
At the Rialto Bridge in Venice, XR activists, suspended from ropes, unveiled a banner reading “COP28: while the government talks, we hang on by a thread.” Dangling over the Grand Canal, they decried the “failure of global leadership” on the climate crisis and the ongoing mass extinction. Police intervened to remove the protesters after their daring act.
The protests extended beyond Venice, reaching Bologna, Milan, Rome, and Turin, coinciding with the conclusion of the two-week 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP28) in Dubai.
XR defended their use of a “harmless” fluorescein tracer dye, emphasizing that the vibrant color would dissipate in a few hours. However, their message underscored the lasting impact of climate change on the Earth’s waterways, declaring, “The color of our seas and rivers will continue to change as temperatures rise.”
Venice Mayor Luigi Brugnaro condemned the XR actions as “eco-vandalism,” expressing frustration over the disruption caused by the protest. Brugnaro reported the activists for “interruption of public service,” asserting hopes that legal consequences would follow.
The protest followed a separate demonstration just two days earlier when climate activists from Ultima Generazione sprayed liquid mud onto the façade of St Mark’s Basilica in Venice. Describing it as a “fire alarm,” activists shouted warnings about Venice’s imminent submersion, urging the government to phase out fossil fuels to save the beloved city.
As environmental activism takes center stage, the clash between disruptive tactics and urgent calls for climate action continues to escalate.
