Greenpeace joins protests against gala Jeff Bezos wedding in Venice
A large banner against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos lies on the ground, placed by Greenpeace Italy activists along with others in St. Mark's Square. PHOTO: REUTERS
VENICE - Global environmental lobby Greenpeace added its voice on June 23 to protests against this week's celebrity wedding in Venice between American tech billionaire Jeff Bezos and journalist Laura Sanchez.
The event, expected to attract some 200 guests including US President Donald Trump's daughter Ivanka and son-in-law Jared Kushner, as well as scores of stars from film, fashion and business, has been dubbed "the wedding of the century".
But some locals see the celebration as the latest sign of the brash commodification of a beautiful but fragile city that has long been overrun with tourism while steadily depopulating.
Activists from Greenpeace Italy and UK group "Everyone hates Elon" (Musk) unfolded a giant banner in central St Mark's Square with a picture of Mr Bezos laughing and a sign reading: "If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax."
Local police arrived to talk to activists and check their identification documents, before they rolled up their banner.
"The problem is not the wedding, the problem is the system. We think that one big billionaire can't rent a city for his pleasure," Ms Simona Abbate, one of the protesters, told Reuters.
Mayor Luigi Brugnaro and regional governor Luca Zaia have defended the wedding, arguing that it will bring an economic windfall to local businesses, including the motor boats and gondolas that operate its myriad canals.
Mr Zaia said the celebrations were expected to cost €20 million (S$29.65 million) to €30 million.
Mr Bezos will also make sizeable charity donations, including €1 million for Corila, an academic consortium that studies Venice's lagoon ecosystem, Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper and the Ansa news agency reported on June 22.
Earlier in June, anti-Bezos banners were hung from St Mark's bell tower and from the famed Rialto bridge, while locals threatened peaceful blockades against the event, saying Venice needed public services and housing, not VIPs and over-tourism.
The exact dates and locations of the glitzy nuptials are being kept confidential, but celebrations are expected to play out over three days, most likely around June 26-28. REUTERS
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