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Rhyl Journal
an hour ago
- Entertainment
- Rhyl Journal
Protesters say Jeff Bezos's Venice wedding highlights growing inequality
About a dozen Venetian organisations – including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups – have united to protest over the multi-day event under the banner 'No Space for Bezos', a play on words also referring to the bride's recent space flight. They have staged small-scale protests, unfurling anti-Bezos banners on famous Venetian sites. They were joined this week by Greenpeace and the British group Everyone Hates Elon, which has smashed Teslas to protest against Elon Musk, to unfurl a giant banner in St Mark's Square protesting over purported tax breaks for billionaires. 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax,' read the banner, which featured a huge image of Mr Bezos. Police quickly took it away. There has been no comment from Mr Bezos's representatives on the protests. The local activists had planned a more organised protest for Saturday, aiming to obstruct access to canals with boats to prevent guests from reaching a wedding venue. Then they modified the protest to a march from the train station after claiming a victory, asserting that their pressure forced organisers to change the venue to the Arsenale, a more easily secured site beyond Venice's congested centre. 'It will be a strong, decisive protest, but peaceful,' said Federica Toninello, an activist with the Social Housing Assembly network. 'We want it to be like a party, with music, to make clear what we want our Venice to look like.' Among the 200 guests confirmed to be attending the wedding are Sir Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Venice, renowned for its romantic canal vistas, hosts hundreds of weddings each year, not infrequently those of the rich and famous. Previous celebrity weddings, such as that of George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014, were embraced by the public. Hundreds turned out to wish the couple well at City Hall. Mr Bezos has a different political and business profile, said Tommaso Cacciari, a prominent figure in the movement that successfully pushed for a ban on cruise ships over 25,000 tons travelling through the Giudecca Canal in central Venice. 'Bezos is not a Hollywood actor,' Mr Cacciari said. 'He is an ultra-billionaire who sat next to Donald Trump during the inauguration, who contributed to his re-election and is contributing in a direct and heavy way to this new global obscurantism.' Critics also cite Amazon's labour practices, ongoing tax disputes with European governments and Mr Bezos's political associations as additional reasons for concern. Activists also argue that the Bezos wedding exemplifies broader failures in municipal governance, particularly the prioritisation of tourism over residents' needs. They cite measures such as the day-tripper tax – which critics argue reinforces Venice's image as a theme park – as ineffective. Chief among their concerns is the lack of investment in affordable housing and essential services. City officials have defended the wedding. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called the event an honour for Venice, and the city denied the wedding would cause disruptions. 'Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage,' Mr Brugnaro told The Associated Press, adding he hoped to meet Mr Bezos while he was in town. Meanwhile, a Venetian environmental research association, Corila, issued a statement saying Mr Bezos's Earth Fund was supporting its work with an 'important donation'. Corila, which unites university scholars and Italy's main national research council in researching Venetian protection strategies, would not say how much Mr Bezos was donating but said contact began in April, well before the protests started.
BreakingNews.ie
2 hours ago
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Protesters say Jeff Bezos's Venice wedding highlights growing inequality
This weekend's star-studded Venice wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez has galvanised activist groups which are protesting against it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots as well as disregard of the Italian city's residents. About a dozen Venetian organisations – including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups – have united to protest over the multi-day event under the banner 'No Space for Bezos', a play on words also referring to the bride's recent space flight. Advertisement They have staged small-scale protests, unfurling anti-Bezos banners on famous Venetian sites. A large banner against Amazon founder Jeff Bezos's planned wedding in St Mark's Square in Venice (Greenpeace via AP) They were joined this week by Greenpeace and the British group Everyone Hates Elon, which has smashed Teslas to protest against Elon Musk, to unfurl a giant banner in St Mark's Square protesting over purported tax breaks for billionaires. 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax,' read the banner, which featured a huge image of Mr Bezos. Police quickly took it away. Advertisement There has been no comment from Mr Bezos's representatives on the protests. The local activists had planned a more organised protest for Saturday, aiming to obstruct access to canals with boats to prevent guests from reaching a wedding venue. Then they modified the protest to a march from the train station after claiming a victory, asserting that their pressure forced organisers to change the venue to the Arsenale, a more easily secured site beyond Venice's congested centre. 'It will be a strong, decisive protest, but peaceful,' said Federica Toninello, an activist with the Social Housing Assembly network. Advertisement 'We want it to be like a party, with music, to make clear what we want our Venice to look like.' Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos (Evan Agostini/Invision/AP) Among the 200 guests confirmed to be attending the wedding are Sir Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Venice, renowned for its romantic canal vistas, hosts hundreds of weddings each year, not infrequently those of the rich and famous. Previous celebrity weddings, such as that of George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014, were embraced by the public. Advertisement Hundreds turned out to wish the couple well at City Hall. Mr Bezos has a different political and business profile, said Tommaso Cacciari, a prominent figure in the movement that successfully pushed for a ban on cruise ships over 25,000 tons travelling through the Giudecca Canal in central Venice. 'Bezos is not a Hollywood actor,' Mr Cacciari said. 'He is an ultra-billionaire who sat next to Donald Trump during the inauguration, who contributed to his re-election and is contributing in a direct and heavy way to this new global obscurantism.' Advertisement Critics also cite Amazon's labour practices, ongoing tax disputes with European governments and Mr Bezos's political associations as additional reasons for concern. A gondolier takes tourists along the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (Luca Bruno/AP) Activists also argue that the Bezos wedding exemplifies broader failures in municipal governance, particularly the prioritisation of tourism over residents' needs. They cite measures such as the day-tripper tax – which critics argue reinforces Venice's image as a theme park – as ineffective. Chief among their concerns is the lack of investment in affordable housing and essential services. City officials have defended the wedding. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called the event an honour for Venice, and the city denied the wedding would cause disruptions. 'Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage,' Mr Brugnaro told The Associated Press, adding he hoped to meet Mr Bezos while he was in town. Meanwhile, a Venetian environmental research association, Corila, issued a statement saying Mr Bezos's Earth Fund was supporting its work with an 'important donation'. Corila, which unites university scholars and Italy's main national research council in researching Venetian protection strategies, would not say how much Mr Bezos was donating but said contact began in April, well before the protests started.
France 24
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- France 24
Amazon founder Bezos's Venice wedding triggers cascade of protests over wealth inequality
This weekend's star-studded Venice wedding of multi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez has galvanized activist groups that are protesting it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots as well as disregard of the city's residents. About a dozen Venetian organizations – including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups – have united to protest the multi-day event under the banner 'No Space for Bezos', a play on words also referring to the bride's recent space flight. They have staged small-scale protests, unfurling anti-Bezos banners on iconic Venetian sites. They were joined this week by Greenpeace and the British group 'Everyone Hates Elon', which has smashed Teslas to protest Elon Musk, to unfurl a giant banner in St. Mark's Square protesting purported tax breaks for billionaires. 'IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX,' read the banner, which featured a huge image of Bezos. Police quickly took it away. There has been no comment from Bezos' representatives on the protests. The local activists had planned a more organised protest for Saturday, aiming to obstruct access to canals with boats to prevent guests from reaching a wedding venue. Then they modified the protest to a march from the train station after claiming a victory, asserting that their pressure forced organisers to change the venue to the Arsenale, a more easily secured site beyond Venice's congested centre. 'It will be a strong, decisive protest, but peaceful,'' said Federica Toninello, an activist with the Social Housing Assembly network. 'We want it to be like a party, with music, to make clear what we want our Venice to look like." Among the 200 guests confirmed to be attending the wedding are Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Venice, renowned for its romantic canal vistas, hosts hundreds of weddings each year, not infrequently those of the rich and famous. Previous celebrity weddings, like that of George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014, were embraced by the public. Hundreds turned out to wish the couple well at City Hall. 01:37 Bezos has a different political and business profile, said Tommaso Cacciari, a prominent figure in the movement that successfully pushed for a ban on cruise ships over 25,000 tons travelling through the Giudecca Canal in central Venice. 'Bezos is not a Hollywood actor,'' Cacciari said. 'He is an ultra-billionaire who sat next to Donald Trump during the inauguration, who contributed to his re-election and is contributing in a direct and heavy way to this new global obscurantism.'' Critics also cite Amazon's labor practices, ongoing tax disputes with European governments and Bezos' political associations as additional reasons for concern. Activists also argue that the Bezos wedding exemplifies broader failures in municipal governance, particularly the prioritisation of tourism over residents' needs. They cite measures such as the day-tripper tax – which critics argue reinforces Venice's image as a theme park – as ineffective. Chief among their concerns is the lack of investment in affordable housing and essential services. City officials have defended the wedding. Mayor Luigi Brugnaro called the event an honor for Venice, and the city denied the wedding would cause disruptions. "Venice once again reveals itself to be a global stage,'' Brugnaro told The Associated Press, adding he hoped to meet Bezos while he was in town. Meanwhile, a Venetian environmental research association, Corila, issued a statement saying Bezos' Earth Fund was supporting its work with an 'important donation'. Corila, which unites university scholars and Italy's main national research council in researching Venetian protection strategies, wouldn't say how much Bezos was donating but said contact began in April, well before the protests started.
New Indian Express
6 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Protesters say Amazon founder Jeff Bezos' Venice wedding highlights growing inequality
VENICE: This weekend's star-studded Venice wedding of multi-billionaire Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sanchez has galvanized activist groups that are protesting it as a sign of the growing disparity between the haves and have-nots as well as disregard of the city's residents. About a dozen Venetian organizations — including housing advocates, anti-cruise ship campaigners and university groups — have united to protest the multi-day event under the banner 'No Space for Bezos,' a play on words also referring to the bride's recent space flight. They have staged small-scale protests, unfurling anti-Bezos banners on iconic Venetian sites. They were joined this week by Greenpeace and the British group 'Everyone Hates Elon,' which has smashed Teslas to protest Elon Musk, to unfurl a giant banner in St. Mark's Square protesting purported tax breaks for billionaires. 'IF YOU CAN RENT VENICE FOR YOUR WEDDING YOU CAN PAY MORE TAX,' read the banner, which featured a huge image of Bezos. Police quickly took it away. There has been no comment from Bezos' representatives on the protests. The local activists had planned a more organized protest for Saturday, aiming to obstruct access to canals with boats to prevent guests from reaching a wedding venue. Then they modified the protest to a march from the train station after claiming a victory, asserting that their pressure forced organizers to change the venue to the Arsenale, a more easily secured site beyond Venice's congested center. 'It will be a strong, decisive protest, but peaceful,'' said Federica Toninello, an activist with the Social Housing Assembly network. 'We want it to be like a party, with music, to make clear what we want our Venice to look like." Among the 200 guests confirmed to be attending the wedding are Mick Jagger, Ivanka Trump, Oprah Winfrey, Katy Perry and Leonardo DiCaprio. Venice, renowned for its romantic canal vistas, hosts hundreds of weddings each year, not infrequently those of the rich and famous. Previous celebrity weddings, like that of George Clooney to human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin in 2014, were embraced by the public. Hundreds turned out to wish the couple well at City Hall.
Irish Examiner
6 hours ago
- Business
- Irish Examiner
Jeff Bezos alters Venice wedding plans after threat of inflatable crocodiles
Campaigners in Venice have claimed victory after Jeff Bezos was reportedly forced to change the venue for his wedding celebrations in the city as his guests started arriving on Tuesday for the three-day jamboree. The main reception for the wedding of Bezos and Lauren Sánchez, a former TV journalist, was due to be held in the Scuola Grande della Misericordia, a majestic 16th-century building in the city centre. But according to the No Space for Bezos group, the couple relented after activists threatened to fill the canals with inflatable crocodiles to block their celebrity guests from entering. The event will instead take place in Arsenale, a historic complex of shipyards surrounded by fortified walls that will be much harder for the protesters to penetrate. According to local press reports, the venue switch was also due to security concerns after the US joined the war between Israel and Iran, especially because Donald Trump's daughter, Ivanka, arrived in Venice on Tuesday. Lauren Sanchez and Jeff Bezos at the inauguration of Donald Trump. Picture: Julia Demaree Nikhinson - Pool/Getty Images The authorities in Venice have upped security across the city, particularly in the Jewish neighbourhood. The 200 or so wedding guests, who may also include Elon Musk, Kim Kardashian and Leonardo DiCaprio, will arrive in Venice on Tuesday and Wednesday. An estimated 95 private planes are reported to be landing at the city's airport. No precise dates or details have been confirmed, although it is believed the celebrations will begin on Thursday, with the couple exchanging vows on Friday in San Giorgio Maggiore basilica on the Venetian island of the same name. The big party is expected to be held on Saturday. Activists said that instead of trying to stop the wedding, they will organise a 'no Bezos, no war' march. 'We feel as if we scored a victory,' said one activist, who asked not to be named. 'The crocodile initiative would have given a bad impression of the city – this is why the venue was changed even if the authorities might try to claim it was because of the war.' The campaign group emerged soon after Venice's millionaire mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, confirmed in March that the couple would be getting married in the city. Protesters say the event risks turning the world heritage site, which has long suffered from the effects of excessive tourism, into a playground for the rich. Posters featuring an image of Bezos's head on a rocket blasting into space – in reference to his Blue Origin space tourism venture – have appeared across the city. Greenpeace Italia and the British activist group Everyone Hates Elon have also joined the protests, unfurling a huge banner in St Mark's Square on Monday with a picture of Bezos laughing and a sign reading: 'If you can rent Venice for your wedding you can pay more tax.' A banner in St Mark's Square unfurled by Greenpeace Italia and Everyone Hates Elon. Picture: Greenpeace via AP Greenpeace said the initiative was aimed at highlighting the 'social and climate injustice' of such events. 'Bezos embodies an economic and social model that is leading us towards collapse,' Greenpeace said, arguing that lifestyles fuelled by 'the arrogance of a few billionaires' are devastating for the planet. Brugnaro said he was ashamed of those who protest against people who 'bring riches' to the city. Eyeing an opportunity amid the controversy, Matteo Pressi, the mayor of Soàve, a walled village in Veneto with a population of about 7,000, said he had written to Amazon Italia inviting the couple to host their nuptials there instead. 'Venice is unique, but getting married in the most beautiful village in Italy wouldn't be so bad either,' he said. The Guardian Read More 41657414[#embed3]
