- EURASIAREVIEW.COM - A la une - 26/Jun 23:44

Why Venice Hates Jeff Bezos

By Alessia Peretti (EurActiv) -- The lavish multimillion-euro marriage of Amazon's Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez in Venice has sparked protests about over-tourism,  environmental decay and bad taste.  This week, the floating city is playing host to a multi-day celebration for the Amazon founder and his partner, a former local television anchor turned space-suit model – an event Italian media have described in superlative terms. The "wedding of the century" is said to have cost around €30 million. More than 250 VIP guests – including Ivanka Trump, Bill Gates, Leonardo DiCaprio and Lady Gaga – are expected to arrive in the city by private jet and luxury yacht. Over the course of three days, they will cruise the lagoon in water taxis and gondolas, attending a series of exclusive events scattered across Venice's smaller islands. But behind the glamour, the celebrations have sparked growing unrest. A city hollowed out While some argue the festivities benefit local businesses, many Venetians see the wedding as the latest example of their city being reduced to a billionaire’s playground. Once home to a vibrant community, Venice’s historic center has lost over half its population in recent decades. With short-term rentals skyrocketing, over-tourism has accelerated an exodus that has left the population below 50,000 for the first time – even as the city hosts millions of tourists annually, the vast majority of whom stay only a few hours. In this context, Bezos’ wedding becomes more than a private affair. Protesters argue it epitomizes the alienation of residents from their own city. "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, then you can pay more taxes," read a banner unfurled by activists in Piazza San Marco. The 'No Space for Bezos' ecosystem The grassroots campaign No Space for Bezos has been at the forefront of the resistance, organising demonstrations for months. Protesters stress that their outrage is systemic, not personal. "There’s already a lot of anger, which spills over into this issue with Bezos and his 250 guests arriving in a city that is disappearing due to the climate crisis," said Gianluca Esposito, one of the demonstrators. Environmental degradation lies at the heart of the movement. Venice, known in Italy as la città che scompare – "the disappearing city" – faces an existential threat from rising sea levels. According to Italy’s national geophysics institute, INGV, rising sea levels and land subsidence could leave large parts of the city submerged by 2150. Activists highlight the irony of billionaires gathering in one of the world's most fragile cities while their carbon footprints and corporate practices are accelerating the very crisis that is endangering it. “He’s a pretext to wake people up,” said Giulia, a member of Extinction Rebellion. “What we’re really fighting is the system that enables this level of inequality, injustice and climate destruction.” On Tuesday, four activists climbed a crane beside the luxury Hotel Danieli – where some wedding guests are staying – and unfurled a banner reading, “Tax the rich to give back to the planet.” The group spent the night in police custody. With open arms The demonstrations, however, did not find an echo in higher circles. Venice’s mayor, Luigi Brugnaro, called for an apology to Jeff Bezos, while Luca Zaia, the president of the Veneto region, also defended the billionaire. "I want Jeff Bezos to be welcomed with open arms", Zaia said. "Protesting against someone who brings visibility and wealth to our region is a disgrace." Nevertheless, amid rising tensions, the wedding organisers have reportedly moved the main reception from the central Scuola Grande della Misericordia to the more secluded Arsenale complex. Officials cited security concerns linked to the protests.