Bezos Wedding in Venice Faces Strong Opposition from Civic Groups and Residents
"If You Can Rent Venice for Your Wedding, You Should Pay More Taxes"
In Venice, Italy, where the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is taking place, protests by civic groups are spreading. Yonhap News reported on the 23rd (local time), citing the Italian daily Corriere della Sera and the Associated Press, that "on this day, Greenpeace Italy and the British resistance group 'Everyone Hates Elon' unfurled a large banner criticizing Bezos at St. Mark's Square in Venice."
A large banner criticizing Jeff Bezos is displayed at St. Mark's Square in Venice, Italy, where the wedding of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos is taking place. Photo by Reuters Yonhap News
The banner featured a smiling image of Bezos and a message in English that read, "If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you should pay more taxes." The groups stated, "Bezos is a symbol of the collapse of the economic and social systems we face today," and added, "Social inequality and the climate crisis are intensifying. On one side are billionaires who are destroying the planet, and on the other are countless ordinary citizens who have to bear the consequences." However, the banner was quickly removed by police who arrived at the scene.
Bezos will hold his wedding with his fianc?e Lauren Sanchez in Venice, a UNESCO World Heritage site, over three days starting on the 26th. Approximately 200 celebrities are expected to attend the wedding, including star broadcaster Oprah Winfrey, Kim Kardashian, musicians Mick Jagger and Katy Perry, actress Eva Longoria, and Ivanka Trump, daughter of former U.S. President Donald Trump, along with her husband Jared Kushner. It has been reported that Bezos has reserved most of Venice's water taxis for his guests and booked more than four of the city's most luxurious hotels.
While Bezos once led Amazon, the world's largest online shopping platform, he has also faced criticism for causing severe environmental damage. Many point out that the vast amount of packaging materials, delivery vehicles, and logistics infrastructure are causing significant harm to the ecosystem.
In response, protests against the wedding have continued in Venice since last week, led by about 12 local civic groups. These groups have hung a banner reading "No Space for Bezos" on the iconic Rialto Bridge and have posted protest posters throughout the city as part of their demonstrations.
Criticism has intensified among remaining residents as more locals are pushed out by the influx of tourists. The population within Venice's historic district was over 130,000 in 1961, but due to a surge in tourists and rising housing prices following COVID-19, it has now dropped to less than 50,000. In this situation, as Bezos rents out much of the city for his extravagant wedding, there has been backlash with claims that "Venice has become a playground for billionaires."
However, some organizations have found themselves in a difficult position due to the protests. The scientific institution 'Corila,' which studies the ecology of the Venetian lagoon, revealed that the 'Bezos Earth Fund' established by Bezos has been supporting its research activities. While Corila did not disclose the amount donated, it is known that the contributions from Bezos began in April, before the protests started.
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