Unlock the publisher’s digest free
Roula Khalaf, editor -in -chief of the FT, selects her favorite stories in this weekly newsletter.
Jeff Bezos’ next marriage of Venice has become a lightning rod for the protest, while the unhappy residents of surprising join climatic activists for a rage against a show that embodies many global ailments for them.
Most of the city’s most exclusive hotels and water taxi have been reserved for an extravagance of three days this week, because the founder of Amazon, Bezos, one of the richest men in the world, should marry Lauren Sánchez television.
The dates and details are a closely kept secret, but the scuola Grande della della Misericordia carefully restored would be among the sites. The city has long been a word both for unbearable tourism and the risks of climate change, because the increase in sea level threatens its architectural jewels of the Renaissance era.
Local activists responded by placing the city walls with posters “No space for Bezos” – a reference to its space technological investments – and have placed banners on sites such as the Rialto bridge and the island of San Giorgio.
“What is happening here is blatant arrogance,” said Marta Sottoriva, 34, English teacher and high school activist. “He exploits the city in the same way that he has exploited workers around the world to build his empire.”
On Monday, climate and anti -incality activists deployed a large banner of St Mark’s Square who said: “If you can rent Venice for your wedding, you can pay more taxes”. He was quickly removed by the police.
“Bezos’ marriage is a symbol of extreme wealth, privileges and many things that are currently mistaken in the world” and that take place in “one of the most vulnerable climatic cities in the world,” said Clara Thompson, a Greenpeace activist.
Celebrities, cultural lights and rich customers regularly descend to the artistic and architectural biennials of Venice and annual film festivals. In 2014, Hollywood star George Clooney married human rights lawyer Amal Alamuddin there.
But Bezos’ weddings have touched a nerve among many Venetians, who allege that conservative mayor Luigi Brugnaro cares more about stimulating tourist figures than improving the lives of local residents.
“The Venetians feel betrayed, neglected and forgotten,” said Tommaso Bortoluzzi, municipal councilor of the opposition Democratic Party. “Many citizens believe they have lost the ability to live in their own city in a calm, serene and traditional way, while Venice has become an outdoor museum.”
The number of residents living in the historic Venice center has increased from 100,000 in the 1980s to less than 50,000 today, according to Vensinea, a website according to population trends – while hotel beds and tourist rental apartments have increased.
“Year after year, tourism is increasing, but the city cannot absorb an infinite number of visitors,” added Bortoluzzi. “The Venetians feel that they do not even receive the minimum services, even if many resources come from tourism.”
Lanza & Baucina, the London -based event planner organizing marriage, insists that the event was carefully organized given the fragility of the city.
“The instructions of our client and our own guiding principles were clearly clear: the minimization of any disturbance for the City, respect for its residents and institutions and employment overwhelming premises,” said the company last week.
“The rumors of` `taking control ” of the city are entirely false and diametrically opposed to our objectives,” said the planners, noting that Bezos had made charitable donations – of an unpertified size – to organizations working to preserve the lagoon.
Brugnaro, a curator who has run the city for a decade, has been unleashed against the demonstrators and said: “He who loves Venice will always be welcome”.
But that did not appease the campaign “No Space for Bezos”, which brought together students, unions and activists campaigning for affordable housing and against cruise ships.
Many say that their protests are against capitalism focused on the alleged technology and exploitation of workers in the vulnerable concert economy. Last year, Italian police entered 121 million euros from an Amazon unit based in Milan for alleged tax fraud and faults of professional misconduct – accuses the rejected Bezos company.
On Saturday, demonstrators plan to jump into the canals and use their own boats to block water taxis transporting guests to wedding.
“The political agenda continuously blurs the boundaries between public goods and private interests,” said Sottoriva, who cut his teeth in the successful campaign against cruising ships. “Local residents are considered obstacles to tourism – obstacles to Venice as a Disneyland theme park.”
