Greta Thunberg Gets 48-Hour Ban from Venice After Turning the Grand Canal Bright Green

Greta Thunberg is no stranger to making headlines, but this time she really managed to upset an entire Italian city. The 22-year-old Swedish climate activist and a group of Extinction Rebellion protesters decided to dye Venice’s famous Grand Canal a vivid (and very noticeable) shade of green. The dye was harmless and temporary, but that didn’t stop locals and officials from losing their minds over it.

It happened just as the COP30 climate talks in Brazil were wrapping up with world leaders once again failing to agree on ditching fossil fuels. To hammer home their frustration, Extinction Rebellion activists hit ten different spots across Italy on the same day—rivers, fountains, and canals in cities like Milan, Rome, Bologna, Turin, and of course Venice all got the neon-green treatment.

In Venice, the protesters also hung a huge “Stop Ecocide” banner on the Rialto Bridge and staged a slightly creepy flash mob: dozens of people dressed in red velvet robes with their faces hidden, weaving silently through bewildered tourists.

The backlash was instant. Veneto’s governor Luca Zaia called it a “disrespectful gesture toward our city, its history, and its fragility,” adding that he was especially surprised to see Greta Thunberg involved because the stunt felt more about grabbing attention than actually helping the planet.

As a result, Greta and around 35 other activists were each slapped with a €160 fine (about $170) and handed a 48-hour ban from the city. Basically, “thanks for visiting, now please leave and don’t come back for two days.”

Love her or hate her, you’ve got to admit Greta knows how to make sure the world is talking about climate change—even if half the conversation is Italians yelling about their precious canal looking like a giant Slushie for a few hours.

What do you think—fair protest or pointless vandalism? Drop your thoughts below!