'Obscene!' Venice protesters hit out at cruise ship arrivals
in tourism backlash
THOUSANDS of protesters descended on Venice in a
demonstration against cruise ships and the “destruction” of historic Italian
city by mass tourism as locals accused the mayor of Venice of displacing
residents in favour of cashing-bringing tourists.
By NICOLE STINSON
PUBLISHED: 17:30, Mon, Jun 11, 2018 | UPDATED: 17:54, Mon,
Jun 11, 2018
Venice protests: Thousands of people took part in the ‘March
for the Dignity of Venice’ on Sunday
More than 4,000 protesters took part in the ‘March for the
Dignity of Venice’ on Sunday afternoon in blistering heat in a demonstration
against large cruise ship’s entering the Italian city’s port.
Protesters from No Grandi Navi – ‘No Large Ships’ – joined
with members from Laguna Bene Comune group as they marched from Piazzale Roma
to the city’s town hall behind a banner saying “This is not Veniceland” – a
reference to overcrowded and famous tourist hotspot Disneyland.
Additional signs read “NO” while another said: “Another city
is possible.”
Luciano Mazzolin, spokesman for the ‘No Grandi Navi’ – ‘No
Large Ships’ – said: "We have invited the inhabitants of the historic city
and the mainland, who live or work there to commute, as well as organisations
to restore the dignity to the city of Venice, now threatened by the work of
those who govern.”
He added the goal of the protest yesterday was to fill the
Venetian streets near the town hall with people, symbolically blocking access
to the Venetian centre of politics.
Tommaso Cacciari, from the Laboratorio Morion social centre,
also said: "Despite the torrid heat we are thousands, and it is the best
answer that worthy Venice could give to Luigi Brugnaro, the mayor of Venice.
“We are witnessing a project of destruction of the city and
of the removal of those who live there.
“Brugnaro has a specific project to turn the city into a
floating theme park: that's why he makes arrangements with Airbnb, which is why
he puts the turnstiles, he would like to also put the tickets to access them.
“In this project the Venetians are just people who have to
leave to create free space for tourists.”
Up to 30 million tourists arrive in Venice each year and in
April authorities installed turnstiles to regulate the flow of tourists.
Venice protest: Campaigners have accused the mayor of
ignoring locals to cash in on tourists
However, locals say the turnstiles were installed to
separate them from the tourists and part of the city.
Mr Mazzolin said: "The situation of the turnstiles is
serious because it exemplifies the true program of Mayor Brugnaro and his
council: transform, in the name of profit, the historic city in a large theme
park that has in the mainland a new low cost branch.
“What can the turnstiles do if we are planning to build
hostels and hotels in Mestre in the next few years?”
Meanwhile Stefano Micheletti from No Grandi Naviin told
crowds at the protest: ”It's been six years since the Clini-Passera decree
forbade access to the Giudecca Canal to large ships and what has changed?
Nothing!
We are witnessing a project of destruction of the city and
of the removal of those who live there. Mayor Brugnaro has a specific project
to turn the city into a floating theme park
“On Saturday in the lagoon, there were seven large ships and
14,000 cruise passengers.
“They teased us with questionable alternative solutions, but
naval gigantism seems unstoppable.
“The problem is not only accidents, but the air and
electromagnetic pollution, and the erosion of the seabed. We also want jobs, as
the presence of the fellow workers of the Fiom here in the square shows.”
The protests in Venice are the latest in a series of
anti-tourism campaigns which are spreading across Europe.
Venice protest: A protester said 'we are witnessing a
project of destruction of the city'
Arran Palma, an activist group based on the island of
Majorca, have promised to continue their protests against mass tourism.
Last year members of their group shocked holidaymakers at
Palma’s luxury marina, as they threw confetti at diners and let off flares
around the luxury yachts.
They also attacked a tourist bus in Barcelona last year as
four masked men from Arran Palma slashed the vehicle's tyres, sprayed graffiti,
and started chanting slogans.
Additional reporting by Maria Ortega.
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