Earth Science News
CLIMATE SCIENCE
Climate activists target Messi's mansion in Spain's Ibiza
Climate activists target Messi's mansion in Spain's Ibiza
by AFP Staff Writers
Madrid (AFP) Aug 6, 2024

Climate activists on Tuesday spray-painted a mansion on the Spanish holiday island of Ibiza belonging to Argentinian football star Lionel Messi, sparking the ire of his country's President Javier Milei.

Campaigners from the group Futuro Vegetal released a video showing two members standing in front of the house near the cove of Cala Tarida on Ibiza's western coast holding a banner that read: "Help the Planet -- Eat the Rich -- Abolish the Police."

The activists then sprayed the white facade of the building with red and black paint.

In a statement, the group said they wanted to show "the responsibility of the rich for the climate crisis" by targeting the mansion which they said was an "illegal construction".

Futuro Vegetal cited a 2023 Oxfam report that found that the richest one percent of the world's population generated the same amount of carbon emissions in 2019 as the poorest two thirds of humanity.

This disparity came about despite the fact that the most vulnerable communities are the ones suffering the "worst consequences" of this crisis, they said.

Milei reacted furiously on X, formerly Twitter, lambasting "communists who want to murder the rich and abolish the police to end climate change".

"I stand with Messi's family over this cowardly and crazy incident," he added, asking Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez's government to guarantee the security of Argentinians living in the country.

- Glue on Goya -

Messi, who currently plays for Inter Miami in the United States, reportedly bought the property on the Mediterranean island -- which includes a spa with a sauna and a cinema room -- in 2022 from a Swiss businessman for around 11 million euros ($12 million).

But the mansion lacked a certificate of occupancy, a document issued by a local government agency certifying it is in a liveable condition, due to the construction of several rooms in the property without a licence, according to Spanish media reports.

Futuro Vegetal, which is linked to similar groups internationally, has staged dozens of similar protests, including one in 2022 where they glued their hands to frames of paintings by Spanish master Francisco de Goya at Madrid's Prado museum.

Last year activists from the group spray-painted a superyacht moored in Ibiza with red and black paint that reportedly belonged to Nancy Walton Laurie, the billionaire heiress of US retail giant Walmart.

Spanish police in January said they had arrested 22 members of Futuro Vegetal, including the two who staged the protest at the Prado as well as the group's top three leaders.

Headline-grabbing Austria climate activists end protests
Vienna (AFP) Aug 6, 2024 - A group of Austrian climate activists who attacked a Klimt masterpiece and regularly blocked roads said Tuesday that they were ending their protests.

Last Generation Austria said they struggled to make their point against "ignorance... death threats and fines of tens of thousands of euros", and despaired of the Austrian government's inaction on climate change.

"We no longer see any prospect of success," the group said in a statement.

The group regularly made headlines over the past two years blocking streets and pouring black liquid over a screen protecting Gustav Klimt's masterpiece "Death And Life" in Vienna's Leopold Museum.

Last month they joined protests to disrupt traffic at several airports in Europe just days after the bloc's climate monitor registered the hottest day ever globally, with the daily average temperature inching up to 17.15 Celsius (62.87 Fahrenheit).

They had also called for climate protection to be enshrined as a fundamental right in the Austrian constitution.

Austria's ruling conservative People's Party (OeVP) welcomed the "dissolution" of what it called the "extremist group", which has some 280 activists.

"After numerous court cases, (they) have finally realised that Austria's streets are not a legal vacuum and that there is no fundamental right to their sabotage actions," it said.

Chancellor Karl Nehammer said he always considered it a mistake to make people's everyday lives and "their journeys to work more difficult".

"Nobody is above the law, no matter what their cause. It's good that this has come to an end!" he said in a post on X, formerly Twitter.

But the group was equally scathing about Austria's leaders. "We realise that Austria wants to remain in fossil ignorance and thus accepts that it is partly responsible for the deaths of billions of people," its statement added.

Contacted by AFP, the group said it would continue to raise awareness of climate change in Germany.

Related Links
Climate Science News - Modeling, Mitigation Adaptation

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
CLIMATE SCIENCE
Uncertainty Hinders Prediction of Climate Tipping Points
Berlin, Germany (SPX) Aug 05, 2024
A new study published in *Science Advances* indicates that uncertainties are currently too large to accurately predict exact tipping times for critical Earth system components such as the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC), polar ice sheets, or tropical rainforests. These tipping events, potentially triggered by human-induced global warming, involve rapid, irreversible climate changes with possibly catastrophic consequences. However, the study shows that forecasting the timing of these e ... read more

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Panama dismantles 'VIP' Chinese migrant route in Darien jungle

North Korea moving thousands of flood victims to capital: KCNA

China urges citizens to take 'caution' in Lebanon travel

India PM vows support after deadly landslide

CLIMATE SCIENCE
With sustainable cement, startup aims to eliminate gigatons of CO2

Chile's largest steelmaker suspends production, blames China

NASA Project Pioneers Future of Rocket Manufacturing

Viasat's ViaSat-3 F1 Satellite Begins Commercial Service

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Sea Lions Equipped with Cameras Help Uncover Uncharted Ocean Habitats

In drought-hit Sicily, rainwater is dumped in the sea

Study shows Great Barrier Reef at risk from record-breaking ocean heat

Study: Highest ocean temperatures in 400 years threaten Great Barrier Reef

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Alaskan Permafrost Erosion Accelerates Due to Climate Change

Polar bears kill worker at Canadian Arctic radar site

Antarctica's First Comprehensive Plant Survey to Guide Conservation

Greenland fossils reveal greater sea-level threat from climate change

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Greeks try tropical crops in climate change experiment

Harvest starts very early in Sicily's drought-hit vineyards

Farmers and Researchers Collaborate to Enhance Crop Testing Techniques

Farmers innovate to save Iraq's rice production

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Japan's 'megaquake' warning explained

Niger ups floods death toll to 94

Strong quake, small tsunamis hit southern Japan with minor damage

Police search for Quebec man swept away in Debby downpour

CLIMATE SCIENCE
C.Africa govt urges rebels to return to peace talks

Lawyers demand provisional release of two in DR Congo 'coup' trial

Libya government forces brace for 'possible attack' by rivals: local media

UN approves peacekeepers to help deal with rebels in eastern DR Congo

CLIMATE SCIENCE
Discovery of the Smallest Arm Bone Illuminates Evolution of Homo floresiensis

Chinese woman loses appeal for right to freeze her eggs

Discovery of tiny bone sheds light on mysterious 'hobbit' humans

Analysis reveals agonizing death of 'Screaming Woman' Mummy

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.