Climate activists discuss Messi's villa
Lionel Messi reportedly paid €11 million for the luxury villa that has now been defaced with black and red paint. The group behind the action, Futuro Vegetal, claims it's to highlight the responsibility of the rich for the climate crisis.
On the Spanish Mediterranean island of Ibiza, climate activists from the group Futuro Vegetal splattered black and red paint on the white facade of a villa belonging to Argentine football superstar Lionel Messi. In an online video, two activists can be seen painting the luxurious property near Cala Tarida bay on the island's west coast. The group said the action was to draw attention to "the responsibility of the rich for the climate crisis."
The activists hold up a banner with the English slogans "Save the Planet," "Eat the Rich," and "Abolish the Police." Futuro Vegetal stated they targeted Messi's villa because it's an "illegal construction."
Messi, who currently resides and works in Miami, bought the villa with a private wellness area and a cinema for €11 million in 2022. However, the required occupancy certificate has not been issued for the property, allegedly due to several rooms being built illegally. The Mallorca Zeitung reported that the activists also wanted to highlight the tense housing situation on Ibiza.
Futuro Vegetal referenced a report by the charity Oxfam, which found that "the wealthiest one percent of the world's population emitted the same quantity of greenhouse gases in 2019 as the poorest two-thirds." The group is suspected of dozens of protest actions across Spain and other countries, including disrupting traffic, occupying airport runways, and vandalizing buildings and artworks with paint. In November 2022, two members glued their hands to the frames of two famous Goya paintings at Madrid's Prado Museum, and in Barcelona, members poured a colored liquid over a glass display case containing a mummy replica. In January, 22 members of Futuro Vegetal were arrested.
Following their action, Futuro Vegetal issued a statement defending their use of protests, stating, "Protests are a legitimate form of expression and a powerful tool in holding the wealthy accountable for their contribution to the climate crisis." Furthermore, the group expressed their desire for more substantial actions from government and wealthy individuals to address climate change, stating, "Protesting is simply a way to amplify our voice and demand change, but what we really need is for those with the means to take significant steps towards reducing their carbon footprint and advocating for environmental policies."
