Climate activists paint yacht of Walmart heir in Barcelona harbor

Climate activists from the groups Scients Rebellion and Extintion Rebellion have sprayed biodegradable paint on the luxury yacht of Nancy Walton, daughter of James Bud Walton and heir of the US supermarket chain Walmart.

The environmental groups wanted to highlight the climate crisis in their protest action and reminded the public that the summer of 2023 has seen record-breaking temperatures and extreme climate events.

This action is part of their 'Make Them Pay' campaign, demanding the confiscation and banning of the world's biggest yachts. In videos published on social media, they were also seen holding up a banner reading 'Billionaires should not exist.' 

According to the entities, the yacht was built in 2017 and is worth €300 million, with yearly maintenance costs around $20-$30 million. 

Extinction Rebellion Barcelona emphasized that "the richest 1% of the population pollutes more than the poorest 50%" and that "mega-yachts are an example of the unsustainable lifestyle that multimillionaires live."

Sources from the Marina Port Vell harbor say that "the boat is currently in perfect condition."

Other eco protests in Barcelona

In November 2022, two climate activists from the organization "Futuro Vegetal" (Green Future) painted the showcase of one of the mummies exhibited at Barcelona's Egyptian Museum with fake "blood and fuel".