Venetian acqua alta records now stretch over three millennia. The moon, the sun, and southerly wind occasionally conspire to flood the city, most often in the fall.  But the last century has been the worst of all on record, and the last decade is especially worrisome. There can be no doubt any longer that climate change is behind these rapid changes. Without the MOSE project, a barrier consisting of a large number of plates that can be raised from the sea floor, Venice is indeed in peril (“Flood Warnings,” December 6, 2008). Notwithstanding the skepticism of many Venetians, including the mayor, Massimo Cacciari, the exceptional acqua alta of December 1 is a clear sign that the project needs speeding up before it is too late. Otherwise, Venice may well be the first and rather symbolic victim of the way of life that it has once helped bring to life: global capitalism.