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Gypsy girls' corpses on beach fail to put off sunbathers
Questions about the attitude of Italians to their Roma minority were again being asked yesterday after photographs were published of sunbathers continuing as normal with a day at the beach despite the bodies of two Gypsy girls who had drowned being laid out on the sand nearby.
The incident took place outside Naples, where a Roma encampment was burned to the ground this year after its inhabitants had been evacuated for their own safety. Accounts given by Italian media varied, but according to the news agency Ansa, the victims - aged 14 and 16 - and two other young Gypsies had been begging from daytrippers on the beach at Torregaveta, west of Naples, on Saturday. Other reports indicated they were selling trinkets. The area is easily reached from the city by a railway line that ends near the shore.
At about 1pm, the four girls decided to go into the water even though none of them, it seems, knew how to swim. They soon got into difficulties because of strong currents in the area and were hit by an unusually big wave. Two of the girls were rescued by life-savers from a nearby private beach. But rescuers were unable to reach the two oldest until they were already dead. Their corpses were dragged ashore and laid out on the sand under beach towels.
"But the knot of curious onlookers that formed around the girls' bodies dissolved as [swiftly] as it had formed," the newspaper Corriere della Sera reported. "Few left the beach or abandoned their sunbathing. When the police from the mortuary arrived an hour later with coffins, the two girls were carried away on the shoulders [of the officers] between bathers stretched out in the sun." La Repubblica also expressed astonishment at the behaviour of those present. "While the lifeless bodies of the girls were still on the sand, there were those who carried on sunbathing or having lunch just a few metres away," it reported.
The civil liberties group EveryOne said it was unconvinced by reports of the incident at Torregaveta and asked whether there might be something more sinister behind it. A statement from the group said: "Two young Roma would never have left their scant merchandise for 'a refreshing dip' in the waves. Two Gypsy girls would never have gone bathing in full view of everyone because of the modesty that is one of their distinguishing characteristics."
(Excerpts / John Hooper, Guardian) Questions about the attitude of Italians to their Roma minority were again being asked yesterday after photographs were published of s... more -
EU Parliament warns Italy over Gypsy fingerprinting
"The European Parliament on Thursday called the fingerprinting of Gypsies in Italy a clear act of racial discrimination and urged the authorities to stop it.
In a resolution, the EU assembly said the measure is not supported by EU human rights treaties and that EU citizens of Roma, or Gypsy, origin must not be treated differently from others in Italy, who are not required to submit their fingerprints.
The Italian government has begun the Gypsy fingerprinting as part of a wider crackdown on street crime. Italian newspapers have published photographs of gloved officials taking fingerprints from the ink-stained hands of Gypsies living in around Naples, and authorities are expected to move in on camps in other cities in the coming days.
Early examples of the papers filed in Naples showed local authorities also were identifying those fingerprinted according to their religion, ethnicity and education level..."
"The European Parliament on Thursday called the fingerprinting of Gypsies in Italy a clear act of racial discrimination and urged the ... more -
Gypsy children to be fingerprinted in Italy
"Thousands of Roma Gypsy children and adults will be fingerprinted from Sunday in the Italian capital, Rome, despite strong criticism from European and religious organisations.
The fingerprinting and identification process will be coordinated with the Red Cross and 'cultural mediators' and the Roma will receive a sanitary card, allowing them access to Italy's social and health services.
Gypsy children, whose parents keep them out of school and send them to beg on the streets would lose custody of their children, under the plan announced by Maroni.
Of the 150,000 Roma Gypsies who live in Italy, about 70,000 have Italian citizenship. Many Roma Gypsies come from Romania."
"Thousands of Roma Gypsy children and adults will be fingerprinted from Sunday in the Italian capital, Rome, despite strong criticism ... more -
Vivienne Westwood criticised for 'gypsy' themed show
A Gypsy themed men's collection taken to Milan by Vivienne Westwood to send a message of tolerance has been criticised by a city official. Dressing her models as "rough, stylish and hardened" Roma - to pay homage to "the outcasts of society" - for Sunday's show, the designer ran foul of intolerance towards Gypsy camps in Italy.
"Westwood has a romantic notion about Gypsies that is 100 years out of date," said Tiziana Maiolo, Milan's assessor for industry and fashion and a former Forza Italia MP. A Gypsy themed men's collection taken to Milan by Vivienne Westwood to send a message of tolerance has been criticised by a city offic... more -
Italian children back burning of gypsy camps
Teachers at the school had set the children the task of explaining how they felt about the persecution of the gypsies. “The gypsies steal children to transplant their organs,” wrote one child. Teachers at the school had set the children the task of explaining how they felt about the persecution of the gypsies. “The gypsies st... more
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Sexy Shoshana: Ass Shakin' Good Morning Chocolate Covered Espresso Beans!
I am not sure why this is interesting? But I will tell you that this was my all time number one viewed video on my former, popular shoshanarose1 youtube channel last year, with over 250,000 views on this video alone. Maybe you'll enjoy it? Perhaps you will think I am crazy? Whatever the case, hopefully you will admit that I am pretty cute for a 43 year old lady?! LOL!
MUAH!
xoxox
shoshilay I am not sure why this is interesting? But I will tell you that this was my all time number one viewed video on my former, popular sho... more -
Crikey! No More Pikey!
According to reports today, the word 'Pikey' is now a race hate word. A man has been
given a 12-month community order and told to do 200 hours of unpaid work all for repeatedly calling a Nightclub Bouncer the aforementioned 'race hate word.'
Imagine if Mickey from Snatch had been there, check the video for a bit of a remix on Mickey and his language barriers...
Video Does Contain Swearing! According to reports today, the word 'Pikey' is now a race hate word. A man has been ... more -
"Gypsy clan members jailed for death feud"
This looks like the tag line for a Charles Bronson movie, but it is the headline for a news article about a family of Gypsies in England.
"Three generations of one family have been jailed for up to nine years for the chopping, slashing and stabbing death of a fellow Gypsy with weapons including knives, a Samurai sword, axes and machetes after a trivial remark spiralled into a bloody altercation between two families during convivial drinks at a caravan park two years ago." This looks like the tag line for a Charles Bronson movie, but it is the headline for a news article about a family of Gypsies in Engla... more -
Gogol Bordello-Not A Crime
If Gogol comes to a town near you, make it your mission in life to see that show. He came through my town a few weeks ago and was amazing. Not A Crime! If Gogol comes to a town near you, make it your mission in life to see that show. He came through my town a few weeks ago and was amaz... more
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Bulgarian style "I Will Always Love you"
A really interesting rendition of "I Will Always Love You" done in a Bulgarian Rom (Gypsy) style completely with backing by a Balkan brass band. This is from the Bulgarian version of American Idol, I think. A really interesting rendition of "I Will Always Love You" done in a Bulgarian Rom (Gypsy) style completely with backing by a Balkan b... more
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The gypsy way ...
Why don't we hear more about this way of life?
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