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Troops patrolling Italian cities
"Italian troops have begun patrolling cities as part of a government campaign to combat crime and boost security. Some 3,000 soldiers will be deployed over the next week in major cities including Milan, Rome and Naples.
They are patrolling alongside police officers and guarding high-profile tourist sites and embassies, as well as immigrant holding centres. Critics say the move sends a message that Italy is swamped by crime and that its police are not up to the job.
Ministers say they are simply responding to Italians' fears. A recent study showed that Italians have never before been so worried about their vulnerability to crime."
Today, the arrival of the first troops was met with mixed reactions by Italians and tourists. Some say it's like being under a military regime, others welcomed the troops with applauses.
( http://www.ansa.it/site/notizie/awnplus/english/news/20... )
What do you think of this decision by the Berlusconi government? How would you react if soldiers started to patrol your city streets? "Italian troops have begun patrolling cities as part of a government campaign to combat crime and boost security. Some 3,000 sold... more -
Mafia boss arrested during shopping trip
A leading member of the Naples mafia has been arrested while shopping in Rome.
Adriano Graziano, known as “The Teacher”, was detained as he left a designer clothes store. According to reports, he did not put up a fight. Mr Graziano, of the notorious clan of the same name, escaped capture in May when police arrested 23 alleged members.
The Grazianos are known for a bloody war against the Cava clan of the Naples mafia, also known as the Camorra.
According to investigators, Mr Graziano gave the orders for the 2002 ambush that killed the mother and sister in law of the rival clan chief. A leading member of the Naples mafia has been arrested while shopping in Rome. ... more -
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 -
Naples trash trauma: here come the 'Angels of Garbage'
"Few would deny that living side-by-side with stinking, oozing piles of garbage for months on end makes life more difficult. Even in the normally chaotic southern Italian city of Naples, garbage-induced temper tantrums have periodically resulted in trash piles being set on fire -- and the firemen who respond to the call are then pelted with detritus.
Help is on the way. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi not only pledged on Tuesday that the problem would be solved within two weeks, he also is sending a thousand volunteers to Naples (the 'Angels of Garbage') to teach the city about the importance of separating recyclables out of their garbage. Among those volunteers will be dozens of psychologists from an organization specially trained for missions in disaster areas.
It is, however, the deployment of psychologists -- particularly from so far away (Northern Italy) -- that has raised the most eyebrows. Southerners have long been sensitive of northern Italians lecturing them about lifestyle and efficiency."
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I shall point out the rubbish crisis in Naples was not caused exclusively by the citizens' reluctance to recycling. That is one among many factors.
I find incredible that some people still need to be lectured about recycling, though. Let's hope the 'angels' will sort something out... "Few would deny that living side-by-side with stinking, oozing piles of garbage for months on end makes life more difficult. Even... more -
Naples Living the tragedy
The focus is all on Naples and its mixture of unique art and alas, garbage.
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Soldiers to patrol Italian cities
The Italian government announced on Friday that up to 2,500 soldiers, some of whom have served in Afghanistan and Kosovo, would be made available for a trial period of six months in difficult urban areas. The soliders will have the same powers as police officers
Italy's main trade unions said rather than using soldiers the government should make better use of 25,000 police who are doing desk work, and the mayor of Turin said the move was "populist demagoguery" that would hurt tourism and Italy's image abroad.
The government's move is also aimed at resolving the Naples trash crisis.
Picture: http://flickr.com/photos/ilriccio/158600714/ The Italian government announced on Friday that up to 2,500 soldiers, some of whom have served in Afghanistan and Kosovo, would be mad... more -
Germany: Hamburg bans waste from Italy due to high levels of radioactivity
Workers in the German city of Hamburg have been told to stop processing Italian hospital waste after finding high levels of radioactivity in it.
A spokesman said the level of radioactivity was 80 times higher than normal and a costly special treatment would be needed to make it safe. The waste in question came from the Italian region of Campania, which includes the city of Naples.
Waste problems there have been blamed on illegal dumping by the local mafia.
Hamburg says it will not accept any more waste from Campania until it receives written guarantees from the Italian authorities that all rubbish will be checked thoroughly to ensure it is safe before being transported to Germany. But the Italians say the transfer of rubbish will continue as normal, with more trains due to leave for Germany next week. Workers in the German city of Hamburg have been told to stop processing Italian hospital waste after finding high levels of radioactiv... more -
Another Napoli
The city of Napels this year became world famous as the city of
rubbish. But it is still famous for other things as well.
I searched for the other site of Napels. And found it...
Can it win from the rubbish? The city of Napels this year became world famous as the city of rubbish. But it is still famous for other things as well. ... more -
Gomorra - un filme de Matteo Garrone
Potere, soldi e sangue. Questi sono i “valori” con i quali gli abitanti della provincia di Napoli e Caserta, devono scontrarsi ogni giorno.
Quasi sempre non puoi scegliere, quasi sempre sei costretto a obbedire alle regole del Sistema, la Camorra, e solo i più fortunati possono pensare di condurre una vita “normale”.
Cinque vicende s’intrecciano in questo paesaggio violento, un mondo spietato, apparentemente lontano dalla realtà, ma ben radicato nella nostra terra.
Don Ciro è il sottomarino. Paga le famiglie dei detenuti affiliati al suo clan, che comanda incontrastato il territorio. Scaltro, discreto, svolge il suo compito senza mai immischiarsi. Ma quando questo potere si sfalda non sa più da chi deve prendere ordini e deve pensare alla propria sopravvivenza.
Totò ha tredici anni e non vede l’ora di diventare grande. Così, gradino dopo gradino, fa il suo apprendistato nella scuola della vita, finché un giorno si trova a dover prendere una decisione, una scelta dalla quale non potrà tornare indietro.
Marco e Ciro credono di vivere in un film di Brian de Palma, ma sono solo due cani sciolti che con le loro bravate disturbano la routine degli affari del “sistema”.
Roberto si è laureato e ha voglia di lavorare. Franco gli offre una grande opportunità, un lavoro sicuro e con grandi prospettive di guadagno: un lavoro nel campo dei rifiuti tossici. Un lavoro troppo scomodo per la coscienza di Roberto.
Pasquale è un sarto eccellente che lavora grazie agli appalti delle case d’alta moda in una piccola fabbrica a nero. La concorrenza cinese gli propone di insegnare i segreti del mestiere ai suoi operai. Sedotto e gratificato dalla richiesta, accetta, compromettendo la propria vita. Potere, soldi e sangue. Questi sono i “valori” con i quali gli abitanti della provincia di Napoli e Caserta, devono scontrarsi ogni gi... more -
Clashes over Naples rubbish site
Eight Italian policemen and three other people have been injured in clashes over the site of a new rubbish dump in a densely populated suburb of Naples.
Most injuries occurred overnight but two police were hurt in the morning, trying to remove a bus being used as a barricade near the site in Chiaiano.
The site is one of 10 approved by the new government in a bid to end a crisis over uncollected rubbish in Naples.
Some fear the proximity of the dump could affect local people's health.
"The situation in Chiaiano remains tense with residents appearing determined to resist the use of a local stone quarry as a landfill," the BBC's David Willey reports.
Thousands of tonnes of uncollected rubbish have been lying in the streets of Naples and surrounding towns since Christmas, creating a health hazard.
Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi announced tough new measures earlier this week to try to solve the rubbish crisis.
But his decision to call in the army to help is causing discontent, with the military saying it is not their job to take up shovels and guns against the wishes of Neapolitans. Eight Italian policemen and three other people have been injured in clashes over the site of a new rubbish dump in a densely populated... more -
Italian drama brings mafia to Cannes
"A hard-hitting film based on an Italian bestseller made its debut on Sunday, depicting the brutal world of the Camorra, the Naples crime network whose tentacles extend from drugs and waste disposal to haute couture.
"Gomorra", in competition at the Cannes film festival, is based on the bestselling account of Naples' version of the mafia by journalist Roberto Saviano, who has been living under police protection for the past two years."
The book was featured in the NY Times' list of 100 Notable Books of 2007: http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/25/books/review/Donadio-... "A hard-hitting film based on an Italian bestseller made its debut on Sunday, depicting the brutal world of the Camorra, the Napl... more -
Camden Town, il booktrailer
Camden Town è una promessa, un viaggio, la ricerca di qualcosa che è sfuggente, impalpabile ma che pesa gravemente sul cuore. Carla è una donna alla fine dell’amore e il suo peregrinare disperato segue una scia di “perché” andati a male. Il suo uomo le ha chiesto di trasformare una realtà di malattia e disafezione in qualcosa che non esiste più né dentro né fuori dall’universo sentimentale in cui avevano vissuto. Il viaggio è così un fine ma anche un mezzo da utilizzare e Camden Town, un quartiere di Londra, è il posto nel mondo da raggiungere, attraverso il quale compiere l’ultima esperienza, forse la prima sensatamente irrazionale, di una storia d’amore andata a male. Il percorso verso la consapevolezza è una strada al di fuori del tempo e dello spazio, un treno che si trasforma in rifugio in cui la condivisione dell’esistenza diventa solidarietà al femminile. Tra i vagoni e i sedili del suo microcosmo alternativo è dato ridisegnare la realtà, ridipingerla di colori più vivi. Ma la meta rimane l’ultima frontiera, il confine da superare che si manifesta in un muro sul quale ripiegare la propria esperienza e scrivere a grandi l ettere la parola fine.
Era il 1999 quando ho iniziato Camden Town e nel 2000 scrivevo l'ultima pagina. Nello stesso anno questo breve romanzo è stato selezionato nella sezione Letteratura di Enzimi, il festival che ogni anno si svolge a Roma. A distanza di sette anni quei matti della Robin Round (Luigi, Stefano, Lucia, David...) decidono che vale la pena pubblicarlo.... per chi abbia voglia di leggerlo: www.roundrobineditrice.it
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Il costo del libro è di 9 euro. Il ricavato dell'autrice sarà dato in beneficenza a Seconda Linea Missionaria, una Onlus che opera in Africa, soprattutto in Malawi.
Info su: www.dianaletizia.it
www http://www.roundrobineditrice.it Camden Town è una promessa, un viaggio, la ricerca di qualcosa che è sfuggente, impalpabile ma che pesa gravemente sul cuore. Carla è ... more -
Napoli in bianco e nero
Prima dell'emergenza rifiuti.
Prima che tutti se ne accorgessero di nuovo della drammatica situazione di Napoli.
Questo video è prima, quel prima in cui solo chi è di Napoli sa cosa vuol dire vivere a Partenope.
Nel bene e nel male.
Before the trash emergency.
Before that everybody realized again about the desperate situation in Naples.
This video has been made before all of this, in that "before" in which only who belongs to Napoles knows what's the meaning of living in Partenope.
In good and evil.
Videopoesia, il progetto: www.videopoesia.it
Videopoetry, the first italian project: www.videopoesia.it Prima dell'emergenza rifiuti. Prima che tutti se ne accorgessero di nuovo della drammatica situazione di Napoli. ... more -
Italy being sued by EU over trash in Naples
A mountain of uncollected waste in Naples has prompted the EU to announce it is taking Italy to court.
More than 1,000 tonnes of rubbish is rotting on the city's streets, and the EU argues not enough has been done to get rid of it. A mountain of uncollected waste in Naples has prompted the EU to announce it is taking Italy to court. ... more -
Trash Buries Naples
The city of Naples is full of garbage. The dumps are protected by the army. The ground and the air are contamineted. The citizens are on the streets. But who is gaining in this unending story? The city of Naples is full of garbage. The dumps are protected by the army. The ground and the air are contamineted. The citizens are ... more
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Naples as a Garbage Can
Neapolitans have clashed with police over an ongoing rubbish row in their city. Responding to the emergency, Italian Prime Minister Prodi announced 3 new refuse incinerators would be built to service Naples. Neapolitans have clashed with police over an ongoing rubbish row in their city. Responding to the emergency, Italian Prime Minister Pr... more
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Court orders Tweety and Mickey to take the stand
ROME - Your honor, I thought I saw a pussycat!
In what lawyers believe was a clerical error worthy of a Looney Tunes cartoon, a court in Naples included the cartoon characters Tweety Bird, Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and his girlfriend, Daisy, in a summons, officials said.
In fact, it's a criminal trial of a Chinese man accused of counterfeiting products of Disney and Warner Bros ROME - Your honor, I thought I saw a pussycat! ... more
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Naples
