15 italian news

in italy the continuing violence associated with the south makes headlines again,an average of 1 kill every two days in naples,down to the camorra...

hundreds left to freeze in their cars along the southern motorways hemmed in by snow,there are those that think the south of italy remains warm all year,ask these motorists.

several towns and small villages along the southern coast at risk due to illegal builds and deforestaion of the hillsides

the left continuing to war against the right,they have blamed everything from the weather on up on the berlisconi goverment.

meanwhile judges have set islamic terrorists free because they say they are soldiers fighting a war and baby kidnappers are set free because they are nomads.

increased robberies and attacks on people in the north are put down to the increasing and menacing problem of eatern european immigrants, a favourite quote on the news is that they had a slav accent

trains are disrupted by digruntled commuters,there was a big train crash in the north,now they are blocking the lines because trains,when and if they do come are dirty and broken.

roads,are so overcrowded around bolgna and milan that commuters face hours of cues to get to work

cities are shutting off all traffic because of the pollution problems,sundays are often car free, they operate an odd ven system as well, depending on the year you can drive or not,if you have a new car which pollutes little but bought in the wrong year you cannot use it

all in all italy continues as italy only can, al italia is about to strike again,despite going broke twice last year, troops and police are being sent south ,again, to try and cope with organised crime, and the whole country is freezing

all in all a wonderful place to live

Category
General chat about Italy

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Wed, 02/09/2005 - 11:17

I take it you're not a glass half full person then?

I've lived in Italy for almost 11 years and it's like anywhere else - there's good and bad, you get what you expect. Italian politics is Italian politics, organised crime is headline news anywhere. I still feel more comfortable walking alone in the streets in Rome than in London. I travel by train a lot and completely disagree that the trains are dirty and overcrowded (have you been to Waterloo recently?)Among other things yes, it's cold outside, so put some more clothes on and go for a walk, or maybe you're afraid you will get kidnapped/assassinated/run over/turned to ice if you step out of the door! Do you live in Italy? If so, why?

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2005 - 06:45

as far as i am aware most of the people sitting on the raiway lines over the last few weeks since the train crash have been italians with no option of going elsewhere because this is their home......i think you might also find that those that spent three days on the motorway in reggio calabria would in general not have been tourists or incomers and maybe not having plannned to get stuck on a motorway did not have several overcoats with them and little choice about going for a walk.....much like other countries i think you will find that when you live here there are issues pertaining mainly to the native italian which all of us as visitors rarely contend with..... the commute to a daily workplace in milan is why they are bothered about the trains not arriving...overcrowded...and dirty.... this is reported on the news.....
for those that live or work in the major cities the pollution problem and the banning of cars is also a major headache..... over the next forty eight hours there are aeroplane and train strikes.....plus a ban today on odd numbered year cars...and a total ban on sunday....
this affects italians and mainly italians with little option about leaving the country and most would not choose to do so but that option is hardly helpful in putting things right

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2005 - 09:57

Sounds like someone got out of the wrong side of the bed. Anyway..even paradise has its faults!

Submitted by Anonymous (not verified) on Thu, 02/10/2005 - 11:52

mmm... I've not known a forum yet without its resident curmudgeon!!! So, come on, John, as the man says - don't worry, be happy! Hey and how about telling us about Abruzzo and why you settled there. After all, we don't need to know about the problems in Italy, since they kind of pale into insignificance compared to the problems we have here. We all accept that Italy has its faults, since all countries do, and we do not ignore those faults, but personally I'd prefer to hear about people's experiences out there - what made them settle there, how it's been for them, the ups and downs of life there, how beautiful certain places are, how dreadful other places are. You know, something interesting, like the articles in the magazine!

A presto

Peter