Some things enter your sphere of contiousness only when you get to know the opposite.
I am a huge internet fan. I started emailing heeps after moving abroad, shopping online food and wine when I realised that it saves me the carrying, buying books and DVDs online when I realised how quickly I can do it without the trip to the shops. Not to mention the cheap flights and the online banking, the organic veggie box and buying gig tickets.
In London people use the internet a lot more than in other countries. Here I started using Amazon. Yeah, I did know it - but Italy doesn't have its own regional page. As matter of fact Italy is not the only Amazon-less country (see bottom of their site). But don't wory - Italians can buy books online. There are actually two Italian sites to do that.
So is it really so crazy not to have your regional Amazon? Well, I never missed it. I don't miss brands if something else gives me the same service for the same price. Why then are people so surprised to hear Italy doesn't have its own Amazon? Again, it's the brand thing. A word understood all over the world, even if you don't speak the same language. It makes people fell less vulnerable.
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Italy. Show all posts
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Sunday, 1 June 2008
Italy's (new) way to fight Mafia
We all know mafia, right? The Godfather and all that. Although this film series is somewhat fictionalised, it has nailed it rather well. Mafia, like all kind of criminality, survives by taking control of people's lives, where they live and where they work. Mafia not only controls all sorts of illigal activity but also people's everyday lives, e.g. by imposing a "fee" in order to be protected by dangers. Mafiosi are grouped into "clans", their families (just like the Godfather's family), which to them represent the core of society, and all that matters to them is the well being of the family itself.
So how do you fight mafia? This week end the Financial Times has reported on it. In Italy mafiosi have been criminalised - but they've gone into hiding. They have been put into prison - but they have retained their power through a well organised and wide spread network. So a couple of decades ago the Italian government has started confiscating their properties and turn them into schools, vineyards, parks, farms, music halls etc. In other words they confiscated illigal assets and gave them to people to produce stuff, to employ at-risk young people, to increase the well being of all Italians.
If you want to fight something, hit them where they are weak. As in all families, properties are where all family activities are based. Without a "base" it is difficult for them to live. And although it is neither fast nor cheap, it looks like mafiosi are scared of this new approach: in a recorded phone call one mafioso told another one that "there is nothing worse than getting your assets confiscated."
Italian press does not report much on this (which doesn't surprise me; see: Why learning English could save Italians), and if it does it fails to point out how useful this is to fight mafia. So here's the full article on the Financial Times online: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/72fff132-2d17-11dd-88c6-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
So how do you fight mafia? This week end the Financial Times has reported on it. In Italy mafiosi have been criminalised - but they've gone into hiding. They have been put into prison - but they have retained their power through a well organised and wide spread network. So a couple of decades ago the Italian government has started confiscating their properties and turn them into schools, vineyards, parks, farms, music halls etc. In other words they confiscated illigal assets and gave them to people to produce stuff, to employ at-risk young people, to increase the well being of all Italians.
If you want to fight something, hit them where they are weak. As in all families, properties are where all family activities are based. Without a "base" it is difficult for them to live. And although it is neither fast nor cheap, it looks like mafiosi are scared of this new approach: in a recorded phone call one mafioso told another one that "there is nothing worse than getting your assets confiscated."
Italian press does not report much on this (which doesn't surprise me; see: Why learning English could save Italians), and if it does it fails to point out how useful this is to fight mafia. So here's the full article on the Financial Times online: http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/72fff132-2d17-11dd-88c6-000077b07658.html?nclick_check=1
Thursday, 17 April 2008
Opposition? Which opposition?
Ciao ragazzi, è bellissimo sapere che siete vibranti di energia e di idee!!
Continuerò a scrivere il mio blog in inglese perchè desidero poter raggiungere il maggior numero di persone possibili. Ma continuate a scrivere, fatevi sentire!
As some of you have pointed out, the latest elections in Italy were tough because of a lack of a real, strong opposition. Yes, Veltroni & friends were the opposition - but they could have never made it. And in this I must admit that Berlusconi has done very well: he realised he had to change the underlying structure of his political approach, he changed it by doing his homework and also by borrowing some ideas from the opposition itself and thus undermined the opposition. (Thank you Zadig for the reference to Ezio Mauro and Ilvo Diamanti on Repubblica.it.) And once again it was a case of choosing the "lesser of evils" (see: http://www.beppegrillo.it/2008/04/il_meno_peggio_1/index.html).
So now it's back to us and to the political opposition: if Berlusconi managed to learn his lesson, so can we! We need to understand how he did this, what allowed him to drop all those smaller parties with tree and plant references and move on. And how did you do it? Through information!
Some of you said it is a matter of culture. Yes, culture is important, it is our roots - but it should never block out innovation and ideas. Even Berlusconi managed to change some of his political strategies!
Some others said it is all about ignorance. The literal meaning of that word is "little, limited knowledge". So again, beating ignorance is about information. It's about acquiring new knowledge and also about being open to new ideas, to new approaches, to new times. Even Berlusconi evolved his underlying political structure!
Sometimes even people we do not like can be an example for us...
Continuerò a scrivere il mio blog in inglese perchè desidero poter raggiungere il maggior numero di persone possibili. Ma continuate a scrivere, fatevi sentire!
As some of you have pointed out, the latest elections in Italy were tough because of a lack of a real, strong opposition. Yes, Veltroni & friends were the opposition - but they could have never made it. And in this I must admit that Berlusconi has done very well: he realised he had to change the underlying structure of his political approach, he changed it by doing his homework and also by borrowing some ideas from the opposition itself and thus undermined the opposition. (Thank you Zadig for the reference to Ezio Mauro and Ilvo Diamanti on Repubblica.it.) And once again it was a case of choosing the "lesser of evils" (see: http://www.beppegrillo.it/2008/04/il_meno_peggio_1/index.html).
So now it's back to us and to the political opposition: if Berlusconi managed to learn his lesson, so can we! We need to understand how he did this, what allowed him to drop all those smaller parties with tree and plant references and move on. And how did you do it? Through information!
Some of you said it is a matter of culture. Yes, culture is important, it is our roots - but it should never block out innovation and ideas. Even Berlusconi managed to change some of his political strategies!
Some others said it is all about ignorance. The literal meaning of that word is "little, limited knowledge". So again, beating ignorance is about information. It's about acquiring new knowledge and also about being open to new ideas, to new approaches, to new times. Even Berlusconi evolved his underlying political structure!
Sometimes even people we do not like can be an example for us...
Wednesday, 16 April 2008
Why learning English could save Italians
So, Berlusconi has won once again.
When talking about the elections on Monday my boss, an English businessman, asked me what was wrong with Prodi. "Nothing", I thought. "So why are we back with Berlusconi then?" After some thinking I replied "He's unglamorous. That's all". Even The Sunday Times of London describes him as "Great Seducer" leading a "glamour team".
But if this is true, why are Italians such glamour addicts? Well, it's partly because of information. As we all know Italian is spoken in Italy, in a small part of Switzerland and in some border areas. So the information Italians gets is what is published on national media. Trouble is Berlusconi the businessman owns a big part of the most important national newspapers, magazines and book publishing companies and three of the six big TV channels. And The other 3 main channels are state run, so Berlusconi the prime minister now has direct control over them too, as he had twice before. This is the reason why everywhere you look or read there is so much coverage about sex and celebrities: keep them busy with gossip and they won't ask for politics and economy.
Another reason why Italians (secretly?) believe they are the best is history. And climate. And Food. And Wine. And fashion. And the landscape. And Venice, Rome, Tuscany and Lake Como, now with George Clooney. And... and the whole world is watching from out there telling them how wonderful they are! So many times during my four years in London I met people, told them I'm from Italy and spent the following 10 minutes or more listening to what a marvellous country that is!!
The real problem is that Italians do not need to learn about the rest of the world - because the rest of the world comes to Italy. But what both Italians and foreigners fail to understand is the huge difference it makes to holiday in a country rather than to live there, i.e. work or study, be sick, buy or rent a place, install a landline phone, etc.
So why would a better knowledge of the English language save them? Because then they would be able to read foreign newspapers, magazines, books and web sites and watch foreign TV and news. They would be able to learn from the world which is out there, learn how others do things, learn from other peoples' and other countries' mistakes. And gain the possibility of choosing.
The only other thing that could change things is a major catastrophe. We'll see what they choose.
When talking about the elections on Monday my boss, an English businessman, asked me what was wrong with Prodi. "Nothing", I thought. "So why are we back with Berlusconi then?" After some thinking I replied "He's unglamorous. That's all". Even The Sunday Times of London describes him as "Great Seducer" leading a "glamour team".
But if this is true, why are Italians such glamour addicts? Well, it's partly because of information. As we all know Italian is spoken in Italy, in a small part of Switzerland and in some border areas. So the information Italians gets is what is published on national media. Trouble is Berlusconi the businessman owns a big part of the most important national newspapers, magazines and book publishing companies and three of the six big TV channels. And The other 3 main channels are state run, so Berlusconi the prime minister now has direct control over them too, as he had twice before. This is the reason why everywhere you look or read there is so much coverage about sex and celebrities: keep them busy with gossip and they won't ask for politics and economy.
Another reason why Italians (secretly?) believe they are the best is history. And climate. And Food. And Wine. And fashion. And the landscape. And Venice, Rome, Tuscany and Lake Como, now with George Clooney. And... and the whole world is watching from out there telling them how wonderful they are! So many times during my four years in London I met people, told them I'm from Italy and spent the following 10 minutes or more listening to what a marvellous country that is!!
The real problem is that Italians do not need to learn about the rest of the world - because the rest of the world comes to Italy. But what both Italians and foreigners fail to understand is the huge difference it makes to holiday in a country rather than to live there, i.e. work or study, be sick, buy or rent a place, install a landline phone, etc.
So why would a better knowledge of the English language save them? Because then they would be able to read foreign newspapers, magazines, books and web sites and watch foreign TV and news. They would be able to learn from the world which is out there, learn how others do things, learn from other peoples' and other countries' mistakes. And gain the possibility of choosing.
The only other thing that could change things is a major catastrophe. We'll see what they choose.
Thursday, 10 April 2008
Italian parlamentary elections 2008
This morning I went to the Italian Consulat and voted. It felt great!
I had to go there because I had forgotten to tell them I had moved to a different address and they sent the electoral post to my old address, and only yesterday I realised that elections were getting closer. So I called them up and was pleasantly surprised by their efficiency and friendlyness - something one does not intuitively associate with Italian burocracy. They told me it was too late to post it again and if I could pass by the consulat to vote.
So this morning I got up a little earlier and got down there. I like voting, I believe it is a very important part of democracy. After all people have been fighting for it for so long. So I queued, then went in, received my envelope, went out, voted in front of the consulat and then brought everything in again and posted it in the electoral urn. One is not allwed to vote inside since there are CCTVs in each room, and your vote is secret. This is one of the things I have learnt today.
The other one is that Emanuele Filiberto, the grandson of the former king of Italy, is now on the electoral roll for the lower chamber! Ha!
A bit of history: Italy was a monarchy - the Savoy being the ruling family - until the end of the war, after which the country became a democratic republic and all mail heirs of the Savoy dynasty were not allowed into Italy any longer. They fought for this law to be changed, starting to raise public awareness about it in the mid 1990s. In 2002 this law was amended and they could go back. In the meantime Emanuele Filiberto's father, Vittorio Emanuele, had been in trouble with justice a few times maily because of corruption and arms trafficking. After they were allowed back in Italy, Emanuele Filiberto got married in Rome to a French actress, his father got into trouble in Italy because of luxury prostitution, he himself founded a political party and soon after that its former vice president was arrested for allegedly being involved in the mafia and another member of the party is on the black list for this year's Liechtenstein tax scandal. And now we can vote for him.
Yeah, politics and power and (il)legal business. They evolve but the essence stays. The funny thing though is that I still believe in democracy...
And btw - happy birthday Kris!!
I had to go there because I had forgotten to tell them I had moved to a different address and they sent the electoral post to my old address, and only yesterday I realised that elections were getting closer. So I called them up and was pleasantly surprised by their efficiency and friendlyness - something one does not intuitively associate with Italian burocracy. They told me it was too late to post it again and if I could pass by the consulat to vote.
So this morning I got up a little earlier and got down there. I like voting, I believe it is a very important part of democracy. After all people have been fighting for it for so long. So I queued, then went in, received my envelope, went out, voted in front of the consulat and then brought everything in again and posted it in the electoral urn. One is not allwed to vote inside since there are CCTVs in each room, and your vote is secret. This is one of the things I have learnt today.
The other one is that Emanuele Filiberto, the grandson of the former king of Italy, is now on the electoral roll for the lower chamber! Ha!
A bit of history: Italy was a monarchy - the Savoy being the ruling family - until the end of the war, after which the country became a democratic republic and all mail heirs of the Savoy dynasty were not allowed into Italy any longer. They fought for this law to be changed, starting to raise public awareness about it in the mid 1990s. In 2002 this law was amended and they could go back. In the meantime Emanuele Filiberto's father, Vittorio Emanuele, had been in trouble with justice a few times maily because of corruption and arms trafficking. After they were allowed back in Italy, Emanuele Filiberto got married in Rome to a French actress, his father got into trouble in Italy because of luxury prostitution, he himself founded a political party and soon after that its former vice president was arrested for allegedly being involved in the mafia and another member of the party is on the black list for this year's Liechtenstein tax scandal. And now we can vote for him.
Yeah, politics and power and (il)legal business. They evolve but the essence stays. The funny thing though is that I still believe in democracy...
And btw - happy birthday Kris!!
Sunday, 24 February 2008
The state of Italy, or "Researcher of long life claimed by the US"
On Wednesday last week the Italian newspaper L'Arena, the newspaper for the town of Verona and its province, published the following article. Scroll down to read the original version in Italian.
"GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VERONA, LUIGI FONTANA
Researcher of long life claimed by the US
He researches the link between food and long life aiming to find the scientific formula for long life and good health. But the Unites States are not willing to "give him back to us": this is LUIGI FONTANA, 39 years old and a degree in medicine from the university in Verona. He does not consider himself a "drained brain", he prefers to think of his brain as "borrowed". Fontana spends three months on, three months off, alternating between Rome (he is a researcher at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and the US, where he is assistant professor at the Washington University of St. Louis. He would like to move back to Italy but his desire "collides" with those of his American bosses: they are not letting him go by offering him advancements and career opportunities. His latest research findings? The ideal diet to live up to 30% longer does not exceed 1,800 calories a day."
A note from Sonia: I feel that an Italian audience might not get the irony of this article.
Original article as published on L'Arena on 20th February 2008:
"LAUREATO A VERONA. LUIGI FONTANA
Studia la lunga vita, gli Usa lo reclamano
"GRADUATED FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF VERONA, LUIGI FONTANA
Researcher of long life claimed by the US
He researches the link between food and long life aiming to find the scientific formula for long life and good health. But the Unites States are not willing to "give him back to us": this is LUIGI FONTANA, 39 years old and a degree in medicine from the university in Verona. He does not consider himself a "drained brain", he prefers to think of his brain as "borrowed". Fontana spends three months on, three months off, alternating between Rome (he is a researcher at the Istituto Superiore di Sanità) and the US, where he is assistant professor at the Washington University of St. Louis. He would like to move back to Italy but his desire "collides" with those of his American bosses: they are not letting him go by offering him advancements and career opportunities. His latest research findings? The ideal diet to live up to 30% longer does not exceed 1,800 calories a day."
A note from Sonia: I feel that an Italian audience might not get the irony of this article.
Original article as published on L'Arena on 20th February 2008:
"LAUREATO A VERONA. LUIGI FONTANA
Studia la lunga vita, gli Usa lo reclamano
Studia il nesso tra alimentazione e longevità, per trovare la formula scientifica di una vita duratura ed in buona salute. E gli Stati Uniti non vogliono «restituircelo»: è LUIGI FONTANA, 39 anni ed una laurea in Medicina presa a Verona. Non vuole definirsi un «cervello fuggito»: semmai, «prestato». FONTANA, vive per tre mesi a Roma (è ricercatore all’Istituto superiore di sanità) e per tre mesi negli Usa, dove è assistent professor alla Wahington University di St.Louis. Vorrebbe ritornare in patria, ma si «scontra» con i suoi capi statunitensi: non vogliono lasciarlo andare e per questo gli offrono avanzamenti e opportunità. La sua ultima ricerca? Ipotizza che la dieta ideale, per vivere fino al 30% di anni in più, sia quella che non supera le 1800 calorie al giorno."
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
