Stories and News

Stories and News No. 1305 I think that there are news articles before which sooner or later we end up remaining indifferent to and I don't think it's a good sign. I don't know if the responsibility is ours, or rather the way we welcome and absorb all information, the rhythm, or rather the frenzy, which we travel with from waking up to the end of the day, or even lots of other factors linked to the most various social contexts which we spend most of our time in. Perhaps it also depends on how the facts that reach the front pages are communicated, told and explored. Nonetheless, it is enough for me to browse through the main news of these days to convince myself once again that most of them as if they are no longer relevant. We're used to it, that's all. Although the earthquake in Turkey and Syria is a recent tragedy, day after day, we have become as addicted to the bodies pulled from the rubble as to the stories of those who didn't make it. Because it has alre...

Stories and News No. 729 Once upon a time there was a man. One as many. A gentleman who is attentive to the world’s atrocities. Because abhorring horror means something. It must mean something. I cannot remember what, but it is important. You need despise if the script requires it. "Those uncivilized people", the man exclaimed that day in his balcony, speaking to his fellow neighbor of the front window. "The use chlorine gas bombs for their attacks. Did you hear that?" No reply. "Oh, I see, you are used to that, gosh. It's a shame, we should bomb them all, those guys with long beards and scimitar. " Ever quiet. "They are beasts, I'm not racist, but these are real animals. They also force children to kill in place of them, do you understand? " Nothing on the opposite side. "Of course you understand, it does not take a genius to see that this is a religious war, no jokes. Here we risk all, we must learn to defend oursel...

Stories and News No. 661 The German journalist of the Associated Press, Anja Niedringhaus , 2005 Pulitzer Prize in Breaking News Photography, was killed in Afghanistan. In recent years, the woman brought her camera in many places where war and internal strife have left behind suffering and poverty. From Afghanistan to Iraq, from the Gaza Strip to Israel, from Pakistan to Turkey. These words are for her… Yes, they are important. They must be viewed with care. Taking all the time. Because between aggressors and offended there is always space. Sufficient space to do something. Even putting an end to the carnage. However, to do so we need to understand. We need to see. Well, run, Anja, run and shoot. Actually, no. Stand still where you are, very still. Because this time needs a steady hand. Or maybe because sometimes deserving attention life comes to you. Does it sound easy, telling so, right? It is not. It's never easy to be found in your house, where the truth...

Stories and News No. 660 What is illegal immigration? Really. When I enter a country illegally, I make a criminal action. I'm guilty. That’s what the law said. I was wrong. I did something unacceptable. That should not be made. It should be punished. I have to be punished. A reminder to me and the others. So that the guilty action will never be made again. I am not ironic or sarcastic, there is no hidden implication in my words. I am convinced. But... Let's be honest, come on. Image that I were a supermodel with blue eyes and blonde, brunette or red but also with important measures. Watch me now passing the borders illegally. Come one, you would find a paper for me. A paper? I would suddenly be in some movie or music video strictly half-naked. And if by chance I could arrive with my boat on the shores of your coast and at the same time I could prove to be special at sports, you will be soon able to accept me. Read it as the paradox of the sport clandesti...

Stories and News No. 618 If I arrive illegally in a country I make a crime. I'm guilty. This is what law says. And if the law says, I am. Guilty. I was wrong. I did something bad. Something that should not be done. And that should be punished. I have to be punished. A reminder for myself and the all people around. So that the guilty action will be not repeated. But... There is a but , come on. Let's be honest. At least here. Here, on this page, let's say that if I were a supermodel, crystalline eyes and blonde, brunette or red but also with incredible measures and I had passed borders without papers, some help would come, isn’t it? If I had by chance arrived with my raft and at the same time I could prove to kick the ball with unusual vehemence, making a wonderful score, an ancestor of good origin would be soon available, right? If then, I could arrive with my brown-skinned face, being Islamic and a rich beard hanging on the chin, without any document,...

Stories and News No. 611 The 28th of November 2013 will be remembered as a great day, no kidding. Because only the great days are those who illuminate the darkness that our myopic memory is affected by. It will be light. That is, a relief for many. Read also an enemy less for too many. The preliminaries were as in a plot of the first class, it is no doubt. Extreme curiosity. White-hot distrust. And more than ever, unconscious fear. The worst to uproot. Because when the distant encounters the neighbor, you cannot expect more. Hopelessly before. Yet we have seen comets. If not in the sky with the naked eye. On the couch mesmerized by that magic box. Conjured by the pen of a stories farmer. Even on the run from a giant screen thanks to the tribute or deception, depending on your point of view, of an illusory plus dimension. Well, fear is still intact, when the lights back in the room. It is one of the classic limitations of artificial light. It dispels the dark...

Stories and News No. 601 Greenpeace activists who are in jail for attempting to climb onto the Russian rig risk a sentence of up to 15 years. Piracy is the guilt. The famous pirate Jack Sparrow, heard about the fact, wrote a letter to Putin... Dear Vladimir, pirates, yes, pirates. There are pirates in this world. By my faith, of multiple types, to be honest. And if for once so I am, I beg you to lend me your ear. There are home pirates, the most dangerous and less catchable. They steal superfine cookies under the cover of darkness. Rummaging through your secret words when you're far on the horizon. This is not good, no, it isn’t. Unless it is to understand better. And love even more. There are also more sophisticated and less detectable pirates. Looks are their loot. Yes, you fully understand, there is no misunderstanding. Literally looks, those are seized and taken away by them. On the train in the morning, close in the apparent anonymous crowd, through tr...

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Stories and News No. 329 Very sad update to the yesterday post : the death toll in Libya rose to 10,000 . There are also 50,000 injured people, mass graves; a bloodbath that is terrifying the whole world. The reactions of the major leaders are coming. Among the many, Obama called the violence in Libya outrageous. Merkel defined the recent speech by Gaddafi frightening and asked threatens sanctions, as Sarkozy did . Now, ever as counterpoint to yesterday post, I do not think that only Italy must be brought into question for the past and present relations with the Libyan dictator, more or less publicly. However, it seems that once again, in terms of decency and simple humanity, Berlusconi's government should stand out . On this occasion, here is the Defense Minister Ignazio La Russa : " We must be prepared to biblical migrations " and Interior Minister Roberto Maroni : " Italy can cope with the emergency caused by the immigrant riots in North Africa, but not ...

Stories and News No. 328 I note with great interest not only news but also how they are distributed. I think it is a clear symptom of how we relate to what is happening, what aspects of contemporary history we see as a priority. Take for example the increasing escalation of the uprising in Libya . I just did a search on the net and it seems that in Italy and not only here, at least on the web, the shameful Berlusconi’s attitude before, during and after the current uprising, with the dictator Gaddafi inspire more curiosity than usual. I fully agree, needless to say. However, to be honest, it should be mentioned that the disturbing ambiguity of our country's relations with the Libyan leader was not born yesterday, let alone the day before, but has a more than a decade history. On the other hand, tell me what obscure guy of the last century we have had not relations with. The point is another, in my humble opinion. The point is that we speak of 10000 deaths ( Updated 8.32 pm ). 100...

Stories and News No. 212 Today is a special day for Italian journalists. The National Italian Press Federation announced for July 9 2010 a silent strike to protest against Berlusconi Government wiretapping bill. Here's how the federation press release starts: “The Italian journalists are called to a unique form of protest that is expressed in a "noisy" silence information on Friday 9 July, against the rules of wiretapping bill that severely limited the right of citizens to learn how the judicial investigations proceed, inflicting major disruption on the free circuit of the news.” The initiative has received massive adhesion, almost complete. I will not enter the diatribe on strike and no strike. Besides, if I say no, even if also with Marco Travaglio, I risk of being in agreement with Berlusconi Newspaper’s director Feltri, and I get hives just to think about it. Anyway, I'm not a journalist. I write and tell stories. Yet, there was a time when I had the desire to be...