Stories and News

Stories and News No. 1315 Once upon a time a proverb, all that glitters is not gold, which urges us to be wary of what at first glance may seem appreciable and of undisputed value, but if its actual qualities and characteristics are ascertained, it proves much less agreeable and meritorious. I cite as an emblematic example the coronation ceremony of the new sovereign of the isolated, rather than united, Kingdom, celebrated moreover with a concert that stood out  for the number of absent artists than for the few who performed. Yet, as per tradition, at every public event involving the royals of England there is an exorbitant amount of clamor and above all glare. I could say high beam, it would be very redundant, but it is the real gist of the speech. Because in the era of information that can be obtained anywhere, by any means, from any point of the world, both on the eve and after the advent of the renewed British monarchy, what is unworthy lurks in the dark corners - or better ...

Stories and News No. 1314 Dear ancestor, It could be you too, dad, but in your case I wrote a book, while here I would like to expand the discussion. Both in time and space. However, if in my personal story the unpunished crimes of colonialism begin and take place above all in the Horn of Africa, and concern the country where I was born and where I will end my journey, remaining in the same continent the group of suspects is significantly larger. It is with regard to the significant aspects of history and memory that unite and at the same time divide us, that I would like to send this letter to you, who are in a certain sense my ancestor and in some way close on my father's side, if not in the well-known sense more noble and universal called simply humanity. Dear African of the past, who saw those emissaries of three populations arriving from overseas, English, French and Italians. Watch them carefully with the eyes of the past and today. Especially the latter. Can you see those...

Stories and News No. 1313 My non-Western origins should be raising their voice, right now, because today I would like to be a member of the U'wa , an indigenous people of Colombia. As one of them, I undertake to believe with all my heart that the world we live in has been given to us as long as we are willing to play the role which we were chosen for: to safeguard mother Earth. This is the main task of our community: to take care of the planet that has been entrusted to us, period. There can be no misunderstanding in such a high purpose. Of course, for many around here we are just "savages". Let's be honest, come on. When one reads the word “indigenous” or is watching images of half-naked individuals in the middle of a forest, most of people on the modern side of the screen think about backwardness and incivility. Nonetheless, despite living in the same era, for some it is irrelevant what other peoples do with the life. It’s hard otherwise, when for U’wa people’s n...

Stories and News No. 1312 I like to think, imagine or even dream, that in those dark days one person among many, perhaps at a young age and with a courageous faith in the future, placed her or his hopes in the following letter. I don't know, putting it in the classic bottle before throwing it into the sea, or closing it underground in a box, with the obligation for posterity to reopen it in the light of a different and much better tomorrow. In other words, finally free from the past . Dear you, Who lives over there, beyond the limits of a calendar that I will barely touch, where I would like to be and live even just for one day. How beautiful is to be born and grow up in your shoes, am I right? And how lucky you people are, having stopped living in fear. The fear of saying what you plan to do, even before doing, and of saying or even thinking, even before doing or saying. You are no longer afraid, right? And you will certainly have defeated that hateful form of self-censorship ...

Stories and News No. 1311 Nothing new in the premise of this umpteenth story: a privileged minority exploits the earth's riches, causing suffering and death among the majority of human beings. And the grotesque paradox, which is incomprehensible to any living creature on our planet, is that sooner or later this stupid attitude will harm everyone, without exception. In particular, today's story is about water. Or what the problem is. One cannot help but agree with Professor Hannah Cloke of the University of Reading in the UK when she states in the inspiring article that more than climate change and population growth, the real problem is social inequality, which causes the situation explained inside the incipit. However, when I read in the same article that constantly irrigated swimming pools and lawns in large cities contribute to the enormous gap between the few who take water for granted and all the others, this leads me to think that the problem is another one. Or one of ...

Stories and News No. 1310 Once upon a time, then, as promised. Once upon a time in Sri Lanka, giving life to the incipit of a story that dates back to about 30 years ago. And that's not good, not at all. Because certain plots should find conclusion, or peace, and at the end of the day, when you close your eyes and you find yourself with what you have claimed to believe  all the time, you know if effectively did something useful. Indeed it doesn't matter where this story takes place, how far away you feel it in time and space, because this is one of those tales that we are obliged to feel ours everywhere and in every age. Otherwise, there is little truth and coherence in what we say and do. So, let's get back to the story, yeah, that's why we're here. It was the 90s and in Sri Lanka the exploitation of cheap labor was in full swing, as well as in all areas of the world where multinationals had relocated their factories for various reasons. Among all, as Naomi Klei...

Stories and News No. 1309 I remember that the movie The Corporation , identifying the corporations as if they were human beings, obtained through a personality test a diagnosis of psychopathy. Well in a similar way, based on the behavior so far by italian Government with migrants, I would like to draw up a psychological profile. To do this, I use a simple but fairly reliable Sociopathy short test devised by Dr. John M. Grohol , contributor to the mental health site Psych Central . Thus, imagining that we are addressing the questions to an ideal personification of the Italy’s Government, let's start the test which includes 10 questions. First: I use charm and wit to manipulate others for my own benefit. Since we are dealing with long-standing political figures, I can only choose "definitely me". And to be honest, it would have been the same even if there had been a majority of a different colour. Second question: Compared to most people I know, I seem lacking in remors...