Every day media focus our attention on the most striking news. Every day I can find news which are more interesting in order to understand something more of the world in which we live and question ourselves on different subjects. Sometimes these news appear just on local papers, sometimes, vice versa, they are ignored by italian press. Sometimes the same news are reported in different ways in different countries and a comparison can offer good hints for some reflections…
Here you can find a daily glimpse of some of these news.
(If you are interested in the complete english translation of one of the articles linked below, let us know at the following mail address: italian.opinionist@gmail.com)
17 June 2009
Tubercolosi: omissione di soccorso
Medici Senza Frontiere: «L’Italia investe poco e male nella ricerca sulle malattie dimenticate e sulla tbc»
Il corriere della sera
Translation Tuberculosis, no assistance
Italy puts few money and in bad ways in the research on forgotten diseases and TB
12 June 2009
Il primo calcolatore, 50 anni fa. Così l’Italia scoprì l’informatica
La Repubblica
Translation First calculator, 50 years ago. So Italy discovered informatics
Italy and France ‘failing Africa’
English Aljazeera
Translation Italia e Francia abbandonano l’Africa
11 June 2009
Colpo alla legge anti-pirati.”L’accesso al web è un diritto”
La Repubblica
Translation Blow to anti-pirate law. “Internet access is a right”
10 June 2009
Berlusconi, frenata sul referendum. «Il sostegno diretto non è opportuno»
Ma Fini andrà a votare: «Convintamente». Ira dei promotori: «Premier sotto ricatto della Lega»
Il Corriere della sera
Translation Berlusconi, step off about referendum: “Direct support not convenient
Fini will go to vote: “With firm belief”. Anger of promoters: “Premier under Lega Nord’s blackmail”
29 May 2009
Global crisis ‘hits human rights’
BBC
The global economic crisis is exacerbating human rights abuses, Amnesty International has warned.
Translation La crisi globale colpisce i diritti umani
28 May 2009
Pari opportunità, ma non per i gay. Carfagna cancella la pagina web
La Repubblica
Sul sito del ministero sparito ogni riferimento alla lotta contro l’omofobia. Eliminata anche una commissione per i diritti delle persone GLBT. Il dicastero: “Era stata istituita dal precedente ministro, l’attuale non ha ritenuto di mantenerla”
L’Arcigay: “E’ evidente che manca la volontà politica di affrontare la questione”
Translation Equal opportunity, not for gays. Carfagna deletes the web page
On departement’s web site any reference to the fighting against homofobia has vanished. Also a committee for the rights of LGBT was eliminated. The office: “It had been created by previous minister, the actual one didn’t agree in preserving it”. Arcigay: “It’s evident the lack of the the political will to cope with the issue”
27 May 2009
Italia, caos per farmaci e ticket
prezzi diversi da Nord a Sud
Nessun motivo per preferire le medicine di marca ai generici. Il rimborso, reintrodotto nel 2002, è adottato in 10 regioni.Dal 2007 a oggi le spese a carico del cittadino sono arrivate a rappresentare il 5,1% del totale dei costi per prodotti sanitari
La Repubblica
Translation Italy, caos for drugs and tickets, different prices in the north and south
No reasons tp prefer branded drugs with respect to generic ones. Tickets, reintroduced in 2002, is used in 10 regions. Since 2007 expenses charged to citizens have reached 5.1% of the costs due to health goods
26 May 2009
Si consuma meno elettricità. E’ la prima volta nel dopoguerra
Nel 2009 calo del 3,5%, colpa della crisi. Primi rinvii per il nucleare. Frena anche la spesa per le rinnovabili
La Repubblica
Translation Less electricity consumed. It’s the first time since World War II
In 2009 there was a decrease of 3,5% due to crisis. First postponements for nuclear energy. Also fundings for renesable energies have been halted
19 May 2009
L’auto intelligente è fra noi. Obiettivo: zero incidenti
La Repubblica
Translation The intelligent car is among us. Aim: zero accidents
This car will be able to park itself and regulate the traffic flow. But it will impose a complete limitation to people’s privacy. It will arrive in five years.
Intelligent cars can be useful but what happens when intelligence is entrusted to cars?…
18 May 2009
Ocse: stipendi italiani tra i più bassi, 17% in meno rispetto alla media
Il Sole 24 Ore
Translation Ocse (OECD): Italian salaries among the lowest, -17% with respect to the average
17 May 2009
Turchia, processo agli scrittori
Il Corriere della sera
Translation Turkey, writers on trial
16 May 2009
Ha ragione Eco, web fa leggere libri
Ansa
Translation Eco is right, web makes people read books
In the last 10 years there has been a boom in the use of pc and internet and the cultural purchase of people with an age between 6 and 19 years changed between 1998 and 2008 (~ +22%). And the habit of reading book has also grown confirming Eco’s thesis, according to which when young people find again the passion for writing then they find again the desire for reading too.
15 May 2009
Non sa leggere l’italiano, sindaco Lega nega cittadinanza
Ansa
Translation He can’t read Italian, Lega’s mayor denies citizenship
Caravaggio’s mayor (Bergamo) who belongs to Lega Nord doesn’t grant citizenship to an Egyptian immigrant (36 years old) who went on May the 13th to Caravaggio’s municipality to make the oath of allegiance to Italian Constitution, last step in order to obtain Italian citizenship. It’s quite a lot of time since the man live in Italy and he is married with a woman from Bergamo. But when Giuseppe Prevedini, the mayor, the formula he admits not to be able to read Italian. According to Prevedini “Asking Italian citizenship implies to follow italian values and culture. This can’t be done without being able to read Italian.”
It’s not the first time a similar episode happens in Caravaggio. According to Italian law, however, the knowledge of Italian language is not a necessary requirement in order to obtain citizenship.
14 May 2009
A Parigi è legge l’ammazzaP2P: e in Italia c’è chi vorrebbe imitarli. Qualche problema di “libertà”
La Repubblica
Translation In Paris the ‘killing p2p’ is law: and in Italy there are some who would like to copy. Some problems about freedom
Similar news on ‘non-italian’ press:
Lawmakers adopt bill to punish Internet piracy
13 May 2009
Muore in fila, i turisti lo fotografano
Il Corriere della sera
Translation Died in queue, tourists take pictures of the corpse
12 May 2009
I tagli alla scuola? Sì, se è pubblica. La Camera: più fondi alle private
Due mozioni – Pdl, Udc – con toni e cifre diverse chiedono più soldi per le paritarie nella prossima Finanziaria. Mentre allle statali si tolgono 8 miliardi
La Repubblica
Translation Cuts to school’s budget? Yes, if they refer to state school. Chamber: more funds to private school
Two motions – Pdl, Udc – with different tones and numbers ask more money for private schools in the next Finance Bill. Meanwhile 8 billion euros are taken away from state school
11 May 2009
Maroni: «Respinti altri 240 clandestini»
Bossi: «La nostra linea fa proseliti»
La Lega apprezza le frasi di Berlusconi contro un’Italia multietnica. Critiche dall’opposizione
Il corriere della sera
Translation Maroni: “Sent back other 240 clandestines”. Bossi: “Our position gains followers”
Lega Nord appreciates Berlusconi’s declarations againts a multiethnic Italy. Criticism from opposition
9 May 2009
Fini e il metrò per milanesi
«Offende la Costituzione»
Il presidente della Camera boccia la proposta della Lega: «Oltraggio alla dignità delle persone»
Il corriere della sera
Translation Fini and Milan’s subway: «It offends the Constitution»
President of Chamber rejects Lega Nord’s proposal: «Offence to people’s dignity.»
8 May 2009
Riportati in Libia gli immigrati a bordo dei barconi soccorsi nel canale di Sicilia
I mezzi della Guardia Costiera per la prima volta hanno rimandato a Tripoli i 227 migranti – Il commissariato onu per i rifugiati: «Grave preoccupazione»
Il corriere della sera
Translation Bring back to Libia immigrants on board of pontoon helped in Sicily Channel
For the first time coast guard boats sent back to Tripoli 227 immigrants – ONU commissioner for the refugees:”Great concern”
Similar news on ‘non-italian’ press:
Italy Ships 200 Rescued Migrants Back to Libya
Italy returned more than 200 migrants rescued in the Mediterranean Sea to Libya on Thursday, defying the United Nations refugee agency but claiming a major victory in its crackdown on illegal immigration.
Interior Minister Roberto Maroni called the operation a historic “turning point” in Italy’s crackdown on illegal immigration, made possible because of an agreement signed with Libya, from where the migrants boat embarked.
7 May 2009
Pacchetto Telecom rimandato: la Ue boccia la “dottrina Sarkozy”
Il Sole 24 ore
Translation Telecoms package postponed: EU rejects “Sarkozy’s doctrine”
Similar news on ‘non-italian’ press:
Web snag for EU telecoms reform
Euro MPs have rejected a far-reaching package of telecoms reforms because they say internet users need better protection from being disconnected.
Class action: verso l’abolizione della retroattività con un emendamento
Lo ha presentato il Pdl. L’azione era stata introdotta dalla Finanziaria 2008 di Prodi, mai entrata in vigore
Il corriere della sera
Translation Class action: heading toward the abolition of retroactivity with an amendment
Amendment was presented by PDL. Class action was introduced in Prodi’s Budget Law 2008, never come into force
… ROME – Class action (possibility of a common and not individual legal action) could finally be introduced in Italian ordinance, however with no retroactive value.
POSTPONMENTS – Class action was introduced in Prodi’s Budget Law 2008 and strongly opposed by Confindustria, it should have come into force in June 2008 but Berlusoni’s government postponed it firstly to 1 January 2009 and then to June 2009.
PARMALAT – Just thanks to a class action, in US in May 2008 Parmalat was compelled to give to people entitled to compensation 10,5 millions stocks of the Italian company, which equal at the time about 23,8 million euros.
6 May 2009
Sicurezza, il governo autorizza la fiducia
Il Pd: «Rischio di nuove leggi razziali»
Corriere della sera
Translation Security, government authorizes vote of confidence – PD: “Risk of new racial laws”
…previously Roberto Maroni, Secretary of the Interior, asked to proceed in the following days. “If we don’t start tomorrow (thursday) with the first vote of confidence” he explained “laws will be postponed of a week and we’ll be compelled to release other 250 clandestines”
5 May 2009
Elezioni in Trentino: conferma per il Pd, Andreatta sindaco a Trento
Il Sole 24 ore
Translation Elections in Trentino: confirm for PD. Andreatta Mayor in Trento
In Trentino PD gained 30.05% of votes. Number of voters is decreasing if compared to 2005 elections: 60.1% instead of 70.1% of previous municipal elections
Bambino morto sulle gambe della madre: i genitori non avevano i soldi per curarlo
Provincia di Frosinone – Era steso sulle gambe della madre, sotto choc. Il piccolo, 18 mesi marocchino, soffriva di crisi epilettiche
Il Corriere della sera
Translation Child dead on his mother’s leg. Parents lack the money to cure him
Frosinone’s district – Child dead on his mother’s leg, woman in state of shock. The little child, 18 months Moroccan, used to have epileptic crisis.
4 May 2009
Il maxi poster sulla Chiesa che fa litigare Venezia
La Curia: «È immorale». Il soprintendente: «Ci dà i soldi per i restauri»
Corriere della sera
Translation Maxi poster which makes Venice argue
Curia: “Immoral”, Supervisor: “It gives us the money for the repairing works”
A huge poster (actually not so chaste even if maybe not different from the ones which appear in every corners of all cities…) signed RoccoBarocco is placed on the front of San Simeon Piccolo Church. The poster belongs to a series of places sold in turns in order to get the money for the works. But the image itself creates some embarassment.
Unluckily, I add, it’s a common practise to see cultural and artistic buildings covered by any sort of advertisement. Is it right? Maybe we can quote Machiavelli:”The end justifies the means” (The Prince, 1537)
Rapporto Ecomafia 2009
Legambiente
Translation Ecomafia, a business with no crisis.
“Deal for 20,5 billions”. Legambiente presented 2009 report. Last year 71 crimes a day. Campania worst performer. Napolitano “Activities aimed to contrast and prevent are getting better”.
Maree e acque salate, la nuova energia
Così aumentano le alternative a gas e petrolio. Sono già 60 i progetti messi in campo in Europa
Corriere della sera
Translation Tides and salt waters, the new energy
So alternatives to gas and oil increase. Already 60 projects have been collected in Europe
IEA (International Energy Agency), our days’ man consumes each year about 15.400 Terawatt/hour and 13% could be ‘covered’ just through waves…
[...] Daily press review [...]