Why I have not written in a while
June 30, 2010 by SicilyGuide
Filed under Blog
I have to apologize with the readers for not having posted in a while. I have been traveling for business and got the flu when I was in Sicily. I could have posted, but I had tons of problems with my Internet connection. I bought a Wind Internet key that did not work at all (if you travel to Sicily, do not waste €59 as I did).
Now do not take me wrong. It was awesome to be in Sicily and see my family. However, I had the possibility to experience the garbage problem first hand and got a bit less motivated in writing wonderful things about Sicily. SicilyGuide published Garbage is a problem in Sicily too time ago and we still receive comments about this issue. Il Corriere della Sera – the main Italian newspaper – denounced this situation in the article Viaggio nella Palermo sommersa dai rifiuti by Felice Cavallaro in June. The problem is really out of control and not just in Palermo!
As editor of SicilyGuide trying to talk about the beautiful things of the island, I feel I would give a disservice if I only promoted traveling to Sicily under these circumstances. I gave travel advice to a friend who went to Sicily in Easter, but I was embarrassed to hear his feedback when he got back from his trip.
Yesterday, SicilyGuide received a great comment from Tatjana who recently visited Sicily and gives us a lesson with her final lines:
We’ve been on Sicily 2 weeks in June 2010 – our first visit to this beautiful island… and the trash problem was the major disappointment for us.
Having been in other Mediterranean countries (Spain, Portugal) – you can’t find pictures of overflowing trash bins worse than on Sicily. Interesting, is it a part of mentality too – we’ve seen wonderful beach front homes, but instead of colorful flowerbed in front of the gate (like it would be in Portugal) there is just a collection of every sort of garbage you can imagine. Beyond my estate – not my problem?
Here in Estonia we had one wonderful thing 2 years ago – one spring day lots and lots of people (adults, children, families) gathered in small commandos and went to the woods to clean them from all the trash which has been thrown away in years. One day, thousands of enthusiasts – and I believe good portion of education to any participant. I think all of them would not even think of littering again…
The problem with Southern Italy and Sicily is that we do not identify with the State. It is true that the State has been absent at times. However we do need to build some serious civil conscience, otherwise we will keep having these and other problems over and over. It is only us who can change things and change does not come overnight: it is a daily commitment. Stop thinking it is all our politicians’ fault, it is our fault too! The politicians are just a mirror of who we are as people.
Thank you for this honest post, Sicily Guide. I saw the Corriere article you refer to. Yes, sadly this situation does nothing for tourism. So far, it’s OK down here this summer.
Ciao!
Good to hear from you again!
Happy you’re better now!
Duilio
Good you are back at work. Perhaps I can do something about the garbage situation…
I found this problem also when visiting in the town we stayed in and the area’s nearby, the Belverdere with a gorgeous view of the coast from Palermo to the right all the way to Cefalu , but down the hill over the rail people had thrown washing machine and bags of garbage , I felt ashamed that they had such little respect for the beauty of their surroundings and commented to my cousins about it. To which she replied ” out of sight out mind” I said the school’s should rally and have a clean up days , my children s schools in Canada do this once a year , to drive home that everyone is responsible in looking after their community!
Thanks,
this is a very honest post, it is important to talk about this issue.
Only people can decide to change this situation, and we need to push to achieve this.
alfredo
We missed you!!
Thank you so much for all your support. I really appreciate it. I will keep writing because of you. Also, we are working on a new design of SicilyGuide and an iPhone application. Stay tuned!
I am so embarrased, because it’s true, the “munnizza” problem has reached this level and I’ve been living here for more than thirty years. As a premise I’d like to say that my family and I have always collected the rubbish separately for recycling purposes. I remember taking my children to the special containers and having to raise them up to be able to reach the opening and toss in the plastic and glass bottles.
The problem is first of all political because before the collecting of the garbage was the municipality’s duty and when the service was not efficient we knew who to complain with.
Now the towns got together to form the ATO, an association that was to organize and bring through the separate collection of rubbish involving and sensitizing the people.
The taxes increased but we paid willingly for the sake of Nature.
Now the ATO is inefficient even though they employed several workers, many of which are friends, relatives or even “vote searchers” of our politicans. In these days we’ve had the news of another increase of the Tarsu, the tax for the rubbish collecting ,of 35%! Where does our money go?
Besides, even though we separate the rubbish and put it out on the assigned days, it is taken by the regular garbage truck and mixed with the rest! What’s the use of our efforts? In a corner of my backyard I have a pile of sacks with plastic, glass and paper and I don’t even know what I’m waiting for, the town elections have taken place last year and we will be having have four long years of this government.
I must also admit another thing, many people act uncivilised and throw anything just anywhere, but to this there is a remedy.
It is all a matter of education of the public, look at what they did in Australia.
http://www.cleanup.org.au/au/CleanUpEvents/