Sicily Guide

Today, I got a comment under the Aeolian Islands video post that sounded to me a little bit out of nowhere. With all the respect that I always have for other people’s opinion, I just think that Sicily needs tourism badly. I consider myself an environmentalist. I am the first one to assert that Sicily has been devastated for centuries and Sicilians have little idea of how to respect the environment. I come from an area that has been destroyed by ghost factories built in the ’60s and none of them operates today. I never saw La Piana di Milazzo as described in the book ”L’Olivo e l’olivastro” by Vincenzo Consolo, I have always seen a refinery there. I am not against factories by principle. However, if they are built, they should follow strict regulations in order not to harm the surrounding environment and people. (more…)

It is sad to see how many hectares of land were destroyed with the past fires in Sicily. According to the Minister of Environment, Pecoraro Scanio, nobody has been found guilty for arson since 2000. Thinking that just a few guys can produce such a level of devastation and the law does not discriminate against them upsets me terribly. Since these fires seem to happen every summer for at least two obvious reasons (land speculation and employment of new temporary people for reforestation), here are my proposed 5-step practical solution to defeat future arsonists and punish the current ones:

1- Arsonists found guilty should be jailed for at least 5 years;
2- The land owned by arsonists found guilty should become public domain;
3- Arsonists should pay out of their pocket for any damage inflicted to other properties;
4- No building should be allowed on any terrain destroyed by fire caused on purpose;
5- No people should be employed for reforestation. The government should involve environmental associations to help reforestation and launch a massive marketing campaign involving volunteers.

The marketing campaign should start in the schools to educate children about the devastation we are inflicting to our resources. I believe Sicilians will react well and volunteer in good numbers for a wise cause. Many of them already volunteer on a regular basis. Do you think this is a visionary 5-step solution? You’re right. Yes, it is for Sicily, where disillusion and dissatisfaction in the institutions run high. However, if we do not act now, it will happen again and again. Which world will we leave to future generations? Politicians should stop playing politics, there is no party here: it is national emergency and we should stand together no matter what!

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