Just another little girl, only she’s treated as pariah in Italy. She’s 12 and her name is Rebecca Covaciu. Yes, she is Roma and has rights, the same as you and me. Only problem is her rights, (and the rights of all Roma), are being trampled on in Italy – a country that seems to have regressed to a past age– a country that seems to be unworthy right now of its EU membership.
I hope some of my readers are Italian, and some of you sympathetic to my blogs and the plight of the Roma people – if not, well either nobody’s reading it, or it’s too hot for anyone to care.
If, by chance, you are Italian and understand the current hysteria against the Roma, time to stand up and be counted – do you want to be accused of sitting by while this dust devil turns into a full-blown tornado?
And please don’t rely on Berlusconi and his Northern league, right-wing, cronies . They are using the so-called Roma problem to detract from other, more serious concerns. They are not alone either – TV news has major headlines covering 2 Roma caught stealing – shows how the media, like to jump on the Nazi-style band wagon. Of course, you must keep in mind the fact that the Belusconi family owns a large share of Italian commercial television, (45% audience share and over 60% of total advertising sales), and it’s fairly obvious they are going to dance to the tune of their main fiddler. Statistics show that 82% of Italians depend only on television for news, the highest percentage in the EU.
The Economist stated in 2002 that “Mr Berlusconi has yet to remove the ubiquitous conflicts between his private and public concerns. Because his companies are embroiled in almost every part of the economy, his failure to do so casts doubts on the motives behind so many of his projects, whatever their merits”. Plus ca change plus la meme chose.
So, what can you do?
If you’re Italian, make yourself heard both at local and EU level with your politicians, (sorry if your local politican is a member of “that” group).
Non-Italian? Write to your Euro M.P. if you’re European – if you’re not write to anyone you can think of. Support Everyone group as best you can – spread the word!
Becoming an activist doesn’t involve money – doesn’t mean travel costs etc. OK, if you have the money do it – I wish I did believe me. But I don’t – so I use the internet – my blog and e-mails to anyone I can find by doing a search. I may not be there with Roberto, Dario and Matteo; but they have my complete support as a member, and I’m proud to be a member too.
Everyonegroup IS non-political, and it does work hard to defend those who have no defence – have no voice. We should all have the same principles. It is so easy in our busy lives to forget the human rights abuses around us – turn a blind eye, or convince ourselves it is someone else’s problem.
IT’S NOT! It’s everyone’s problem, and the Roma, (as with many groups and individuals), have a right to be defended – a right to be heard.
For too long the Roma people have been lumped together with travellers and tinkers – they are a separate family, a different people. You want to know more? Then go here http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/patrin.htm
You can read about Rebecca there too. Remember her, remember all the Roma people – remember their suffering in the midst of what is supposed to be a civilised society.
See ya
I hope some of my readers are Italian, and some of you sympathetic to my blogs and the plight of the Roma people – if not, well either nobody’s reading it, or it’s too hot for anyone to care.
If, by chance, you are Italian and understand the current hysteria against the Roma, time to stand up and be counted – do you want to be accused of sitting by while this dust devil turns into a full-blown tornado?
And please don’t rely on Berlusconi and his Northern league, right-wing, cronies . They are using the so-called Roma problem to detract from other, more serious concerns. They are not alone either – TV news has major headlines covering 2 Roma caught stealing – shows how the media, like to jump on the Nazi-style band wagon. Of course, you must keep in mind the fact that the Belusconi family owns a large share of Italian commercial television, (45% audience share and over 60% of total advertising sales), and it’s fairly obvious they are going to dance to the tune of their main fiddler. Statistics show that 82% of Italians depend only on television for news, the highest percentage in the EU.
The Economist stated in 2002 that “Mr Berlusconi has yet to remove the ubiquitous conflicts between his private and public concerns. Because his companies are embroiled in almost every part of the economy, his failure to do so casts doubts on the motives behind so many of his projects, whatever their merits”. Plus ca change plus la meme chose.
So, what can you do?
If you’re Italian, make yourself heard both at local and EU level with your politicians, (sorry if your local politican is a member of “that” group).
Non-Italian? Write to your Euro M.P. if you’re European – if you’re not write to anyone you can think of. Support Everyone group as best you can – spread the word!
Becoming an activist doesn’t involve money – doesn’t mean travel costs etc. OK, if you have the money do it – I wish I did believe me. But I don’t – so I use the internet – my blog and e-mails to anyone I can find by doing a search. I may not be there with Roberto, Dario and Matteo; but they have my complete support as a member, and I’m proud to be a member too.
Everyonegroup IS non-political, and it does work hard to defend those who have no defence – have no voice. We should all have the same principles. It is so easy in our busy lives to forget the human rights abuses around us – turn a blind eye, or convince ourselves it is someone else’s problem.
IT’S NOT! It’s everyone’s problem, and the Roma, (as with many groups and individuals), have a right to be defended – a right to be heard.
For too long the Roma people have been lumped together with travellers and tinkers – they are a separate family, a different people. You want to know more? Then go here http://www.geocities.com/Paris/5121/patrin.htm
You can read about Rebecca there too. Remember her, remember all the Roma people – remember their suffering in the midst of what is supposed to be a civilised society.
See ya
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