Nov 7, 2011

In the name of God, Italy and Europe, go!


Having reached €1,900bn, Italy’s public debt is so high that its potential to destabilize the world economy is way above that of Athens. Italy has agreed to the structural reforms asked by Europe. The problem is that nobody trust Berlusconi. The closing passage of the Financial Time article is: “After two decades of ineffective showmanship, the only words to say to Mr Berlusconi echo those once used by Oliver Cromwell. In the name of God, Italy and Europe, go!”
Below Oliver Cromwell Speech - Dissolution of the Long Parliament, House of Commons, 20 April 1653; here the closing speech by Richard Harris.

"It is high time for me to put an end to your sitting in this place, which you have dishonoured by your contempt of all virtue, and defiled by your practice of every vice; ye are a factious crew, and enemies to all good government; ye are a pack of mercenary wretches, and would like Esau sell your country for a mess of pottage, and like Judas betray your God for a few pieces of money.
Is there a single virtue now remaining amongst you? Is there one vice you do not possess? Ye have no more religion than my horse; gold is your God; which of you have not barter'd your conscience for bribes? Is there a man amongst you that has the least care for the good of the Commonwealth?
Ye sordid prostitutes have you not defil'd this sacred place, and turn'd the Lord's temple into a den of thieves, by your immoral principles and wicked practices? Ye are grown intolerably odious to the whole nation; you were deputed here by the people to get grievances redress'd, are yourselves gone! So! Take away that shining bauble there, and lock up the doors.
In the name of God, go!".
  
In the meantime, Berlusconi latest album "TrueLove", is about to be released – later than expected, because of the financial crisis. Apicella (coauthor, and Silvio’s good friend) reassures the market, the CD will be out November22: “The CD is ready for the shops right now. At the moment, we’re trying to work out whether to organise a launch party. I don’t know yet”. Here a short clip.

Genoa flooding


Nine people were killed and several others were missing after a violent storm struck Genoa in northwest Italy. A disaster: see the video and check some articles: Stormshit Italy's GenoaRescueworkers in Italy search through mud for survivors of stormHugedamage revealed in Genoa as floodwaters recede.
Investigations into possible negligent homicide are under way in Genoa. In particular, Genoa’s Mayor Marta Vincenzi has been criticized for not closing local schools on Friday, despite severe weather warnings. They justify themselves saying that kids would be better in school rather than running free on the streets (?). The disaster happened when students where leaving their schools.