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Emma Bonino the 65 year old Italian politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs and a leading member of the Italian Radicals, a political party that supports economic and social libertarianism, and human rights, has published an article on IPS News Service titled ‘A Federation Could Strengthen Europe’s Magnetism’ in which she states “The recent agreement for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo has confirmed that the European Union (EU) is still acting as a “magnet”, attracting its external neighbours and transforming and integrating them. Thanks to its prospects for EU membership, the whole Balkan area has become more stable and secure. Unfortunately, this virtuous magnetism no longer exerts the same force of attraction on our own citizens. With every passing day, the founding fathers’ dream of peace and freedom seems to be turning into a nightmare for many. The EU is increasingly being associated with austerity policies that lead to recession, unemployment and social despair. More worryingly, there are signs that the current crisis is not limited to the EU’s economic sphere but also impacts its most fundamental values. Everywhere in Europe we see rising intolerance; growing support for xenophobic and populist parties; discrimination and a weakening of the rule of law; and entire populations of undocumented migrants, virtually without rights, punished for their status rather than their individual behaviour. Our inclusive and open community is threatened by destructive actions pursued by nationalistic and demagogic groups. But they are not the only ones inflicting damage on the Union. …If Europe does not solve its problems of recession and populism, we could lose all that we have achieved since the 1950s, with no estimate of how long it will take to regain the same level of democracy, prosperity and stability as before. But if we adopt a new vision, engage our citizens and unite our governments, we could start a new phase of boosting growth and fostering democratic legitimacy and global influence.”  Inspired by Emma Bonino, IPS News ow.ly/lE457 Image source WEF ow.ly/lE3YP Everywhere in Europe we see rising intolerance (June 21 2013)

 

Emma Bonino the 65 year old Italian politician and Minister of Foreign Affairs and a leading member of the Italian Radicals, a political party that supports economic and social libertarianism, and human rights, has published an article on IPS News Service titled ‘A Federation Could Strengthen Europe’s Magnetism’ in which she states “The recent agreement for the normalisation of relations between Serbia and Kosovo has confirmed that the European Union (EU) is still acting as a “magnet”, attracting its external neighbours and transforming and integrating them. Thanks to its prospects for EU membership, the whole Balkan area has become more stable and secure. Unfortunately, this virtuous magnetism no longer exerts the same force of attraction on our own citizens. With every passing day, the founding fathers’ dream of peace and freedom seems to be turning into a nightmare for many. The EU is increasingly being associated with austerity policies that lead to recession, unemployment and social despair. More worryingly, there are signs that the current crisis is not limited to the EU’s economic sphere but also impacts its most fundamental values. Everywhere in Europe we see rising intolerance; growing support for xenophobic and populist parties; discrimination and a weakening of the rule of law; and entire populations of undocumented migrants, virtually without rights, punished for their status rather than their individual behaviour. Our inclusive and open community is threatened by destructive actions pursued by nationalistic and demagogic groups. But they are not the only ones inflicting damage on the Union. …If Europe does not solve its problems of recession and populism, we could lose all that we have achieved since the 1950s, with no estimate of how long it will take to regain the same level of democracy, prosperity and stability as before. But if we adopt a new vision, engage our citizens and unite our governments, we could start a new phase of boosting growth and fostering democratic legitimacy and global influence.”

 

Inspired by Emma Bonino, IPS News ow.ly/lE457 Image source WEF ow.ly/lE3YP

Roberto Savio the Italian Economist , journalist and international communications consultant, founder of the IPS News Service has published an article on the service titled ‘Switzerland Sets Example for Income Equality’. Savio states “For those who think that Occupy Wall Street, the Indignados in Spain, the World Social Forum and the numerous manifestations of protest worldwide are expressions without concrete outcomes, the result of the Swiss referendum on Mar. 3 on capping the salaries and bonuses of banks executives should make them think twice. Like it or not, two-thirds of the Swiss, who are not exactly a revolutionary people, have given the shareholders of financial institutions the right to decide salaries and bonuses of their executives. Another referendum — on limiting the salaries and bonuses of company executives from all sectors to a figure that does not exceed 15 times that of the average salary of their employees — is due shortly. At the same time the European Commission and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on capping bank executives’ bonuses at an amount equal to their annual salary. If the shareholders decide, it can be twice their annual salary, but no more. …people are getting fed up, as the Swiss referendum has clearly shown. Everywhere discontent is seeping into the polls, with protest parties flourishing everywhere. We are in transition to a different system. This can be done through peaceful and cooperative means, or by a continuation of this growing social injustice. History has many lessons on this issue, and it is useless to recall them. We all read them at school, even the 100 billionaires. So, as the Swiss referendum shows, it is not awareness that is lacking: it is political will.”  Inspired by Roberto Savio, IPS News Service ow.ly/jBfFB Image source Gc-Council ow.ly/jBfEv Switzerland sets example for income equality (April 29 2013)

 

Roberto Savio the Italian Economist , journalist and international communications consultant, founder of the IPS News Service has published an article on the service titled ‘Switzerland Sets Example for Income Equality’. Savio states “For those who think that Occupy Wall Street, the Indignados in Spain, the World Social Forum and the numerous manifestations of protest worldwide are expressions without concrete outcomes, the result of the Swiss referendum on Mar. 3 on capping the salaries and bonuses of banks executives should make them think twice. Like it or not, two-thirds of the Swiss, who are not exactly a revolutionary people, have given the shareholders of financial institutions the right to decide salaries and bonuses of their executives. Another referendum — on limiting the salaries and bonuses of company executives from all sectors to a figure that does not exceed 15 times that of the average salary of their employees — is due shortly. At the same time the European Commission and the European Parliament have reached an agreement on capping bank executives’ bonuses at an amount equal to their annual salary. If the shareholders decide, it can be twice their annual salary, but no more. …people are getting fed up, as the Swiss referendum has clearly shown. Everywhere discontent is seeping into the polls, with protest parties flourishing everywhere. We are in transition to a different system. This can be done through peaceful and cooperative means, or by a continuation of this growing social injustice. History has many lessons on this issue, and it is useless to recall them. We all read them at school, even the 100 billionaires. So, as the Swiss referendum shows, it is not awareness that is lacking: it is political will.”

 

Inspired by Roberto Savio, IPS News Service ow.ly/jBfFB Image source Gc-Council ow.ly/jBfEv

Luigi Ontani the 69 year old Italian painter, sculptor and multifaceted artist who expresses himself through various artistic forms has been featured by Karen Wright for The Independent in an article titled ‘In The Studio: Luigi Ontani’. Wright states “…Ontani has only just moved into his studio near the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, but already it bears the mark of this inimitable artist, the doorbell highlighted by a tiny portrait of himself as Pinocchio. Called maestro by those who know and revere him, Ontani is an Italian treasure and is unmistakable, dressed today, as always, in a three-piece silk suit, this time the colour of spring greens. …The studio we are in belonged to Canova, the famous sculptor. Ontani recalls that he was walking in the area he now considers home and saw "affittasi" (for rent) in the window of the building. He got on the phone and the building was his by the end of the day. …"I don't like to separate my life from my art." The rooms are high and vaulted with wonderful light. He has painted the concrete floor mauve, his favorite colour, and one that recurs often in both his work and dress. He was – and is still – beautiful, and uses himself, as do so many contemporary artists, as the subject of his art. Many feature him posed as mythical characters, often nude. "My photographs are not documents, not simulacra, but are imaginary. There are others that are documenting, but not me." Shown in Paris and New York, most notably in The Kitchen in the early 1970s, his work clearly inspired the work of Cindy Sherman, among others. Otani distinguishes his art works from his performances saying, "I am naked, like a sculpture; there is no movement. It is not a document, it is a pose."  Inspired by Karen Wright, The Independent ow.ly/iuSoH Image source lanouvellevague ow.ly/iuR4H My photographs are not documents (March 30 2013)

 

Luigi Ontani the 69 year old Italian painter, sculptor and multifaceted artist who expresses himself through various artistic forms has been featured by Karen Wright for The Independent in an article titled ‘In The Studio: Luigi Ontani’. Wright states “…Ontani has only just moved into his studio near the Piazza del Popolo in Rome, but already it bears the mark of this inimitable artist, the doorbell highlighted by a tiny portrait of himself as Pinocchio. Called maestro by those who know and revere him, Ontani is an Italian treasure and is unmistakable, dressed today, as always, in a three-piece silk suit, this time the colour of spring greens. …The studio we are in belonged to Canova, the famous sculptor. Ontani recalls that he was walking in the area he now considers home and saw “affittasi” (for rent) in the window of the building. He got on the phone and the building was his by the end of the day. …”I don’t like to separate my life from my art.” The rooms are high and vaulted with wonderful light. He has painted the concrete floor mauve, his favorite colour, and one that recurs often in both his work and dress. He was – and is still – beautiful, and uses himself, as do so many contemporary artists, as the subject of his art. Many feature him posed as mythical characters, often nude. “My photographs are not documents, not simulacra, but are imaginary. There are others that are documenting, but not me.” Shown in Paris and New York, most notably in The Kitchen in the early 1970s, his work clearly inspired the work of Cindy Sherman, among others. Otani distinguishes his art works from his performances saying, “I am naked, like a sculpture; there is no movement. It is not a document, it is a pose.”

 

Inspired by Karen Wright, The Independent ow.ly/iuSoH Image source lanouvellevague ow.ly/iuR4H

Stefano Ragazzi the Italian Professor undertaking experiments to understand dark particles has been featured by Rebecca Morelle the BBC Science reporter in an article titled ‘Dark Matter: Experiment to shed light on dark particles’ in which she states “In a man-made cavern, deep beneath a mountain, scientists are hoping to shed light on one of the most mysterious substances in our Universe - dark matter. The Gran Sasso National Laboratory seems more like a Bond villain's lair than a hub for world class physics. It's buried under the highest peak of Italy's Gran Sasso mountain range; the entrance concealed behind a colossal steel door found halfway along a tunnel that cuts through the mountain. “The feeling is that dark matter could be just around the corner, so everybody is rushing to be the first to find it” [states] Stefano Ragazzi Director, …But there's a good reason for its subterranean location. The 1,400m of rock above means that it is shielded from the cosmic rays that constantly bombard the surface of our planet. It provides scientists with the "silence" they need to understand some of the strangest phenomena known to physics. Inside three vast halls, a raft of experiments are running - but with their latest addition, DarkSide50, scientists are setting their sights on dark matter. Everything we know and can see in the Universe only makes up about 4% of the stuff that is out there. …They predict that about 73% of the Universe is made up of dark energy - a pervasive energy field that acts as a sort of anti-gravity to stop the Universe from contracting back in on itself. The other 23%, researchers believe, comes in the form of dark matter. The challenge is that until now nobody has seen it. … [Ragazzi] hopes that the first glimpse of dark matter will be in his research facility.”  Inspired by Rebecca Morelle, BBC ow.ly/iuL6f Image source infn.it ow.ly/iuL1I Dark matter could be just around corner (March 29 2013)

Stefano Ragazzi the Italian Professor undertaking experiments to understand dark particles has been featured by Rebecca Morelle the BBC Science reporter in an article titled ‘Dark Matter: Experiment to shed light on dark particles’ in which she states “In a man-made cavern, deep beneath a mountain, scientists are hoping to shed light on one of the most mysterious substances in our Universe – dark matter. The Gran Sasso National Laboratory seems more like a Bond villain’s lair than a hub for world class physics. It’s buried under the highest peak of Italy’s Gran Sasso mountain range; the entrance concealed behind a colossal steel door found halfway along a tunnel that cuts through the mountain. “The feeling is that dark matter could be just around the corner, so everybody is rushing to be the first to find it” [states] Stefano Ragazzi Director, …But there’s a good reason for its subterranean location. The 1,400m of rock above means that it is shielded from the cosmic rays that constantly bombard the surface of our planet. It provides scientists with the “silence” they need to understand some of the strangest phenomena known to physics. Inside three vast halls, a raft of experiments are running – but with their latest addition, DarkSide50, scientists are setting their sights on dark matter. Everything we know and can see in the Universe only makes up about 4% of the stuff that is out there. …They predict that about 73% of the Universe is made up of dark energy – a pervasive energy field that acts as a sort of anti-gravity to stop the Universe from contracting back in on itself. The other 23%, researchers believe, comes in the form of dark matter. The challenge is that until now nobody has seen it. … [Ragazzi] hopes that the first glimpse of dark matter will be in his research facility.”

 

Inspired by Rebecca Morelle, BBC ow.ly/iuL6f Image source infn.it ow.ly/iuL1I

Marco Brambilla the 52 year old Italian – New York based filmmaker and installation artist known for his elaborate recontextualizations of popular and found imagery, has been profiled by Bob Morris for an article published in the New York Times titled ‘Where the Art Is Wild in 3D’. Morris states “…“Creation (Megaplex),” opened at the Nicole Klagsbrun gallery in Chelsea last week, the third of a trilogy that makes art from film. It uses Mr. Brambilla’s lavish sampling of hundreds of movie clips to create a swirling helix in which Maria von Trapp, Yoda, Dr. Strangelove and others seem to be flying through the air overhead before spiraling into a celestial toilet. “It’s about the disposability of film and images in an oversaturated world,” Mr. Brambilla said, explaining his inspiration. “Content in the background to marketing.” He may be a cynic when it comes to aspects of popular culture, but he is also a sunny, sociable and sought-after guest at art and fashion parties these days. It helps that his work is generous and accessible, and it doesn’t hurt that he has had a few mainstream commercial outings, too, with a 15-second Michael Jackson Pepsi spot last September, a Ferrari collaboration in 2011 and a Kanye West video in 2010.  Mr. Brambilla, born in Milan and raised in Canada, even had his moment as a Hollywood player in 1993, when he directed “Demolition Man” at 28. He found the level of compromise discouraging, and refocused his talents on video art. His work has received good reviews and museum shows, and he has seen it projected at a parking lot at Art Basel Miami Beach, a piazza in Rome, film festivals and even in St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral (in NoLIta), where he enjoyed the sight of thousands wearing 3-D glasses...”  Inspired by Bob Morris, New York Times ow.ly/hnJ2G Image source Facebook ow.ly/hnJ1H Where the Art Is Wild in 3D (February 13 2013)

Marco Brambilla the 52 year old Italian – New York based filmmaker and installation artist known for his elaborate recontextualizations of popular and found imagery, has been profiled by Bob Morris for an article published in the New York Times titled ‘Where the Art Is Wild in 3D’. Morris states “…“Creation (Megaplex),” opened at the Nicole Klagsbrun gallery in Chelsea last week, the third of a trilogy that makes art from film. It uses Mr. Brambilla’s lavish sampling of hundreds of movie clips to create a swirling helix in which Maria von Trapp, Yoda, Dr. Strangelove and others seem to be flying through the air overhead before spiraling into a celestial toilet. “It’s about the disposability of film and images in an oversaturated world,” Mr. Brambilla said, explaining his inspiration. “Content in the background to marketing.” He may be a cynic when it comes to aspects of popular culture, but he is also a sunny, sociable and sought-after guest at art and fashion parties these days. It helps that his work is generous and accessible, and it doesn’t hurt that he has had a few mainstream commercial outings, too, with a 15-second Michael Jackson Pepsi spot last September, a Ferrari collaboration in 2011 and a Kanye West video in 2010.  Mr. Brambilla, born in Milan and raised in Canada, even had his moment as a Hollywood player in 1993, when he directed “Demolition Man” at 28. He found the level of compromise discouraging, and refocused his talents on video art. His work has received good reviews and museum shows, and he has seen it projected at a parking lot at Art Basel Miami Beach, a piazza in Rome, film festivals and even in St. Patrick’s Old Cathedral (in NoLIta), where he enjoyed the sight of thousands wearing 3-D glasses…”

 

Inspired by Bob Morris, New York Times ow.ly/hnJ2G Image source Facebook ow.ly/hnJ1H

Mario Monti the 69 year old Italian economist and current caretaker Prime Minister of Italy will run for the premiership as leader of a centrist alliance in the next Italian general election. In an article by Vito Laterza published on Aljazeera titled ‘Technocracy's new bet: Mario Monti runs for premiership’.Vito states “His entry into the political arena will provoke major re-alignments in strategies, programmes and personnel in the centre-right and centre-left coalitions. His ambitious agenda of reforms will strongly influence the policies of the next government. …The rationale of Monti's proposals is not so different from Cameron's austerity programme in the UK: free up the market, reduce the weight of government and let the economy adjust itself. But the prospects for the global economy, especially the eurozone, look grim. European economies will grow slowly, if at all, for many years to come. Italy has struggled with low growth rates for the last two decades. …There is also a major difference with Britain. Italian workers receive very low salaries compared to most of their European counterparts. Further liberalisation without a comparable rebalancing of social protection would effectively mean a low-cost economy driven by cheap labour, reduced quality and quantity of social services and rising socio-economic inequalities. For both these reasons, the continuation of the technocratic agenda by political means is unlikely to result in anything more than a face-lift. … keeping confidence in the Italian government artificially high and interest rates on Italian bonds low. But for how long? Monti is aware that his decision to enter frontline politics "carries many risks and a high probability of failure". If he does fail, how bad will the next collapse in international credibility hit Italy and its people?”  Inspired by Vito Laterza, Aljazeera ow.ly/gKkTU Image source Twitter ow.ly/gKlaQ Technocracy’s new bet runs for premiership (January 18 2013)

Mario Monti the 69 year old Italian economist and current caretaker Prime Minister of Italy will run for the premiership as leader of a centrist alliance in the next Italian general election. In an article by Vito Laterza published on Aljazeera titled ‘Technocracy’s new bet: Mario Monti runs for premiership’.Vito states “His entry into the political arena will provoke major re-alignments in strategies, programmes and personnel in the centre-right and centre-left coalitions. His ambitious agenda of reforms will strongly influence the policies of the next government. …The rationale of Monti’s proposals is not so different from Cameron’s austerity programme in the UK: free up the market, reduce the weight of government and let the economy adjust itself. But the prospects for the global economy, especially the eurozone, look grim. European economies will grow slowly, if at all, for many years to come. Italy has struggled with low growth rates for the last two decades. …There is also a major difference with Britain. Italian workers receive very low salaries compared to most of their European counterparts. Further liberalisation without a comparable rebalancing of social protection would effectively mean a low-cost economy driven by cheap labour, reduced quality and quantity of social services and rising socio-economic inequalities. For both these reasons, the continuation of the technocratic agenda by political means is unlikely to result in anything more than a face-lift. … keeping confidence in the Italian government artificially high and interest rates on Italian bonds low. But for how long? Monti is aware that his decision to enter frontline politics “carries many risks and a high probability of failure”. If he does fail, how bad will the next collapse in international credibility hit Italy and its people?”

 

Inspired by Vito Laterza, Aljazeera ow.ly/gKkTU Image source Twitter ow.ly/gKlaQ

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani the 80 year old Italian fashion designer has been profiled by Christina Patterson in an article published in The Independent titled ‘Valentino Garavani: The man who turned fashion into an art form’. Patterson states “Audrey Hepburn wore them. Elizabeth Taylor wore them. So did Grace Kelly and Jackie O. …anyone who was anyone, and who was beautiful, and glamorous, and famous, and chic, wore Valentino clothes. And the clothes, it seems, weren’t just clothes. The clothes, it seems, from the way they’ve been displayed, in a new exhibition marking the 50-year career of Valentino Garavani, were art. …Sometimes, it’s just in the cut, but it isn’t “just” a cut, because the cut, like a line in a Picasso, is the mark of the master’s art. Sometimes, it’s in the beadwork, or the edging, or the stitching of a piece of cord. Sometimes, it’s in a piece of silk that’s been cut to make a rose. When you leave the gallery, and go into the room that has cabinets showing close-up examples of the craft, it almost makes you gasp. It makes you think of those medieval artists who carved whole worlds on tiny bits of ivory. It is art. Even to me, it’s art. …a wedding dress that was made for Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. The dress, apparently, took 25 seamstresses four months. Like, perhaps, the dresses of Marie-Antoinette. But at least the seamstresses are called seamstresses. What Valentino calls his seamstresses (or used to, before he sold the business on) is “le ragazze”. “Le ragazze” means “the girls”. It must be quite strange to be a 60-year old woman and called a “girl”. It must make you think of those Brits who called their adult male African servants “boy”. “To dress stars or empresses is very pleasant,” says Valentino, “because their concept of high fashion remains so pure.” He isn’t joking. He really seems to think that the world he displays, of money, celebrity, flattery, name-dropping, and, of course, an all-consuming obsession with appearance, is something to flaunt.” Inspired by Christina Patterson ow.ly/gpQnf image source Georges Biard ow.ly/gpQm2 Turned fashion into an art form (January 6 2013)

Valentino Clemente Ludovico Garavani the 80 year old Italian fashion designer has been profiled by Christina Patterson in an article published in The Independent titled ‘Valentino Garavani: The man who turned fashion into an art form’. Patterson states “Audrey Hepburn wore them. Elizabeth Taylor wore them. So did Grace Kelly and Jackie O. …anyone who was anyone, and who was beautiful, and glamorous, and famous, and chic, wore Valentino clothes. And the clothes, it seems, weren’t just clothes. The clothes, it seems, from the way they’ve been displayed, in a new exhibition marking the 50-year career of Valentino Garavani, were art. …Sometimes, it’s just in the cut, but it isn’t “just” a cut, because the cut, like a line in a Picasso, is the mark of the master’s art. Sometimes, it’s in the beadwork, or the edging, or the stitching of a piece of cord. Sometimes, it’s in a piece of silk that’s been cut to make a rose. When you leave the gallery, and go into the room that has cabinets showing close-up examples of the craft, it almost makes you gasp. It makes you think of those medieval artists who carved whole worlds on tiny bits of ivory. It is art. Even to me, it’s art. …a wedding dress that was made for Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. The dress, apparently, took 25 seamstresses four months. Like, perhaps, the dresses of Marie-Antoinette. But at least the seamstresses are called seamstresses. What Valentino calls his seamstresses (or used to, before he sold the business on) is “le ragazze”. “Le ragazze” means “the girls”. It must be quite strange to be a 60-year old woman and called a “girl”. It must make you think of those Brits who called their adult male African servants “boy”. “To dress stars or empresses is very pleasant,” says Valentino, “because their concept of high fashion remains so pure.” He isn’t joking. He really seems to think that the world he displays, of money, celebrity, flattery, name-dropping, and, of course, an all-consuming obsession with appearance, is something to flaunt.”

 

Inspired by Christina Patterson ow.ly/gpQnf image source Georges Biard ow.ly/gpQm2

Severed rabbit's head that did it (November 4 2012) Severed rabbit’s head that did it (November 4 2012)

Rosy Canale the Italian Anti-mafia activist who nearly died in a brutal beating, is being threatened again after writing a book about the Calabria mobsters the Ndrangheta. John Hooper for The Guardian published an article titled ‘It was the severed rabbit’s head that did it’. Hooper states “Rosy Canale, a courageous anti-mafia activist, had had threats before. But when the bloodied head arrived at her parents’ house in a neat little package on her 40th birthday, she fled. …Canale knows all about its brutality. She used to own a restaurant and disco in the region’s biggest city, Reggio Calabria, and the ‘Ndrangheta wanted to push drugs there. “I was to turn a blind eye,” she said, speaking by telephone from an undisclosed location in the US. “If I had done so, I’d doubtless still be in Reggio Calabria, driving round in a brand-new Ferrari.” Instead, she refused. And the ‘Ndrangheta took its revenge. Canale was kicked and pistol-whipped almost to death. “Nearly all my teeth were broken. So was my upper jawbone. They broke my collarbone, several ribs and a leg. It was eight months before I left hospital. …In February, some men came to my parents’ home in Rome posing as postmen. They said they had a letter. My mother opened the door and they pushed past her. They told her that, if I published my book, they would cut me into pieces and feed me to the pigs. A book creates awareness,” added Canale. “And it remains.” The threats continued after she fled to the US…”

 

Inspired by The Guardian ow.ly/eKUqp image source Vanity Fair ow.ly/eKUVw

What can we do? What is the next step? (June 30th 2012) What can we do? What is the next step? (June 30th 2012)

Mario Draghi the 64 year old Italian banker, economist and President of the European Central Bank has told European politicians that they should do a lot more to tackle the debt crisis, according to an Aljazeera article. The article states “He says the current setup is unsustainable and has urged member states to take immediate action towards developing a clear vision for the next few years. …warn[ing] that the structure of the euro currency union has become unsustainable and criticised political leaders, who, he said, had been slow to respond to a European debt crisis now well into its third year. “Can the ECB fill the vacuum or lack of action by national governments on the structural front? And again the answer is no, structural reforms don’t have much to do with monetary policy,” Draghi said, adding: “Can the ECB fill the vacuum left by the lack of euro area governance? And the answer is no. So, let’s ask: What can we do now? What is the next step? The next step is basically for our leaders to clarify what is the vision for a certain number of years from now.” …All of this has taken a toll on the value of the euro currency. It fell to its lowest level in almost two years against the dollar.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera ow.ly/bJhPY image source World Economic Forum ow.ly/bJhwz

Antonio Manfredi an Italian artist, curator and director of a Naples museum, the Casoria Contemporary Art Museum has set fire to a painting valued at €10,000 to protest the under-funding of arts in Italy. Before cameras, he set fire to a painting by French artist Séverine Bourguignon watching the spectacle via Skype. In an interview with John Hooper of the Guardian, Manfredi stated “There’s no money for upkeep. We were flooded recently. And there are tons of garbage mounting up outside. …This is a war. This is a revolution, an art war to prevent the destruction of culture, and in a revolution, there are winners and losers. …There are about 1,000 works, so this could go on for years, I tell you, it’s not nice setting light to works of art. It’s terrible. Each one has its own story. …You can’t …ask for money from companies in the area that are in the grip of the Camorra, some pay [the mobsters] protection money. Others are actually controlled by them. … in this area, if you don’t have backing from the authorities, you’re in serious danger. My fear is that they’ll let me go ahead and burn the lot.”

 

Inspired by John Hooper http://ow.ly/awOgA image source http://ow.ly/awOz3

Oliviero Toscani the 69 year old Italian Photographer renowned for his controversial advertising campaigns of well known Italian brands, has again sort controversy with the release of a calendar. Toscani’s calendar features twelve close up images of penises for an advertising campaign. The consortium that procured Toscani’s services, Vera Pelle Italiana is a group of companies that manufacture tanned leather products. The controversy follows a similar campaign last year for the same consortium, with a calendar depicting close up images of female crutches. That calendar incurred the wrath of both feminist groups and the advertising watchdog, claiming the images were offense to the dignity of women. Other campaigns conducted by Toscani included men participating in homosexual behavior for a clothing brand, an AIDS awareness campaign with images depicting a dying man in hospital surrounded by grieving relatives, and another awareness campaign with gruesome images of an emaciated anorexia suffer. This latest calendar launch was attended by a well known Italian porn star Rocco Siffredi.

 

Inspired by France24 http://ow.ly/8tRpg image source Twitter http://ow.ly/8tRC0

Paolo Baratta the 72 year old Italian former banker and Chairman of the Venice Biennale art exhibition has been informed his position will cease at the conclusion of this year. Baratta is deeply involved with the Italian cultural sector, sitting on several institutional and organizational boards. His successor Giulio Malgara a businessman has little experience with the arts will assume the role from the 1st January 1012, and is seen by some as a political appointment. The Mayor of Venice Giorgio Orsoni released a statement stating, “I am convinced that Giulio Malgara is an unsuitable person to carry out the role of chairman of the Venice Biennale and that it would be a mistake to confirm him in this position. It would interrupt a vital and fruitful process that needs to be seen through to the end.”

 

Inspired by Anna Somers Cocks http://ow.ly/6YFZP image source Starkwhite http://ow.ly/6YG7K

Giampaolo Tarantini an Italian businessman along with his wife Angela Devenuto, have been arrested by the Italian police on charges of extorting money from the Italian prime minister Silvio Berlusconi. Tarantini admitted having paid for prostitutes to attend Berlusconi’s infamous parties in order to curry favour with Berlusconi, intending to profit from unrelated business arrangements. Although Tarantin insists that Berlusconi did not pay nor was aware the women were prostitutes, he had received $722,000 and regular monthly payments from Berlusconi. Berlusconi renowned for his generosity, claims the payments were to help out Tarantini and his family who were in serious financial difficulty. “I didn’t do anything illegal, I limited myself to helping a desperate man without asking for anything in exchange. That’s how I’m made and nothing will change that.”

 

Inspired by Aljazeera http://ow.ly/6luLK image source Blitzquotidiano http://ow.ly/6luW1

Silvano Vinceti the 60 year old head of the Italian National Committee for the Promotion of Historic and Cultural Heritage, although not a trained historian or scientist, has turned his hand at historical investigations. He is currently attempting to verify the identity of the muse for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa is claimed in some circles to be a self-portrait, and in others to be Lisa Gherardini the wife of a Florentine silk merchant thought to have commissioned the portrait, or according to Vinceti the muse may have been da Vinci’s longtime male lover and apprentice Gian Giacomo Caprotti. In a process of elimination, Vinceti hopes to locate the body of Gherardini in a Florence convent, recovering the skull to reconstruct her face and compare to the painting. Inspired by Eleanor Biles and Silvia Aloisi ow.ly/51yf5 image source Facebook ow.ly/51y8B Looking for her bones seems a sacrilege (July 17 2011)

Silvano Vinceti the 60 year old head of the Italian National Committee for the Promotion of Historic and Cultural Heritage, although not a trained historian or scientist, has turned his hand at historical investigations. He is currently attempting to verify the identity of the muse for Leonardo da Vinci’s Mona Lisa. Mona Lisa is claimed in some circles to be a self-portrait, and in others to be Lisa Gherardini the wife of a Florentine silk merchant thought to have commissioned the portrait, or according to Vinceti the muse may have been da Vinci’s longtime male lover and apprentice Gian Giacomo Caprotti. In a process of elimination, Vinceti hopes to locate the body of Gherardini in a Florence convent, recovering the skull to reconstruct her face and compare to the painting.

 

Inspired by Eleanor Biles and Silvia Aloisi http://ow.ly/51yf5 image source http://ow.ly/51y8B

Giorgio Armani the 76 year old Italian fashion designer has vented scorn on one of his rivals top-selling fashion house Prada, as the company made its Hong Kong stock exchange debut. Armani tore into 62 year old Miuccia Prada with a venomous attack declaring  she had ”chosen the path of irony and of the bad taste that pleases”. Armani implied Prada stages shows that are ”baracconate”, a highly offensive Italian term implying tackiness and improvision; claiming Prada is beholden to the banks for debt incurred building up the brand, resulting in bad taste that becomes chic. Tensions between rivals in the fashion industry are not uncommon, Armani was involved in another spat two years earlier with Dolce & Gabbana accusing the duo of plagiarism over a pair of quilted trousers. Inspired by WorldCrunch ow.ly/5rNaj image source Jan Schroeder ow.ly/5rN8T I’ve chosen to dress people not ”baracconate’ (July 3 2011)

Giorgio Armani the 76 year old Italian fashion designer has vented scorn on one of his rivals top-selling fashion house Prada, as the company made its Hong Kong stock exchange debut. Armani tore into 62 year old Miuccia Prada with a venomous attack declaring  she had ”chosen the path of irony and of the bad taste that pleases”. Armani implied Prada stages shows that are ”baracconate”, a highly offensive Italian term implying tackiness and improvision; claiming Prada is beholden to the banks for debt incurred building up the brand, resulting in bad taste that becomes chic. Tensions between rivals in the fashion industry are not uncommon, Armani was involved in another spat two years earlier with Dolce & Gabbana accusing the duo of plagiarism over a pair of quilted trousers.

Inspired by WorldCrunch http://ow.ly/5rNaj image source Jan Schroeder http://ow.ly/5rN8T

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