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Just wondering if anyone is currently in Sicily or has any up to date info.
We're now on day 6 of the 'Pitchfork Revolution'- A protest organsied initially by the hauliers association who have now been joined by fishermen, farmers,the unemployed and the disillusioned.
There has been no diesel available since Wednesday and most of the fuel stations are now closed. LPG is also now running out. There are blockades on most of the major roads and acess into Palermo, Messina, Catania and Pozzalo is severely restricted.
We're currently in Sciacca on gthe port (thanks Helen) and visited the local supermarket only to find it empty. The hauliers are suppossed to be allowing essential foods, milk and pharmacy supplies through but it doesnt seem to be happening.
The police have given permission for the strikes to continue until Wed but the word on the Sicilian street is that it will contine.
Many motorhomers have tried to leave but have been turned away at the ports. Many of the boat routes are not running. A lot of people are waiting it out at campsites close to the port towns so thay can get away when the boats start again.
The local people believe there is somewhat of a news blackout about this. That the authorities and the government do not wnat the rest of Europe to learn of this in case it brings about panic.
We're due to leave here on Feb 19th from Palermo to Genoa. We have enough fuel to get us there and, if we're very careful our LPG should see us through. We plan to carry on as normal but if he strikes continue after Wed then we may have to reconsider.
We live in interesting times.
If anyone is here then please let us know how things are where you are and if any UK readers can find anything on the web about the situation then please post it up. Be aware that we cant follow libnks so please cut and paste any info.
Apologies for typing..on kindle and my eyes are poor.
Hi did not know a thing about it here, but I'm sure others will make things known to you if they have any news, there is a member about 150 miles north of you in serento so he might be able to see what the main land is saying... Will be watching with interest
If it doesn't soon settle back to normal one of the Mods could change the title to upper case (it would count as an emergency) and make the thread a sticky for a while so members' attention is drawn to it.
(AGI) Palermo - Haulage companies in Sicily were allowed to continue their protests by 5 more days, until January 25. "We were granted an extension until January 25 ", said the head of Sicily haulage companies' association AIAS, Giuseppe Richichi, who is leading a protest, staged alongside fishermen and the self-styled Pitchfork Movement of farmers, which has brought traffic on the island to a standstill for days. The protest was originally scheduled to end at midnight on Friday, but police authorities allowed organisers to continue their action by 5 more days. The move is aimed at keeping the 'Forza d'urto' movement united, given that farmers and fishermen already announced they would continue their protest indefinitely, although in a softer form
From “Take the Square” also Friday
Today is the third day of protest in Sicily. The island is almost paralyzed.
In the island are protesting truckers, farmers, fishermen, craftsmen associations and merchants. Students are organizing demonstrations in solidarity, occupying roads and harbours. In Gela they close the entrance to the refinery, threating the port operations. Hundreds of trucks are at Villa San Giovanni harbour trying to ship to the big island with tons of goods (fruit vegetables and dairy supplies) will soon putrefy because the trucks cannot reach the shores of Sicily island. This stop is having a price on Sicily in terms of loss in their economy. The stocks of fuel are scarce and in many areas of the island are over, same for food, with empty shelves in supermarkets and some smaller business are already closed. People are starting to fear the food that comes from the black market. Truck inventory is escorted by the police.
The protest against increases in fuel (40% taxes on top of the basic price) and road toll, but this is just the top of the iceberg. The leaders of the movement speak of “a cry of despair and revolt of the workers on the island.” This is not an usual mobilization that gathers social sectors and political groups that have little in common: waving separatist flags next to the Forza Nuova (extreme right wing movement).
The risk of exploitation is as always very high. Even more in a region like Sicily, perhaps the one that most supported the center-right government led by Berlusconi, who has led the country to bankrupt. Many people believe that fascists and mafia are behind and within the movement. There are those who ask the promoters of the protest to distance themselves from people linked to the crime who are seizing the moment to join the protest as victims to have a sort of control.
Prosecutors in Palermo confirmed the possibility of such suspicious, but it is unknown whether there are already ongoing investigations.
From i-Italy.org yesterday
The last five days have not been pretty for those Sicilians whose gas tanks were empty.
The strike organized by the so called “Movimento dei Forconi” (the “Pitchfork Movement”, a protest movement gathering Sicilian farmers), the haulers of the “Forza d’Urto” group, and AIAS (Associazione Imprese Autotrasportatori Sicilia – Sicily haulage companies association), with roadblocks and blockades in the island’s refineries and ports, has led to a lack of petrol at gas stations all over the island. Local bloggers today signaled that on the Messina-Catania highway the price of gas has jumped to €3 a liter.
Groceries are also becoming a scarce resource. Reportedly, in the Lentini area, bread and poultry stock are close to exhaustion, even though trucks bringing food, milk, livestock and medications shouldn’t be blocked by the demonstrants.
The Pitchfork Movement and Forza d’Urto are demonstrating to sensibilize the government on the unbearability of the economic crisis for the striking categories: haulers can’t afford gas, farmers can’t sell their products and they can’t grapple with increasing taxes.
The strike was meant to end tonight at midnight, as for haulers’ demonstrations the maximum duration allowed in Italy is five days, but AIAS has just announced an extension of five more days granted by the police. The movement has also joined forces with COSPA, Abruzzo stock-breeders’ association, to extend the strike to the Pescara area. Sardinian craftsmen and stock-breeders are also joining the protest, and announced a total roadblock on the island, starting next Tuesday.
The Pitchforks Movement has over 47,000 subscribers on Facebook. Among the supporters of the movement are a significant number of students, some of which actually joined the demonstrants today in various locations on the island.
President of Sicily Raffaele Lombardo supports the movement and its reasons, and announced to SkyTg24 that he will meet Prime Minister Monti next Wednesday to bring the demands of the Pitchforks and haulers to Rome, where they should be answered, but Ivan Lo Bianco, president of the local Confindustria (Industrials’ union), warns that behind the blockages and the strikes might be the long arm of mafia, as Cosa Nostra affiliates were spotted among the demonstrants, and there is a concrete risk that the organizations could gain a role in fueling the popular unrest.
To underline the uninvolvement of the Pitchforks with the mafia, the movement’s leader Martino Morsello is hunger striking for the second day, and he declared his availability to cooperate with Lo Bello and the police to investigate over the possibility of criminal infiltrations among the demonstrants and their implications.
GOOD LUCK
Dick
______________________________________________________________ Powys, Paradwys Cymru
"Rules are for the guidance of wise men and the obedience of fools." Douglas Bader CBE
There is little news available and below is the latest from the english speaking italian news agency.
09:50 21 GEN 2012
(AGI) Palermo - Crowds and tensions at gas stations. Many people slept outdoors in Palermo to get hold of some gasoline.
This morning, too, long lines at gas stations. The same is occurring in other cities in Sicily. At midnight the 5-day Aias hauliers strike expired. But protests are still going on; 'Forza d'urto' is moving on. Police sources informed that this morning there are still motorways that have been blocked near San Gregorio; inconveniences along the Messina-Catania roads .
That was posted yesterday, reading the catania politico with my limited Italian it says it should have finished at midnite on the 21st.
So no doubt that it will be probably monday earliest before things start to get back to normal.
One of our italian based members such as eddied may be able to shed more light for you.
I've sms'ed ed in sorento to ask if he has any latest info but if there's a news black out he may also be unaware of the situation....
Ed did mention he heard that the strikes were to be called off and transferred to roma but he did mention he might hear more on the local news at 13:30cet that's all I can help with...
Ciao tutti, not really a news blackout - just a lot going on in Italy at the moment (Costa Concordia et al). The Sicily strike 'officially' has moved to Rome, but will continue in diehard pockets. It will of course be several days before supplies around the island get back to normal; and HGV backup at Messina/Villa San Giovanni clear. In any case, given the stiff measures approved by the Prime Minister Supermario on Friday p.m.; there will be several more strikes throughout the country e.g. taxis again , all day Monday; service stations for 3 days next week, pharmacies/doctors 1st Feb.; lawyers/law courts sometime next week; and so it goes on.
Will revert after the 13:30 TG! RAI news.
Buon appetito e saluti (off to lunch)
eddied
______________________________________________________________ We get too soon old, and too late smart.
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Ciao tutti, not really a news blackout - just a lot going on in Italy at the moment (Costa Concordia et al). The Sicily strike 'officially' has moved to Rome, but will continue in diehard pockets. It will of course be several days before supplies around the island get back to normal; and HGV backup at Messina/Villa San Giovanni clear. In any case, given the stiff measures approved by the Prime Minister Supermario on Friday p.m.; there will be several more strikes throughout the country e.g. taxis again , all day Monday; service stations for 3 days next week, pharmacies/doctors 1st Feb.; lawyers/law courts sometime next week; and so it goes on.
