GIUGLIANO – Everything as expected. Unfortunately. Or maybe even worse than expected. Because there had been many proclamations, promises and reassurances as well. But the reality of the facts is completely different from what had been proposed. And so the season of fires, the terrible habit to which citizens of the entire Giugliano area are subjected, began, unfortunately, without any obstacle. Twelve (12!) long hours of toxic fumes accompanied last night and all of today’s morning. And once again there was a lot of anger.
Because if the authorities are well aware of the situation, it must be said that the measures adopted so far seem insufficient. The problem goes beyond the simple integration of the Roma community or the identification of unscrupulous entrepreneurs who illegally dispose of waste by relying on Roma. These are important aspects, of course, but not unique.
The priority should in fact be constant surveillance of the area to prevent the spillage of waste first and the ignition of new toxic fires later. The inhabitants of Giugliano and the surrounding areas, which include hundreds of thousands of people, cannot continue to breathe poisoned air. The air pollution produced by the combustion of waste of all types, tires for example, does nothing but release dioxins, furans and other carcinogenic substances which represent a lethal cocktail for anyone exposed to them.
It is therefore time for the Campania Region – which over the years has announced many initiatives that have so far been ignored – to intensify its control and prevention efforts. In concrete terms, an action plan is needed that provides for constant surveillance of the territory with the help of law enforcement and advanced technologies such as drones and sensors for the detection of toxic fumes. Only through rigorous monitoring and timely interventions can we hope to stem this devastating phenomenon.
Region, therefore, but not only. Because in this deafening silence there is also that of the centre-right, despite the fact that the Roma issue has always been an ideal of the voters of that area. Today, however, despite the visits to the Roma camps in Giugliano by national leaders during the election campaign, no one has been seen or heard from again. No one has even put forward a motion for a resolution. All this in the indifference – even more serious – of the local centre-right parties, who live in this area and who are concerned, instead, about the costs of the councilors in office. An issue – that of the costs of politics – which, some time ago, did not arouse their interest, when it was the then 5 Stars who advanced it.
The only ones who suffer from what is happening, therefore, are once again the residents. And just look into the eyes of anyone who finds themselves witnessing the destruction of landscapes devastated by this terrible plague to understand what the single and common state of mind is.
Anger, resignation in some ways and in others the desire not to give up out of love for one’s land. Yet the cry of alarm from the population of Giugliano is clear: we can no longer live in fear of breathing poison every day. It is time for the institutions to respond with concrete actions, to restore citizens’ fundamental right to clean air and a healthy life.
