Finally justice! The historic ruling of the Court of Justice of the European Union – states Alessandro Marescotti, President of PeaceLink – represents a decisive step in the fight against pollution of #Ilva in Taranto, a fight that represents our hopes for the future.
At the forefront of this war of civilizations were the Tarantini Parents, stubborn citizens who, with their tenacity and their pain, were able to shake consciences and bring to light the dramatic reality of a city strangled by pollution. Their perseverance, their refusal to give up in the face of obstacles and indifference, is an example for all of us.
At their side were Maurizio Rizzo Striano and Ascanio Amenduni, lawyers who with their competence and dedication translated their anger and desperation into an impeccable legal battle. Their deep knowledge of the law have been invaluable weapons in the fight for health and the environment.
And then there is her, Annamaria Moschetti, the tenacious pediatrician who with her research and determination brought the naked truth in front of the judges. Her competence and her passion – continues Marescotti – were the hidden resource to counter, in legal offices, the opposing arguments put forward by the government and the company.
Our deepest praise goes to all of them, to the Tarantini parents, to the lawyers Rizzo Striano and Amenduni, to Dr. Moschetti. Their victory is a victory for all of us, a warning for those who think that health and the environment can be sacrificed on the altar of production at any cost. It is the demonstration that justice, even when it is slow in arriving, can come if you want it and if you fight.
Taranto today breathes an air of hope.
The highest European authority has in fact established what any good family man would have said, namely that in the face of serious and relevant dangers for the environment and human health, the production of Ilva di Taranto will have to be suspended. It is now up to the Court of Milan to evaluate whether the authorizations received by the company endanger public health and it is no coincidence that an updated “post operam” health impact study has been presented in recent days (after the implementation of the environmental requirements of the AIA) aimed once again at considering the risk acceptable in light of the innovations introduced by the implementation of the AIA in 2023. Work will also need to be done on this to bring scientific evidence back to the service of public health.
