Failure of diplomacy or achievement of goal

I've just heard that another danger will be related to Israel bombardment in the next years. In addition to more than 41,000 people killed,  Tel Aviv's bombs on Gaza Strip  have caused vast amount of asbestos to be broken into airborne  particles. It would be dangerous for people who breathe it in.

Unfortunately, asbestos is present throughout  much of Gaza Strip's buildings. As it is known, it is highly cancerogenic when released into atmosphere.

Meanwhile, Israel still continue its war on three fronts: Palestine, Lebanon and Iran. According to a Qatar's newpaper, as Washington calls for a regional ceasefire, it continues to export weapons and missiles to Israel. Consequently, is the expanding war in the Middle East failed diplomacy or what Washington really wants? I am sure that most people know the answer very well. But no one questions the goal of the military industrial complex. 

Ghost villages

There are many old villages in Central Italy that have been left deserted due to migration, as working-age populations are moving to urban areas. 

Last week I heard the silence and the atmosphere of some old villages, which are experiencing a period of gradual depopulation. they are located in the border region of Tuscany, Umbria and Lazio (Central Italy).  

The main problem, which is stricly related to this demographic phenomenon, is that everyone leaving their homevillage does so not to come back again. 

I've found an article about the Italian demographic phenomenon above mentioned. It was published in 2021 by Anna-Leena Korpijärvi. She wrote that a falling birth rate is also responsible for this gradual depopulation. In addition, these villages sometimes lack services, as there are no supermarkets, banks or pharmacies. And the close hospital is one hour away.  

In my opinion, lower local taxes may be an action to be implemented in old villages affected by depopulation. 

Have a nice month of October  🍁🍄🌰🍂 

Autumnal equinox

Many people in the Northern part of my country are still dealing with the effects caused by the floods. The Prime Minister declared yesterday a state of emergency after devastating floods. 

The picture below has been sent by a friend of mine, Stefano. It shows the small village of Latera, located in the hills in Central Italy. This picture reminds me that towns and villages located in the hills can't be affected by flooding.

The problem is that all urban areas, located close to rivers, do not allow rain water to penetrate the soil. Consequently, driveways, streets, sidewalks, rooftops, and other surfaces collect stormwater and channel it into waterways. On the contrary, trees and other vegetation break the momentum of rain. 

The above picture shows a corner of Civitavecchia's port. In the past also this town was affected by floods.

Meanwhile, this Summer is going to an end, as the Autumnal equinox occurs from September 21st to 24th. During this period of the years daylight and dark hours are equal. This year the autumnal equinox occurs precisely on the 22nd September.

I hope you'll have a nice Autumn 🍂 🍁🌰🍇

Mostly cloudy

 

It seems it will be cloudy over the next weekend. And the weather will be less hot than the previous days.

And it is easy to see that fishermen will not work in the next two days.

The tower in the above picture is located on the rooftops of an old building. More than three centuries ago it was places in such a strategic position that allowed for spotting potential enemies coming from the sea.

Many boats are still in the harbours along the coast, although the Summer is going to an end.

On the job front, the good news is that since January 2024 Italy's unemployment rate has been falling. It marks its lower level since March 2008, as government incentives to housing and infrastructures investment.

 Have a nice weekend ⛵☁⛅☁

Photos sent from Thailand

 

Hello heveryone! I am just sharing a few photos. They were taken by my daugher while she was visiting Thailand in late August. 

She sent me these photos via email. 

She really enjoyed her journey in that marvelous Southeast Asian country, which covers 16.40 million hectares of conservation forest. 

I've just learnt that Asian elephants have smaller body and smaller ears, compared with African Elephants. They live in forested areas across Southeast Asia, including Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia. The above photo shows Italian tourists who were bathing those marvelous herbivores mammals. Elephants are most confortable when bathing, and so they are most likely to interact with people around them. Submerging their bodies and covering themself with mud are natural behaviours for elephants. 

September 1st is a day filled with many celebrations and historical significance around the world. 

Have a nice September 🍂

Still among "trulli"

 

Just a few words, once again, about South Italy's dry stone huts, which I already mentioned on 11 August. 

                                         

As it is known, the walls of these buildings are painted white. That colour would help to reflect, rather than absorb, the sunrays, hence moderating the temperature inside the dry stone structure.

In addition, the small spaces between the stones of these dry stone constructions' conical rooftops maintain a natural coolness during the summer months as well as they preserve the heat during the winter.

Those examples of dry stone construction were made of roughly worked limestone boulders collected from surroundings fields.

Some of these traditional architectural structures are still actively used as guesthouses, shops and groceries, etc.

The "trullo" in the above picture hosts a restaurant where I had a delicious typical dinner. 100 Metri Cubi, that its name.  

If you were to go South Italy, you could visit that hidden gem. It is worth it. 

Assumption of Mary day

The assumption of the blessed Virgin Mary has been celebrated on August 15th since many centuries in Europe. It is still a public holiday in Italy, Spain, Austria, Poland and several others EU countries. Italians celebrate this public holiday by heading for the coast or the cool air in the hills. In the evening there are a lot of fireworks.

While I was on holiday, two weeks ago, a took the two pictures of the small beach of Polignano a Mare (South Italy). 

Have a nice Holy day!