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Defying the Mafia

Fed up with extortion and violent crime, ordinary citizens in Italy are rising up against organized crime. A new citizens group called Addiopizzo has organized resistance to the protection rackets.
According to a University of Palermo study, around 80% of businesses in Palermo still pay for protection. The racket in Sicily alone brings the Mafia at least a billion euros annually. Attacks on resisters continue.
In Partinico, a town near Palermo, Pino Maniaci runs a small TV station, Telejato. He has declared war on the local Mafia. "We are a little fire that we hope will become a big fire," Mr Maniaci said.
The government has, however, weakened the anti-Mafia campaign. "We have Berlusconi. That is our problem," Maniaci said. "We cannot destroy the Mafia because of its connection with politics."

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/people-places/In-Sicily-Defying-the-Mafia.html

Filed under: Addiopizzo Berlusconi Italy Mafia Sicily Telejato

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Berlusconi buys Napoleon's bed

Italian PM Silvio Berlusconi has reportedly bought a bed once owned by Corsican emperor Napoleon Bonaparte. Local newspaper Il Giornale reported that the bed, replete with canopy and bronze eagles, was for Berlusconi's new house, Villa Gernetto, in Lesmo, near Milan. Antique dealer Annamaria Quattrini was, however, shocked when asked to enlarge the bed to modern specifications. In 2006, Berlusconi was quoted as saying: "Only Napoleon did more than me, but at least I am taller than him."

http://www.ilgiornale.it/interni/il_giallo_e_palazzo_chigi_smenti_lacquisto_letto_napoleone/25-02-2010/articolo-id=424755

Filed under: Berlusconi Italy WTF

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