Sadly Déja Vu

My friend Gord sent along this poster from 1971.



There are lessons that are never learned.

20 giugno - Sant'Ettore

I'm Sorry But ....

... this is just too creepy for words!


A poster in Berlin's Schönefeld Airport for the new tabloid style Die Welt.

21 novembre - Presentazione della Beate Virgine Maria

Signs of the Times

I am always surprised by how quickly political posters appear here. Following last Thursday's decision by the Constitutional Court of Italy these posters appeared on the streets by early Friday morning

Thank goodness there is the Constitution.
It makes us all united and equal.

13 ottobre - San Teofilo di Antiochia

Post Its

I am always fascinated by the political posters that appear almost overnight in response to what's happening here in Italy and the world.

Though Walter Veltroni and his PD (Parti Democratico) lost the recent election they have not been behaving like a defeated party. Posters are constantly showing up addressing problems and concerns that they may not be able to raise in Parliament but can bring to the streets.

The problem of the environment and particularly air polution in Roma is highlighted in this one:

SOS Environment
A number to call in Roma
Tell us about environmental problems you see and tell us your solution.

And this poster has appeared on the streets yesterday. Not to be out done the Azione Giovani - a very right wing youth organization - remind Mr Veltroni that he lost. Barak Obama is in a position to effect change - Veltroni is definately not! A very sophisticated way of giving him the raspberry.


10 novembre - San Leone Magno

Writing on the Wall

The old adage says something about "if only the walls could talk!" Well here in Italy there are time when they seem to. Here's a few random pictures I took around Pesaro this weekend to prove the point.

One of the younger citizens obviously wanted to make me feel welcome so they adorned this wall with my name! Okay they spelt it with only one B but I still think it was a nice gesture.

"We respect the past, live in the present and anticipate the future."

The slogan for a company renovating one of the old villas in the historic centre of town near the Sforza Fortress.

"Pure breeds are pretty but mongrels are better."

A great poster for a dog show for Heinz 57s only - none of those snotty show dogs allowed.

This note to "Alice" was written on the side wall of the Teatro Rossini. At first Laurent and I had a good laugh - it seemed like an elaborate farewell note to an unrequited love. However when we read it more closely it almost sounded like a suicide note. I wish my Italian were good enough to grasp the subtleties. Odd to say the least and ultimately unsettling.

And on a similarly somber note this memorial is to the people from Pesaro - some of them children - who died in the war of Liberation at the end of the World War II. The north of Italy was a hot bed of anti-fascism and under Il Duce dissidence was dealt with harshly. Mass hangings were a common sight in the waning days of the Regime.

26 agosto - San Allesandro

Political Posters

Today is the last day of active campaigning for Sunday's election here in Italy. The outgoing government is the 61st since the end of World War II and in no election has any one party held enough seats to form a majority.

Again it is not my place to comment on the political situation here but I am struck by some of the posters that appear on the streets.

In Reggio Emilia:

The first Lega Nord poster simply says: Enough Taxes, Enough Rome! The second with the Indian Head says: They were not able to put rules on immigration. Now they live on Reserves. Think of that!

At my street corner:

This second poster from Forza Nuova is more disturbing in its imagery.

I must stress that the two parties involved are extremes however I've noticed that at least one of the candidates for Prime Minister has been cultivating a subtle image of a leader from the 30s - except he has decided not to shave off his newly transplanted hair.

11 aprile - San Stanislao

Discontent

As election day (April 13) draws near posters are being slapped up all over town. The supporters of the far-far-right Forza Nouva where perhaps a little too eager to get their message out when they put up these posters on top of a lingerie ad but...


And their message:

An Italy without outsiders*
It can be done.

Again I am not going to comment one way or another on the political situation here but that slogan does raise some interesting questions. Such as who then would work the dairy farms, man the clothing factories, clean the houses, toil as live-in caregivers for Nonna and Nonno when the family is too dispersed to do so or for that matter who would pose for the lingerie ads? I'm sure they have answers.

*A more accurate translation of extracomunitari would be "immigrants from outside the EU" - given the normal message from FN this suggests a new tolerance of former East Block peoples who are now part of the EU. Strano. Molto strano.

28 marzo - San Sesto Papa