Immigration Might Revitalize the Ghost Towns of Italy

Despite some Italians' Wishes, Migrants are There to stay

By: Sydney Albert
Produced & edited by: Madeline Keener

Thousands of ghost towns dot the Italian landscape - some have been abandoned for decades, while others are still visited by a handful of locals whose families once lived in them. Some were devastated by natural disasters and others by war. Some were depopulated as the residents moved away in search for a better life – a trend that is continuing today as Italy struggles with a stalling economy. 

Young Italians from the poorer central and southern regions of the country are flooding out of small towns, searching for better opportunities and education elsewhere.

There have been several attempts by private investors and volunteers to renovate and revive these villages, largely focused on saving the historic art and architecture that can still be found in these locations – several of the towns date back to medieval times or later. Other towns that have found themselves on the brink have received a breath of life from refugees.

The town of Riace suffered from emigration for decades. Decades ago residents started moving north to the bigger cities or overseas looking for work, and the more people left, the worse the little town’s state of affairs became. 

“In 2000 our school was shut because we had so few pupils. Now it's flourishing."

The success of Riace has gained the attention of other towns in need, as well as international recognition.

Migrants in Riace, Italy are helping the 

formerly depopulated village to flourish once more.

Photo Courtesy of Piervincenzo Canale via Flickr

The population had dropped by more than 80% when Domenico Lucano, a schoolteacher at the time, started welcoming refugees in 1998. Lucano proposed that Kurdish refugees who had arrived by boat stay and take over the homes and apartments left by former residents, and helped them integrate by implementing a “refugees welcome” project. Later elected mayor, Lucano has since been credited with saving his small town. “In 2000 our school was shut because we had so few pupils,” Lucano once told BBC News. “Now it's flourishing."


The success of Riace has gained the attention of other towns in need, as well as international recognition. Camini, a neighboring village that suffered from a similar case of depopulation, has also seen benefits from welcoming refugees that include filled classrooms and jobs created. German director Wim Wenders made a movie called “The Flight” based on how Riace and Badolato, another southern Italian town, opened their abandoned houses to refugees.

The Migration Trend is Causing a Strain on the Peace

Controversy and tension remain. Riace, Camini, and Badolato are all in the Calabria region in southern Italy, an area that in 2010 was host to violent race riots in the town of Rosarno. After the riots ended, local authorities in the town were criticized for ignoring the use of illegal immigrant labor and the poor conditions that the immigrants were allowed to live in. 

The Guardian reported that all remaining immigrants in the town were removed for their own safety in a type of “ethnic cleansing.” Local crime syndicates were pointed to as the ones responsible for exploiting the workers.

Established mafia gangs in southern Italy have long relied on cheap foreign labor for economic gain, and successful integration of immigrants threatens their access to such a workforce. Mayor Lucano has reported that he has faced intimidation for welcoming refugees, pointing out bullet holes by his front door. He told BBC News that the mob dislikes his integration model because they can see that it works and it challenges their grip on the region.

In addition to losing cheap labor, immigrants can also bring competition with them. Cosa Nostra, a Sicilian mafia group, has declared war on migrants in Sicily as African gangs have apparently started to operate on turf they formerly dominated.

69% of Italians surveyed by the Pew Research Center
had an unfavorable view of Muslims.
Photo Courtesy of Piervincenzo Canale via Flickr

Xenophobia is not limited to criminal organizations – several right-wing parties have led protests against what some in Italy are referring to as an “invasion.” The Northern League party, which has even been noted to stand against southern Italians for not living up to their standards of “whiteness,” is staunchly anti-immigration. 

Many Italians resent the migrants for taking up resources and feel that the migrants don’t give enough back. A recent survey by the PewResearch Center showed that 65% of Italians felt refugees were a burden on the country because they took jobs and social benefits.

When migrants are unwilling to follow certain procedures, such as having their fingerprints taken, the police do nothing, which is perceived as a result of “over-tolerance.” And then there are the stories of immigrants who threaten native Italians that are spread over Facebook and Twitter. 

The same survey by the Pew Research Center showed that 47% of Italians believed refugees were more to blame for crime than other groups, despite limited reliable data that would prove such feelings worthy of merit.

Despite the Negativity, Migrants Have a Friend in High Places

Refugees have found a powerful ally in Pope Francis. The head of the Roman Catholic Church has preached that accepting migrants and refugees is a moral issue, and after a trip earlier this year, he took 12 Syrian refugees back to the Vatican as an example. Religious groups have followed his lead – the Community of Sant’egidio has offered resources and taught language skills to refugees in Italy as well as the rest of Europe.

According to the International Organization for Migration, more than 131,974 migrants and refugees have arrived in Italy since the start of 2016 alone, and more are coming every day. The Italian newspaper La Stampa has reported that 2,026 of the country’s 8,000 municipalities have hosted migrants as of June this year.

Italy is still trying to figure out how to handle the influx of migrants and refugees. With many young Italians seeking opportunities abroad, Italian journalist Maurizio Ricci believes that foreign labor and the integration of foreign families is crucial to maintaining the economy of a country with an aging population. 

Sylvia Marchetti, a freelance journalist based in Rome, has pointed out the abandoned towns that dot Italy’s landscape as a possible solution. Though many of the ghost towns need a lot of work, it might be beneficial to renew old accommodations rather than to build completely new ones.

Education, Fertility, and Citizenship: Italy’s Strange Bedfellows

By: Alex Rhue

Produced & Edited By: Megan Laird

© Courtesy of: Shutterstock

         Faced with a dwindling number of citizens and a future of economic instability, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi has proposed some bold legislative initiatives. 

         They come at a time when Italy needs more residents to maintain its economic viability. The changes unite the seemingly unrelated issues of the Italian birth rate, immigration, and education in a mix of solutions that may prove strangely workable. Topping this list of changes is a faster track to citizenship for the children of immigrants. For children born in Italy to foreign parents, attending primary or secondary Italian schools and learning Italian would allow them to acquire citizenship as children.

Proponents of the initiative say that teaching Italian to immigrant children would help them stay in school and succeed. 

         Dr. Flavia Bruno, a psychoanalyst living in Milan and the mother of a 15-year-old daughter agrees with the initiative. She says, 

         “Immigrants speaking Italian are able to become integrated citizen(s). Kids deprived of the opportunity to learn the language of the hosting country will probably become adults ‘forced’ into a marginalized life.” 

         This represents a significant change from the current cumbersome application process, which cannot begin until they are 18. Dr. Emanuela Di Re, a gynecologist from Milan concurs with Bruno. Discussing the idea of teaching Italian to immigrant school children, she says, “It is a good idea.”

Immigrant children make up almost twelve percent of Italian students overall, and some regions report educating as many as 30% foreign students. 

         “Children, contrary to adults who require much longer, can absorb the culture of the host country…in a very short period of time,” says Matilde Bagnoli, the CEO of a small company that manages a tourist resort in Italy. Not only does it pave the way to citizenship, speaking Italian is seen as a way to foster a sense of belonging and create greater integration into Italian society. Bagnoli believes in this philosophy. 

         "If made citizens, they will integrate and feel respected and less inclined to feel marginalized and behave as such.”

© Courtesy of: Shutterstock

         
         Another change involves the issue of boosting the Italian birth rate.  At a time when Italy is experiencing one of the lowest birth rates among the European nations, Renzi is looking at ways to increase it. Although southern Italy fares far worse in comparison to birth rates in central and northern regions of the country where the economy is better, the entire country is facing a bleak population future. 

         With more than one-fifth of its population over 65, Italy currently has the highest percentage of people living on pensions of any European country. The aging population combined with the declining birth rate could spell economic disaster if nothing is done to increase the birth rate.

This is where Renzi’s plan comes in. With the current Italian birth rate at a low 1.6 births per family and a rate of 2.1 necessary for population stability, enticements to have babies seem to be the answer. Renzi is offering a payment of an extra 80 Euros per month for three years to families making less than 90,000 Euros per year if they have a new baby. With immigrant populations already having higher birth rates and lower incomes than many Italian citizens, they are likely to experience the greatest benefit from the “baby bonus.”

In responding to the issue of offering extra money to parents of newborns for three years, Bruno does not feel that it is a good idea. She says, “Its just a marketing operation. It would be more useful to invest money in kindergartens, schools, after-school activities, etc.” 
         Di Re says, “No, I don’t think so,” in responding to whether offering extra money to parents of newborns is a good idea. Taking a different position, Barbara Zucchi Frua suggests that offering extra money may help somewhat, but says, “I don’t think it is enough.”

The marriage of the population issues and the solutions offered by Renzi are not without controversy and dissension. The wave of immigration that Italy has experienced in recent years has produced resistance among some Italian citizens to the large number of immigrant students. 
         
         Last year, two Italian schools received media coverage when the parents of Italian students removed them from the schools because of the high number of foreign students in classrooms. Increasing the teaching of Italian in schools would cost money. It would mean hiring additional teachers and increasing educational costs for taxpayers.  Earlier this year, Italy’s cabinet agreed to reduce taxes for 2015 by increasing the country’s borrowing from other nations.

© Courtesy of: Flicker:Angelo Amboldi

         
         Nor is the idea of a “baby bonus” embraced by many in the Italian population. Davide Baroni from Tortoreto Lido in central Italy feels “it is not clear how this aid will work. Right now, (it) sounds like a political slogan.” The cost of sending monthly allowances for three years to new parents with lower incomes becomes an additional short-term economic burden. Di Re, in discussing Italy’s problems says, “…we are suffering a world-wide ‘failure’ situation at its highest levels, very high tax-pressure…”

It is clear that Italy needs to increase its number of citizens, particularly younger ones with the potential to work, pay taxes, and purchase good if it is to maintain economic stability. While helping immigrant children learn Italian to assimilate into society and more easily become citizens, this intervention alone is not adequate to solve Italy’s population concerns. The “baby bonus” may well increase birth rates, but this is likely be skewed by increasing births in immigrant families where fertility seems higher and more families meet the income criteria.

Italian Wine Woes for 2014 Sobering

By: Alexandra Rhue

Produced and edited by: Olivia Harlow

  

At first glance, news about the Italian 2014 wine harvest is bleak.  Newspaper and online sites offer estimates of a 15% to 30% shortfall from previous years.  Carlo Giudice, a partner at Col di Corte Winery in eastern Italy, says that he is aware of the shortfall in the 2014 wine harvest, acknowledging that in wine production this year “many companies in Italy have had less.”  In a country that is the world’s leading wine producer, a shortfall of 15% in an annual harvest that usually tops 1 trillion gallons of wine, is a vital economic consideration.

France, Italy’s closest wine production competitor, will move into first place in the world of wine production if the wine harvest shortfall reaches proportions predicted. The ripple effects could extend beyond the economic impact suffered by Italian wineries. Italian wine experts, as well as bottlers, distributors, and owners and managers of nearly 200,000 wineries are keeping a watchful eye on the wine harvest.

Geralyn Brostrom, Italian wine expert, entrepreneur, and educator, points out that “the actual numbers won’t be calculated until sometime after the harvest finishes and producers have been able to assess and report.”

© Col Di Corte Facebook

With the harvest around 50% complete in many areas, it is an intense time in the wineries. Jim Hutchinson, wine importer at Domenico Valentino in New York, says that in areas “like Valdobbiadene-Conegliano where wines are released within months of the harvest, the impact of a severe shortfall will be felt almost immediately.”

Some well-known wine producing areas such as Puglia, Sicily, and Tuscany—all recognized for their vintage wines—are considering scrapping a 2014 vintage altogether.  Large wineries are able to minimize the impact of an unsuccessful year.  Brostrom says that “farmers, whose sole livelihood comes from growing and selling grapes to wineries, will be much more affected than a winery with multiple wines and perhaps even previous vintages to sell.”

Growing up on a farm in Italy, Carmelinda Chilelli, whose parents produced red and white wines, knows the importance of the grape harvest in family businesses.  “Children don’t go to school when it’s time for the harvest.  Everyone helps each other, because there is a lot of work behind it.”

Weather is the culprit for the recent, consistently poor wine harvest. This summer, Italy was cool and wet, a contrast to the country’s regularly warm, dry summers that usually help produce an array of fine Italian wines.  Brostrom reports that producers she has spoken with “have commented on [the weather] as well.”  High rain totals combined with the lower than normal temperatures caused grapes to ripen so slowly that vine disease developed.  Increasing the damage, hail blanketed many of the wine growing regions as storms swept through, decimating grapes already suffering from the cool temperatures and excessive rainfall.

Popular wines, such as the well known Amarone or Ripasso are likely to still be produced.  Mike Veseth, wine expert and writer for The Wine Economist, says that some producers will “omit their top of the line Amarone and divert grapes to other quality levels.”  He remains optimistic that for 2014, “there will be Amarone!”

Italian social media specialist, Federico Maisenti, suggests that “the majority of the population isn’t much aware of the problem,” and notes that he hasn’t heard of any relatives or friends discussing the issue. If, indeed, the harvest shortfall is 15% or greater, Maisenti believes the industry would face serious repercussions both on a local and global scale. “In addition to have less amount of choice personally, the export market would be heavily penalized,” he says.

Other Italians are more aware of the harvest shortfall. Fabio Venturini, an engineer from northern Italy, believes that the average Italian citizen is always concerned about weather and assumes that this year’s harvesting is not optimal.

Pietro Becatti, a young Italian musician, says that he learned of the wine harvest shortfall from newspapers and friends in the agriculture areas.  “I do not think there will be serious consequences. Probably people will use the reserves of the former years,” he says.  “They will get used to a lower quality!”

Hutchinson states, “There are still a significant number of appellations that were not badly impacted by the poor weather.”  While most producers agree that 2014 wasn’t particularly a good year, the impact on wine pricing is less clear all around.

Hutchinson says that if the general quality of wine is considered inferior, prices may go down regardless of the presence of a shortage. Giudice, taking a more optimistic view of the reduced harvest, believes that despite the bad weather, the economic impact is “not a disaster.”

© Shutterstock

Although this is evident issue in most of Italy, a few wine producing areas of the country expect to have a normal or above level and quality of wine production.  The northwest section of Italy, home to several wineries, should be able to bottle some fine vintage wines.  In the Piedmont region of Italy, the Nebbiolo grapes—now ready for harvest—should produce a hearty quality red wine, perhaps even a quality Riserva.

Clearly, the wine industry remains cyclic.  Good weather brings fine wine harvests, while rain and cool temperatures of the past summer result in poorer quality and lesser quantity of grapes. The ability of the Italian wineries to adapt and rebound must not be overlooked.  Brostom points out, “As global warming has affected the wine industry worldwide, savvy producers have also adapted, and a family or company in the wine business for the long haul is also able to adapt.”  He believes that no matter what, Italian wines have been and will remain popular worldwide. Many growers, buyers, and consumers are already looking forward and hoping for a highly successful 2015 vintage. 

Systemic Racism Ripples through Italian Society

By Eric Sandy

Edited by Yacong Yuan

Regions in southern Italy have long been host to numerousimmigrant workers. In recent months, however, international media outlets have highlighted the inherent racism in the area.

The problem is, in fact, quite multifaceted. Italy, known as a hotbed of immigration (and emigration) in Europe, is presently witnessing the byproduct of institutionalized racism. Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi recently summed up his government's view, one that does not invite the political or economic diversity of an immigrant population.“The left wants a multiethnic society – we don't,” Berlusconi said of his center-right coalition government. Statements such as that, which are common in Italian politics, emphasize the deep social divide amongst politicians and their constituents. Ideas like immigrant reform are indeed hot topics in Italy, as more that 5 percent of the country's population is labeled legal immigrants. Countless immigrants work and live in Italy illegally. This notable proportion of the population (especially in rural areas) makes economic waves for the country, which is similar to other developed nations like the US and France. A closer look reveals much of the racism to have roots far below the surface, signaling a systemic problem in society.

That very issue of racism came to the forefront with a series of riots and attacks in January. In rural Calabria, a region in Southern Italy (think of it as the “toe” of Italy's boot shape), poor immigrants clashed with poor residents after tensions rose to extreme levels. During the three-day riots, nearly 50 people were injured (including police officers and immigrants workers alike). Italian journalist Jean-Léonard Touadi compared the scene to Alabama in the 1920s – an explosion of vitriol and xenophobia.

International news outlets, such as CNN and The New York Times' bureau in Rome, were quick to report the story, focusing on the surface-level racism that plagues much of Italy. As the story unfolded, things began to take a different shape.

Some Italian officials and journalists quietly pointed fingers at local crime syndicates in the area – namely, 'Ndrangheta, a notorious outfit based in Calabria. According to journalist Giulio D'Eramo, an Italian journalist presently based in England, that organization recently became “the richest and strongest criminal organization in Italy” - trumping Sicily's Cosa Nostra.

'Ndrangheta’s history goes back about 150 years. The group's mission tends to focus on draining the central power of the region or country. In that sense, the group co-opted the arrival of immigrants and nudged them into “subhuman conditions, without human rights,” according to Flavio Di Giacomo, the spokesman for the International Organization for Migration in Italy, who is quoted by Rachel Donadio in The New York Times.

Immigrant workers, seeking the only viable alternative to Berlusconi's anti-immigrant policies, often turn to such horrid situations for their livelihoods. Those very workers then produce much of the food that comes from the region – food that is often exported to other countries. Considering that, it is clear that criminal syndicates and similar groups are exploiting the racial tension of southern Italy for their own economic gain.

The South, which is an agricultural-based economic area, is seen as the breeding ground for racism, as well as its foil - antiracist activism. That phenomenon is worsened by the fact that southern Italy has some of the highest unemployment rates in Europe.

“As far as southern Italy is concerned, the worst aspect is that the south no longer believes in itself. They are resigned to things as they are,” Gian Antonio Stella said in an interview with Federica Zoja of ResetDoc. Stella is a writer for Corriere della Sera, an Italian daily based in Milan.

Getting into those southern regions is a complex matter for immigrants. Often, transportation across the Mediterranean will cost an individual upwards of $10,000. Once in the target European country (Spain also attracts many migrants), many will settle and integrate into the working economy. In Italy, this typically means evading the government's deportation policies and siding with the power of organized crime.

Such powers, like 'Ndrangheta for instance, wield a mighty sword over the silent populace. While racism is allegedly the culprit in times of distress, it seems that people are hesitant to cast blame at organized crime – a significant instigator of systemic problems like racism. Such realities shed light on the influence that non-governmental groups can harness over people.

With the local media warping the situation by focusing only on aspects of the sickness, rather than the whole of it, the problem atrophies. Though Italy has such a grand connection with immigration, those local newspapers and broadcast stations (many of which are somehow owned by Berlusconi) rarely touch the topic. When they do, it’s in the vein of nationalism or finger pointing.

The Holy See often speaks out against such silences and misdirection. Pope Benedict XVI said that “one can defend the legacy of a people, but one cannot live on an island separated from the rest of the world, especially today.” The fact that the world is becoming a sort of global village is something that Italians will have to contend with in terms of their politics, civil societies, economics and their relations in the European Union.

Photos courtesy of bbc,toonpool and dailymail