by Annalisa Audino
The water is all. Seems to be the message to everyone who participated actively to collect signatures in order to hold the referendum to decide if the water must pass under a privatized management or can remain a public good. The campaign, organised by the Italian Forum for movements of water, has been pursued by many activists who conjured real demonstrations, in addition to be present in all cities with banquet facilities and information stand. The aim is to repeal the Ronchi Decree of November 2009 and rules approved by the Prodi government who were in the same direction, i.e. towards the total privatization of the water service.
«The referendum campaign that began on 25 April-explained Paolo Carsetti of the Secretariat of the Forum- scored an unexpected success. Definitely much has been done in all these years by the various committees throughout the territory who have managed to create sensitivity and attention in public opinion around this theme».
Among all the initiatives organized, some very extravagant, Carsetti believes that there hasn’t been a particularly effective one: «In my opinion there wasn’t a particular initiative that allowed us to achieve success: it is the issue for the emotive campaign that has success on people and our personal success comes from our transversality since we have no political party reference».
There are so many initiatives which have led to the collection of signatures. In particular, the Forum has taken advantage of some of the most important events and their showcase media to get into the homes of people: after attending the peace march Perugia-Assisi of mid-May, members have opened their Giro d'Italia, positioned along the cycling stages of the competition. But not only. The Committee of Udine went top of Monte Zoncolan and at 1,800 meters citizens have set up banners and banquets, reaching, in less than one month, 7,500 signatures only for the region of Friuli Venezia Giulia. In the province of Cesena also bars participated: for one day they decided to give away to each signatory a glass of slush better Emilia Romagna to reach, in less than 4 weeks, 35,000 signatures.
In Campania 30,000 signatures were collected: a result that local politics surely noticed. And that is why the council approved, for the first time in Italy, a resolution establishing the "guaranteed minimum" for water consumption: for 40,000 Neapolitan families who live on the boundaries of misery, already by future bills, a free supply of 250 litres of water per day, amounting to 41.32 euros per year will be operational. The first of the class was Liguria, in particular the province of Savona. Not only the province has cycled at the 24 hour mountain bike in Finale Ligure, but after only four weeks the signatures collected were already 20,000 obtaining, keeping on the nice biking theme, pink shirt as a prize for having distinct in its commitment to the cause.
«A constructive form of mutual aid -said Carsetti- concluded that no cost-effective way was low and has mobilized the consciences of citizens. Sincerely we believed to do much more difficulty in collecting the signatures needed to be able to offer the referendum and instead we actually doubling the initial goa,l reaching the one million signatures». In the program there are still many initiatives. Saturday 5 June Chioggia (Venice), «During the wedding of Cristina and Alessandro – said the members of the Forum - a banquet will be set up to collect signatures of all participants to some of which will then be asked to wear t-shirts campaign "sell" water ». On the weekend between 12 and 13 June and also during the following weekend, the Forum will launch "H2ora": days of music, art and culture organized by territorial committees.
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