Adoption and reduction in South Italy

by Paolo Ghiga

“Adopt a Fountain”: is the title of the Rabite Tourist Service Company of Tursi (Basilicata) to attend the European Week for Waste Reduction 2010.
Various stakeholders have been involved in the project, as well as promoting the company, including the people of I.T.C.G.T. “Manlio Chapter”, from the city of Tursi-Matera, the National Park of Pollino and the Lucano Aqueduct.
Status’ have been provided for the studies and research of inland water in Tursi performed by the students, who later located and old fountain that was still active, with the aim to reduce bottle water.

On the 22nd of November there was also an excursion to label the classes involved in the Sorgente Frida, in the Pollino National Park.
The didactic-educational part will see the creation of a web page, a journal, the publication of historical and architectural design of the fountain, the proposal and the vote, (just during the Week) of the slogan on the significance of responsible consumption of public water.
But the initiative will not end on this day. By January 2011, in fact, there will be held a public presentation of the project with the laying of a plaque on the adopted fountain, showing its history and the slogan winner, and the promotion of the entire project in the neighbouring schools will take place by the end of February.

Dr. Carmela Rabite, what has been your target audience as we approach the European Week for Waste Reduction?
«We sensitized to a specific target, mainly high school students, involving them personally we make excursions, share and promote, with their conscious practices by creating a web page. To open up the outside we have created a network of organizations, a newsletter, and we publicized our initiative especially in the local press. In addition, we are committed to prepare and distribute education materials and planners. Also, we are planning an annual event on the same theme».

For a company of tourism services that has significant concern for the environment…
«In fact we started from our local area simply going by what it has offered for thousands of years, without asking anything in return and from which, for the generations, it has left. Today, an integral part of our landscapes are huge wind turbines and water pipes. The area, in short, thanks to natural resources, freely distributes a wealth that it paradoxically misunderstood. By spreading the culture of belonging and awareness, the younger generation can help reduce this gap. We believe that this is the way forward. Let us take all the precautions we can to reduce CO2 emissions, such as eco-driving courses for our staff, or buying new buses with LPG engines. However we do understand that this is not enough. We are part of a vicious circle that we hole will come to and end».

You have placed great hope in young people showing attention to teaching and the educational aspects of the proposal...
«The idea to adopt a fountain, and to find a slogan to create a path of inland water, would not have come to fruition had it not been involved with children. This project was built around them, because we believe in their great and innovative ability to communicate. We have tried to convey their attention and energy on critical water consumption, giving the possibility of communication tools with a low environmental impact. The children, who have reacted with great enthusiasm, have involved the school and some classes in secondary schools of the towns of Cracow and Tursi, in a guidance draft, in fact teachers have included Adopt and Fountain in the next annual educational program».