Chiaiano, autocompattaore giallo, emergenza rifiuti, Napoli, Italia, discarica di Chiaiano, rifiuti radioattivi, SIET

Rubbish's run
Chiaiano's and Marano's citizens united in a protest for rubbish trucks to respect speed limits.
3 September 09 - Rome

It is the evening of the 29th of August and we have been walking all the day in Chiaiano's Forest, a territory which will become the new Metropolitan Park of the Hills of Naples (Parco Metropolitano delle Colline di Napoli), a happy green oasis placed in the middle of the crowded North Naples and surroundings.

This forest is already a notorious location: in fact it hosts the quarry of the landfill of Chiaiano. The quarry has been quite under Italian media's spotlights over the last months, for its 700.000 tonnes-capacity and for its hills full of asbestos and lead, but also for the risks that some scientists and doctors never stopped denouncing. Chiaiano's landfill is a protagonist, like Godzilla in a crib.

Unfortunately, the presence of such a 'star' cannot be without some small inconveniences for its neighbours, those local citizens that are now gathering up for a demonstration.

28 August 2009. nnnOn the left: beginning of demonstration along Via Cupa del Cane, on the right demonstration. Pictures by Cecilia Anesi

They are not many, perhaps 50 or 60 people. Among them are mothers and grandmothers with kids, among them are young and old men. They are mainly the residents of Cinque Cercole street, the narrow road which in few hours will be invaded by trucks carrying waste. Hundred of trucks will be driving along this way - during the whole night - exceeding speed limits, running to feed that big rubbish-eater.

Citizens are today demonstrating along another street, Via Cupa del Cane, moving slowly towards that sign (denied entry to non-industry professionals) that has blocked civil protest several times. After having unsuccessfully denounced the health risks to which they are exposed, after having denounced the irregularities, the laws circumvented in the name of an emergency, they have today come to complain against the loss of the last refreshment they were left with: sleeping.

28 August 2009. nnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Citizens facing police . Pictures by Giulio Rubino

For the street Cinque Cercole is clearly brings a speed limit of 10 kph, while during the night the trucks easily reach 60 kph, causing the lifting of lots of dust and stink, together with a loud clang of metal. The noise and the stink permeate inside the houses, through those windows opened towards the heat of the summer, ripping away people's rest.

Once the demonstration reaches the point were the sign is placed, police is there awaiting together with an army's jeep with two soldiers. Citizens began explaining their motivations, discussing with policemen, they ask permission to pass through, they sing. Police answers, but you can see they are embarassed, they do understand the reasons of these poor citizens. From both sides of this demonstration the reasons and the problems are common ones. The soldiers and the police have to bear the stink and the noise too. They see their health at risk as well as citizens do. Nevertheless, they have got to maintain the 'order'.

It would be easy to solve at least this of the many problems caused by the presence of the landfill: the Government could place cameras to check upon trucks' speed. Problems would not be overwhelming if from all sides there would be the will for solving them.

The sun is now gone, the demonstration is ending, but funnily enough a riot police truck reaches the demonstration. The peaceful group of demonstrators decides to reply with the high notes of a song: “Brigante se more” (Brigand we die). They are not brigands those whom, once again, tried to raise their voice today, but anyway in Chiaiano and Marano people die.

28 August 2009. nnnnnnnnn nnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnnn Citizens facing police . Pictures by Giulio Rubino

written by Giulio Rubino, translated by Cecilia Anesi