On this spot nothing will ever happen-and nothing ever has Part 2
A post-script to the last post. I read these in Paul Ginsburgs outstanding "A History of Contemporary Italy."
The first is in relation to an absent post office in the Milanese neighbourhood of Quarto Oggiaro. The area had grown massively during the period of mass migration from the South from 7,200 in 1959 to 80,000 in 1972. The area was in need of a post office amongst other public services.
In 1964, the local section of the Christian Democrats (DC) promise to investigate the problem.
In 1967, The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications claimed that the plans for a post office were at "an advanced stage" and that building would take place shortly. In 1968, the provincial director of posts claimed that the neccessary paperwork had been completed. In 1970, the regional director of posts announced that various buildings were under consideration to house the new post office; at the same time DC deputies talked of the new post office as "a concrete reality". By late 1973, there still was no post office in Quarto Oggiaro.
The second is in relation to the massive amounts of money spent on regional development in the South. The Cassa di Mezzogiorno was established in 1950 to distribute the vast funds earmarked for investment in Southern industry and infrastructure. Throughout the South, massive "Cathedrals in the Desert" were constructed. Massive heavy industrial projects built far from major cities like metalworks or petrochemical plants that would often close after a short period, especially during the 1970's when the bottom fell out of the steel market. Infrastructure projects would be built on a similar basis: One example was after an earthquake in Sicily in 1968. The government promised immediate aid and vast sums of money was assigned for reconstruction. Nine years later, not one house had been assigned to a local family. However, massive and unused infrastructure was built: roads that led nowhere, massive bridges only used by shepherds and livestock, footpaths that had no pedestrians etc.
These examples evoke the same images of empty structures and stagnation as the buildings I saw in Greece. The main difference would be that I'm not sure whether the "Cathedrals in the Desert" are still standing (and been re-appropriated by people in the same way.) Maybe thats a task for when I get to Italy!
The first is in relation to an absent post office in the Milanese neighbourhood of Quarto Oggiaro. The area had grown massively during the period of mass migration from the South from 7,200 in 1959 to 80,000 in 1972. The area was in need of a post office amongst other public services.
In 1964, the local section of the Christian Democrats (DC) promise to investigate the problem.
In 1967, The Ministry of Post and Telecommunications claimed that the plans for a post office were at "an advanced stage" and that building would take place shortly. In 1968, the provincial director of posts claimed that the neccessary paperwork had been completed. In 1970, the regional director of posts announced that various buildings were under consideration to house the new post office; at the same time DC deputies talked of the new post office as "a concrete reality". By late 1973, there still was no post office in Quarto Oggiaro.
The second is in relation to the massive amounts of money spent on regional development in the South. The Cassa di Mezzogiorno was established in 1950 to distribute the vast funds earmarked for investment in Southern industry and infrastructure. Throughout the South, massive "Cathedrals in the Desert" were constructed. Massive heavy industrial projects built far from major cities like metalworks or petrochemical plants that would often close after a short period, especially during the 1970's when the bottom fell out of the steel market. Infrastructure projects would be built on a similar basis: One example was after an earthquake in Sicily in 1968. The government promised immediate aid and vast sums of money was assigned for reconstruction. Nine years later, not one house had been assigned to a local family. However, massive and unused infrastructure was built: roads that led nowhere, massive bridges only used by shepherds and livestock, footpaths that had no pedestrians etc.
These examples evoke the same images of empty structures and stagnation as the buildings I saw in Greece. The main difference would be that I'm not sure whether the "Cathedrals in the Desert" are still standing (and been re-appropriated by people in the same way.) Maybe thats a task for when I get to Italy!
posted by alex at
5:22 AM
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