:t:~~ia COMUNlTA' ITAUANA

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2 :t:~~ia COMUNlTA' ITAUANA ~ ~.~.", SAL A BANCHETTI e. Alla Villa Carlotta si mangia, si beve e si balla, in una sala prit-~atacapacedi ospitare 150persone. 4 voi la scelta dell'occasione dafesteggiare!! Contattare SigS. Roberts ,39 Charlotte Street wndon WlP lha 2 December 941Jallllury 95

3 :ij;~d.la COMUNlTA'ITALIANA Sommario - Contents Servizi Speciali L'Italia non condivide The Rock and the Roof The Fourth Tenor Dove inizia e finisce? The Young Criminal Londra-Roma in 10 ore My Lourdes Experience Letters A Terrible Crime Raleigh International Una Nuova Storia Regular Features Due Parole The Hill Cronaca Dall'Italia In Cammino con Carmelo For a Rainy Day Face to Face p. 5 p. 8 p. 8 p. 10 p.11 p.23 p.30 p.31 p.34 p.35 p.38 p. 4 p. 14 p. 18 p.25 p.26 p.39 p.40 DicembreIJanuary Quale done faremo noi? Drawing by Roberta Carbone Entertainment, Leisure & Sport Cinema p.41 Sportlight p.44 Italsport p.45 Seria "A" Fantasy Football p.46 AI.F.L. p. 46 Tempo Libero p. 49 Mamma's Ricetta p. 50 To advertise in Backhill write to: Anna Advertising Department Backhill Magazine 4 Back Hill London EC1 R 5EN Chiesa di San Pietro Calendario Noticeboard Dicembre 94/Gennaio 95 Notices - A vvisi p.27 p.51 p.52 Q 1994 BACKHILL, 136 Clerkenwell Road, LondonEC1 Printed by Sterling Printing Co. Ltd. 164 liigh Street, Bornet, JIerts, EN65XP 3

4 Due Parole tv1rajil- :if:.rivrsta DELLA COMUNITA'ITAUANA ' Padre Roberto Russo CariAmici, stiamo gia' eamminando nel I'Avvento: ei avviamo ad incontrare Gesu' nel Natale: veramente Gcsu' 10 abbiamo gia' incontrato.nella nostra vita. Infatti"con ii Ballesimo abbiamo la vita di.dio dentro di noi: con ii Ballesimo partccipiamo alia vita della Chicsa: sono pensieri molto forti: questi. Non siamo solo delle persone, siilmo anehe una societa': e la soci eta' non e' un mucchio di persone ehe sono accatastate come dei sacehi di patate; la societa' e' una unione.di singole persone concrete che hanno un cuorc, un'anima. un doiorc, un coraggio, insomma una vita da portare avanti: singolannente ed insieme. E queste singole persone siamo ognuno di noi: ehe portiamo avanti la nostra vita,personale e privata, e portiamo avanti la vita della ChicSa: perche' noi siamo la 'Chicsa, voluta da'dio, naia dalla 'morte e risurrezione di Gesu'. E cosi' Dio ci ha voluto nella sua chicsa: siamo tanti, ognuno con la propria vocazione fino ad arrivare ai Papa; e la Chicsa e' dove noi viviamo i Saeramenti di Gesu' e dove noi Ii melliamo in pratica nella vita di ogni giorno: noi melliamo in pratica i Saeramenti con la nostra vita person ale, perche' la nostra vita porta i doni della Sl'irito Santo: 10 Spirito di Dio ci' ha dato i suoi doni nel giorno del nostro Ballesimo: sono tanti e diversi i doni di Dio che portiarito nella nostra anime e che sono la nostra vita:,per questo.noi viviamo e viviamo insieme: perche' insieme risplendono tutti i doni cbe' Dio ci ha dato: ognuno porta i suoi: e insieme creiamo ii Regno di 010 che e' un Regno di pace,.verita', grazia. amore: quesia. e' la nostra vita di ogni giomo: e ognuno aluta I'altro. Siamo pcccatori, ma non ci fenniamo sui nostri pcccati: ab biamo i nostri dolori e i nostri problemi: sono la crace che noi port.iamo con. Gesu': la Croce di Gesu' e la nostrllcroce sono ii nostro cammino di morte e di risurrezione: ii cammino che crca la nostra Chicsa, ii cammino che ci prepara al nostro Natale; ii cammino della nostra preghiera, affinche' ii Signore \?.io, rispondendo alia nostra umile preghiera, ci possa aprire cuorc, mentc, anima, alia fede, cioe' a credere che noi portiamo i doni dello Spirito Santo e Ii portiamo per noi e per gli altri. E' grandiosa la nostra vita: non sciupiamola. Faceiamola rinascere ancora nel giomo del Natale di Gesu'; sara' anche ii nostro Natale. Sara'anche ilnostro Natale Advent Advent is here again. It's the same every yc.,r. And we are so used to it that it's c.'sy to let the significance of the season pass us by. Literally Advent mcans "the coming": for Christians, it is the coming of Christ. It's a time to look baek to his first coming and forward to his sceond. So it's a mixture of celebrating and gelling rc.,dy. The Old Testament voice that cried "Comfort. comfort my peoplel" also cried "Prepare the way for the LOrd." We certainly have something to celebrate. God's coming to our world in the person of Christ is a powerful sign that He has not given up on us. It all happened a long time ago, but it is a fhct (well documented) that is worth hanging on to in the chaotic; frightening world we live in. Advent is the beginning of the Church's yc.,r, so it is a good time to be making resolutions! And here are a few ideas: You and God If you don't do it alrc.,dy, spend a few minutes with God c.,ch day. Say a prayer. slowly and thoughtfully. Read. a part of the Christmas story, or reflcet on a particular word or phrase. For example, you might choose "Emmanuel" "God with us"' and let your mind and hc.,rt consider what it means for you. You and Your Family Sit down with your family and ask c.,ch member \vhat they sce as most important for a good Christmas. Areyou ready? "Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight in the wilderness a highway for our God", December 94/January 95

5 :tj;~flla COMUNITA'ITAUANA L'ltalia non, condivide Andrea Bonanni L'Italia non Sla facendo abbastanza per ridurre ii debilo pubblico e occorrono misure aggiuntive per ii risanamenlo deuc finanze deuo Stalo sccondo gli obicltivi coneordati Ira Roma e l'unionc europea al momenlo deua concessione del prcstilo comunitario. E qucsto I'ammonimenlo che viene da BruxeUes. dove ii commissario agli affari economici c finanziari, Henning Christophersen. ba prescntalo a novembre Ic previsioni economicbe aulunnali del I'csecutivo comunilario. Ma I'invilo rivolto al govemo ilaliano non dcve lrarrc in inganno: la relazionc di Cbristopbcrsen e' stata tulta ncl scgno deu oltimismo. La riprcsa economica. dicc la CommissiOllc. e' ormai un dalo di falto consolidalo. E grazie ad essa un buon numcro di paesi polrebbe arrivarc gia' ncl '96 a rispeltare i parametri di Maaslricbl per I'avvio dell'unionc monelaria, 0 quanlomeno ad avvicinarsi in modo significalivo. La prcsa di posizione deua Commissione c ii ricbiamo au'italia arrivana proprio ncl giomo in cui. scmprc a BruxeUcs. ii ministro degli Esleri Anlonio Manino sfida l'europa ccrcando di riaprire ii dibaltilo sull'unione monelaria c sui crileri di convergenza economica soltoscrilti dal nos Iro paese con ii traltalo di Maastricbt: crileri cbc Manino definiscc "arbilrari". L'idea che la convergenza deue economic sia un prercquisilo per I'unione monelaria. sosliene ii noslro minislro degli Esteri in un saggio lelto au'inslilul Royal dcs Relations Internalionales. "c' polilicamenle pericolosa cd economicamenlc fhuacc". e "porta aua divisionc deil'europa". L'approccio deciso dai Dodici a Maaslricbl, comunquc, scmprc sccondo Manino, "non sembra averc grandi probabilita' di portare ad una maneta comunc curopc<'l". Mai come in queslo momenlo, dunque, le filosofie deu'unione europea e quella degli esponenli del govemo italiano sono apparsc divergenii. NeUa sua rclazione, infalli, la Commissione punla sulla necessila' di approfiltarc della buona congiunlura economica per risanarc le finanze pubbliebe. migliorarc la Henning Christopherson convcrgenza delle economie e prcscnlarsi Cosi' con le carte in regola in visla delle scadenzc prcvisle per l'unione monelaria. "u messaggio cbe mandiamo a tulli e' ebiaro: applicale i programmi di convergenza. Per quanlo riguarda in parlicolare ii caso ilaliano g1i obieltivi proposli dal govemo sono inferiori alle noslrc previsioni. La differenza va eliminala e ii modo per raggiungerc queslo risullalo e' quello di inlrodurre misurc di bilaneio aggiunlive". ha dello Christopherscn. La lesi sostenula invece dal minislro degli Esteri italiano, e' che "la disciplina finanziaria e' innegabilmenle auspicabile di per c'.. ma riesce difficile comprcnderc per quale molivo la convergenza dovrebbe coslituirc una precondizione per la rcalizzazione della monela comune". Secondo Marlino;,"qualora continuassimo a perscguirc I'altuale slralegia basala su una graduale convergenza sccondo i paramelri di,maaslrichl. sara' improbabile raggiungere I'obiellivo di una monela unica europea", e si ollerra' I'unico risullalo di dividere l'ue "lra paesi "virtuosi", che sono riusciti a soddis... fare i crileri arbilrari di Maaslrichl, e gli allri paesi presumibilmenle inadalti ad csscre ammcssi al club esclusivo dei virtuosi". Quello che il minislro non dice. ma che invece la rclazione economica della Commissione spiallella in modo mollo chiaro, e' che I Ilalia. a meno di una radicale correzione di rolta, e' destinata a divenlare scmpre piu' ii fanalino di coda dell'europa. E ii "club esclusivo dei virtuosi" polrcbbe alia fine aprirsi a lulli 0 quasi lulli i membri dell'unione, lranno che au'italia e alia Grccia. U nostro deficil pubblico, oggi pari ai 9,6%del ProdollO Inlemo Lordo (pii), sccndera' solo di un punlo nel '95 e arrivera' ai 7.9% nel '96: ben ai di sopra del 3% stabililo a Maaslrichl. A parte la Grecia, lulli gli allri europei fanno mollo meglio di noi. La siluazione dell'indebilamenlo pubblico, poi, c' ancora peggiorc. L'Ilalia si prcscnla quest'anno con un debilo pari ai 123.7% del PiI, I'anno prossimo salira' al e nel '96 dobrcbbe loccarc ii 128.6%. Nel suo saggio su "u fuluro monelario deu Europa... Anlonio Martino non enlra in quesli deltagli. Lo scopo deua sua relazione e' dimostrarc la "fauaeila'" e I'arbilrariela' dei crileri di. Maaslrichl e spezzare una lancia in favorc di una "Costituzione monctaria" che sotlragga il govemo di una fulura mono ela unica alia banca cenlrale europea Slabilendo, per accordo inlergovernalivo. una scrie di paramelri prcdclerminali che la banca cenlrale dovra" seguire in modo vincolanle per un periodo di alcuni anni. Le previsioni per I'Italia.., Prodolto Inlerno Lordo Crcscita PiI (%) 2.4 3,0 3.2 Inflazione (%) 4,0 3,5 3.5 Disoecupazione (%) 11,8 11,1 10,4 Deficil (% PiI) 9, Bilancia pagamenli (% Pil) 2, ,9,..e queue per I'Europa (Deficil pubblico in % sui PiI) G. Bretagna Francia Germania Grecia Italia Portogallo Spagna da -11 Corriere dell. Sen, ,3 4, , ,1 13, , ,8 4,8 7, ,7 Dicembre 94/Gennaio 95 5

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8 -b~ " ~ "RIVISTA DELLA COMUNITA'ITALJANA Th'e Rock and the Roof Jo Giacon In the early 19th Century the potential benefactors who were prcvi-, Emancipation Act was passed in Eng- ously suspicious were now won over. land - the emancipation of the Catho-, The fund raising was no miracle 'but Iies,that is. Therefore in the 1850s sheer hard work. The Pallottine Fawhen Vineenzo Pallotti's close col- thers sought finances from as far league R3ffaelc Melia wanted. to, es- afield as Poland. t:lblish a church forjtalians in LOndon, New plans were drawn up ami it was vie\vcd' upon as: very;:ical 'building commenccd on"st. Peter's missionary work." Church of All Nations. Even the name was both, provocative and diplomatic. Provocative because St. Peter's could only denote a Catholic church; St. Peter's The danger isfrom above At first not all was well. There was still centuries old suspicion of the Catholics: so-called Papists \Vcre' not popular in England. More importantly, English Catholies were not comfortable with priests, from Rome. With all this to contend.with, it is not surprising that the original plans drawn up in the early 1850s for a 3000 plus seater church, '\vith 'a marble front, large piazza and upper gallery sc<1ting had to be scrapped and temporarily put to onc side whilst a miracle eame to hand and a way of funding the project could be found. The miracle came in the shape of C1rdinal Wiseman, primate of the Catholic church in England:He wel: corned Fr. Melia and his aide Fr. Faa' di Bruno and recognized a. need for a spiritual base for the growing Ilalian community. With his support many heir being the Pope. Diplomatic because the title Church of All Nations would not appear to exclude any part of the Catholic communii)' - though everyone knew it was primamy for the Italian community in whose heart it was built. Yet over the years it has also opened its doors to the Polish, Irish, Spanish and Chinese communities. 'Like all ground breaking ideas the building works went enormously over budget. So much so, that the size of the church had, to be curtailed clear evidence of this is that it is onc of. the few churches with no back entrance. With Fr. Meliainvolved in the dayto-day building works plans changed drastically. Sirnplieity gave way to something more expensive. But aftcr writs, I~w suits, and a various recriminations St: Peter's, ' was finafly mi~ opened in In the intervening years changes have taken,. place. The new SI. Joseph arid SI. Vincenzo altars were bijilt about, 30 years ago; carpeting was laid; a.new organ and choir- Some tiles grimly hangi,ng on but with holes appearing the evindence seems quite obvious loft added; the mosaic of Christ and t1ie Apostles on the front of the Church arranged. Memorials to the war dead and to those who perished on the Arandora Star erected. Redecoration has occurred intermittently throughout the years, most. recently in,the 1980s.. '., Yet esseniially for 130 years nothing has been, done,to the structure of the' Church. Nothing h3s had to be done - until now. Jesus referred to "the sensible man who built his'house on rock". Perhaps he did not say a house with no roof isrio house at all bccausc it was so obviousi But this is the problem that is facing St. Peter's. Numerous'surveyors have examined the roofs condition and all have stated that if it is not completely renovated in the next few years all or part of it will collapse. The reason for its condition is something that most of us,will 'come to terms with in our lives - old age. - When sitting in the church you will sce a flat ceiling. This ceiling is the floor for a triangular "loft". The roof itself is an inverted '''V'' shape. The original 1C<1d tiles were nailed onto strips of wood which were themselves attached to' the main battens. As you can imagine the tiles themselves have taken 'a considerable battering over the years. Winters can be unkind to roofs. But this is not the primary problem. The mairi trouble is that the nails attaching the tiles to the 8 December 94/Jdnuary 95

9 -btv1raj/i-. -P.. RlVISTA DELLA COMUNITA'ITAIJANA battens (and therefore keeping them in plaee) arc quite simply rusting. Good going for 130 years, certainly but nevertheless action must be taken. Look in the church today and you will sce clear enough evidence of the paint peeling. This is where tiles have slipped out of position and the rain has found its way to the ceiling. Under the supervision of the surveyor of the Diocese of Westminster, the plan is to strip the entire roof (which of course includes the Youth Club and the Social Club), rebatten the roof, place a layer of felt (which does not currently exist), examine the quality of the tiles and relay them or replace them where necessary. All this work will be done under the supcrvision of the Lead Development Council and, since St. Peter's is a listed building, there" is a legal obligation to satisty English Heritage. Though this may sccm a daunting task it is, if done carefully and sensible, only a question of hard The Fourth Tenor work. There is, however, the question of a miracle. All this costs moneyl The roof has to be renovated and then' the interiol" has to'be redecorated. Fees have to be paid and building.costs met ~ an estimated 150,000 in total.. St. Peter's Italian Church was origi~ nally built for the Italian Community by money from' 31 most. all over world, Despite the its Part ofthe roofthat covers the cuppola where tile are age it seems that the beginning to slip out ofplace Italian Church is still needed and used Please send any donations to: today. However, now the church be- St.Peter's Italian Church longs to the Italian Communily and it RoofRenovation Fund is for us to save her. 4 Back Hill London, ECIR 5EN RegSuter.' '.' In my last article I wrote about a pcrformance of La Boheme that I had seen at La Scala, In particular I praised the performance of both Mirella Freni and the young tenor Roberto Alagna. My impression has been co!illrmed by the recent PCr7 formanccs of Goundod's Romco et Juliette at the Royal Opcra' House, here in London. For many years'now the famous three, Jose Carreras, Placido Domingo and Luciano Pavarotti have ruled the roost. At last another tenor has arrived to challenge their supremacy. His name? Robcrto Alagna: Having now heard him twice at La Scala, Alfredo in Verdi's La Traviata and Rodolfo in Puccini's La Bcheme and now twice at the Royal Opcra Hose, Rodolfo again and now, as I write, appc.1ring as.romeo in Gounod's opera, Romeo et Juliette; I am more than convinced. that. he is the natural successor, particularly to Pavarotti. We have bccn.\vaiting a Jong time for the emergence of another tenor to stand beside the three and now, at last, in.roberto Alagna we have a tenor.who.has steppcd out from their'" shadows to.take his place alongside. From' now on we' are able to refer to "The Four Tenors"f As Romco it would be impossible to imagine any other tenor who looks and sounds so young. He has a beautiful Iyrie voice that he uses with considerable artistic maturily, employing all the dynamie shading and colour that is. the hallmark of the great singers. At the top of the'range The challenge to the ruler? the voice,is full and ringing, (what you lialians refer to as 'squillo'.). Also. he is not afraid to sing with a beautiful inezz:i. voce. I have to go back to the de~.ui, of Pavaiotti as Rodolfo at the Royal Opera House in 1963, to recall being so impressed with a lyric voice. The only danger that I can sce is that he \\ill be offered cvery tenor role in the popular repertoire and it would be a great shamc if he were not to stay with the lyric rcpertory for another ten years. Let us hear him'in roles such as the Duke in Rigoletto, Edgardo in Lucia di Lammermoor" Nemorino in L'Elisir d'amorc, Oronte in I Lombardi etc. Let Aida, Ballo, Trovatore, Tosca wait a while, Ihey will always be therel We have Seen many young singers tempted by money or glamour into singing the wrong roles too early. Alfrcdo Kraus is still singing loday because he has deliberately kept to a restricted repertoire, he is now reaping the benefit. Still singing when many of his conlemporaries have been forgotten. 1. look forward hopefully to hearing Roberto many times in the future. For any of you wishing for an example of his singing I suggest lhat a very fine Christmas present would be the recording of La Traviata from la Scala with Alagna as Alfredo. The conductor is Riccardo Muti and I can recommend the vidco 10 all overs of opera. Dicembre94/Gennaio 9S 9

10 -b~ " '.,J::> 'RIVISTA DF.LLA COMUNlTA' ITAUANA Dove,inizia e finisce? PietroMolle Un anno fa, avevamo fallo pervenire al Ministero delle Finanze una nota con la quale si evidenziavano alcuni dei problemi incontrati dai nostri connazionali residenti all'estero per quanto riguarda. sia le; dichiarazioni ai fini1:irpef e ICI' che ii pagarilento di queste due imposte. In questa occasione vorrei ricordare ai nostri lellori' alcune delle cose ehe erano state delle allora e, riproporle, sperando nel dello "if at first you don't succeed, try and try and try and try... later".. C'e' da riconosccrc che alcune difficolta' incontrate 10 scorso anno sono state superate, come per esempio I'obbligo di allegare ' alia dichiarazione ii , Mod. 201 oppure le riccvute dei pagamenti che dovevano cssere elfelluate entro il mese di giugno. E: questo un fallo positivocbe pero' non elimina le sanzioni previste dalla. normativa per gli errori commcssi' nel pass.1lo. ' Nella maggioranza dei casi infalli, i cilladini residenti all 'estero hanno commesso errori ed irregolarita" non percbe' volevano fare i.furbi, ma per difficolia' oggelliye e per genuina ignoranza della specifica nomativa. Inolire, ii ciltadino ilaliano residente in Gran Bretagna paragona e si adegua al sistema di questo Pacsc dove non esiste la prassi dell'autodicbiarazione: ii Comune invia al contribuente I'importo dovuto in tempo utile mentre trallandosi di irregolarita' venute a galla durante i conlrolli da parte del, fisco, una voila acccrtatane la' mancanza di dolo, viene cbiesto,all'interessato quanto dovulo maggiorato degli inlercssi. Del resto, la drastica azione di coscienle evasione da parte del cittadino residente all'esteronon e' fheilme!1te giustificabile se si i>ensa al modesto importo de1'tributo dovuto. Per questo,,e' necessario' che ii Govemo con~ I'amnislia completa. per gli errori di' forma commcssi in passato e la eliminazione delle mulle dovute sia per. i ritardi nei pagamenti cbe per precedenti' errori di sostanza, scoperti 'anehe in fase di eontrollo, nei casi' in cui ii compctente ufficio fiscale acccrti' la buona fede del,contribuente. E' necessario, inollrc estendere I'applicabilita' delle norme della legge 75/93 anche ai fini IRPEF la' dove riconoscono come abitazione principale, I'unica casa a disposizione cbe ii connazionale resident': all'estero possicde in Italia. Le 'recenti scadenze 'dei pagamenli delle imposte ci 'fanno ricordare ancora la difficolla' grande riseontrata dai connazionali ai, memento del pagamento sia dell'lrpef cbe delnc/.. 11 pagamento del sccondo acconto IRPEF imdava fallo entro il' 30 novembre scorso e stando alia 'normativa 31luale, poteva essere effettuato tramitc Bonijico Bancario intestato alia scde centrale di una banca italiana. L'ICI, l'lmposta Comunale Immo" biliare, deve invecc essere pagalo dal primo al venti dicembre. Vi ricordo cbe licr ii pagamento di questa imposta erano stale impartite delle regole precise,verso la fine dello scorso anno cbe prevcdevano due tipi di versamenti: Bonijico bancario da versare in favore del Consorzio Nazionale tra i Conccssonari del Servizio di riscossione. prcsso la scde ccntrale della Banca di Roma 0 Vaglia pos/ale in/ernazionale in favore dello' stcsso Consorzio localizzato prcsso l'ulfccio P.T.' di Roma- EUR Inollre, ii contribuente dovcva inviare, per raccomandata, al Consonio Nazionale tra i 'Coneessionari del' Servizio' di r;'scossione, eopia dellariccvuta del paga- mento ed ii modello di bollellino dcbitamente compilato. ' Ci giunge ora la notizia che queste regole non sono state rhtnovate per i pagamenli di quest'anno.e quindi I'unico modo per poter pagare.questa imposta e' quello di rccarsi in ltalia cd effelluare ii pagamento di quanto dovuto direttamente, al conccssionario del comune in cui e' situaio I'immobile.. Nei casi in cui si hanno piu' immobili in diversi comuni e' necessario rccarsi in ogni comune, fare la coda tipica italiana cbe non si sa mai dove 'inizia e dove finiscc; 'e 'sperare nella buona sorte. E' questo un comportamento non acccttabile da parte di un govemo ebe da umi,parte melle ii contribuenle residente all'estero nella impossibilita' di elfelluare :i1 pagamento e dall'allo strombctta su tulli 'i versanti la guerra alia cvasione. Ma 'ammcsso che, come, si suol farc; ii Ministero decide all'ullijria ora di rinnovare le normi di pagamcnto in vigore 10 scorso anno, sin da ora ribadiamo cbe i predelli tipi di versamento sono estremamente onerosi per ii contribuente residente all'estero e in molli casi ii costo'delle opernzioni bancarie (tassa di spedizione, tassa di cambio, cambio maggiorato) aggiunto a quello delle spesc postali (costo delle raceomandate) e' superiore al I'importo dovuto al Fisco ed ai Comuni. " Per questo riproponiamo le seguenti richieste: I. riconoscimento di tulle le spcse relative al versamento, quale onere detraibile nella' misura del 100% sia dall'lrpef cbe d.,ii'ici; oppure 2. possibilita" di versare tulle e due le imposte (IRPEF cd ICI) ad un ente bancnrio operante a Londra cbe, opportunamente. convcnzionato, non ehicde al contribuente ii pagamento delle spesc,bancarie. 3. in ogni caso, e' necessario portare il Iimite di esonero dal pagamento 'delle imposte da Lire (IRPEF) e da Lire (ICI) ad almeno Lire Questa proposta non tende ad ell':nere nuovi, privilegi per gli emigrati masolo 'i1 dirillo di non essere discriminati 'ncl confronti del 'contribiiente residentc in Italia. 10 December 94/January 95'

11 :1f:.~FlLA COMlJN1TA'rrAUANA YDung Criminals SirJohn Smith This month we begin a series of extracts from a speech given recently entitled "Young Criminals - are they born or made? How far can we predict and prevent the development of juvenile crime" given by Sir John Smith, Deputy Commissioner of the Metropolitan Police. Recent evidence suggests that more of our young people arc turning to erime at an earlier age. Many of the crimes are drug-related and often involve the use of knives or, even occasionally, firearms. Though these children arc presently in a very small minority, I am very distressed by the developing. trend. The US Picture What eaused me to focus on this problem was an incident that happened when I was in Ameriea recently. I found the story shocking and its implieations very worrying. One Sunday night in August, 14 year-old Shavon Dean was running an errand near her home in Chicago's sough side when she was shot in the head. She died almost instantly. Another teenager, Sammy, was playing football nearby. He fell to the ground when he felt a bullet enter his hand. The shots had been fired from close range by ll-year-old Robert Sandifer, armed with a semi-automatic weapon. He was on a mission of gang revenge when he mistakenly killed young Shavon and injured Sammy. It is likely he shot his victim from such close range to colleet points and gain rank within his gang. "Yummy" as Robert Sandifer was know, because of his love of chocolate bars and biseuits, spent the next three days on the run being shullled from house to house by fellow teenage gang members. Before he could give himself up - which he had intended to do - they took him out of town. His body was found lying in the mud in a railway underpass with two bullet wounds in the back of his head. '''Yuminy's'' notoriety had made him a liability to his gang, so Ihey got rid of him. His funeral in mid-september attracted mothers illld cider brothers bringing little children to view the small corpse and 'teddy bear lying in their.coffin. They hoped the sight might haunt the children long enough to keep them safe. But few mourned "Yummy'" Sandifer. According to a local shop keeper he had always been in trouble:"he stood there on the corner", he said '''and strong-armed other kids. No onc is sorry to sec him gone". Though onc of the more harrowing, this event was not unique in America or even in Chicago during that week at the end of August - nor is it in any other week. Every two hours an American child is killed by a bullet. Homicide victims and killers are gelling younger eaeh year. The 'Justice Department talks of "a crisis of violence by and against juveniles". More and more American children are now A liability disposed of involved in violent acts -' they are.killing and being killed in record 'numbers. The' trend has been developing over the last decade. Since 1981, hon*ide arrests of juveniles in metropolitan areas have tripled and, overall, violent crimes committed by juveniles in America have shown a 47% increase in the last ten years. Figures for younger children show the same gro\\th: arrests of children younger than ten for violent crimes have jumpcd50% over the same 10 year period. Wcapons are now being confiscated in significant numbers in American schools. Some are employing security guards to keep students moving in school corridors and to prevent loitering, Pupils must produce ID cards on demand. Schools in the urban districts of New York, Atlanta, Chicago, Los Angeles and Washington are scanning pupils for fireanns each morning. A Family Division Judge commented Kids kill because somcone looked at them the wrong way or someone told them to shoot - and they did". There is growing pressure on American courts to try some juvenile offenders as young as 14 in adult courts. And the US now has more young people in jail than ever before, Many of these young offenders belong to urban gangs. Gang leaders called "ministers" - usually in their 30s and 40s - recruit children to use as drug runners and hit-men because they are too young to be seriously punished if caught. Homicides resultinb from gang activity have increased sixfold in the four ycars to 1993 in Phoenix, Arizona and the city has now introduced a nightly curfew for teenagers. Of course I am not saying that these matters dominate all life on the other side of the Atlantic or that they affeet every citizen. But they are happening and American people are aware of them. I do not wish to be alarmist but I believe it is possible to sec similar, albeit slowly.~ng, trends to those already present in the United States starting to develop in the UK, even though the so-called gun cullure and re.1dy availability of firearms does not exist here. Continued next issue Dicembre 94/Gennaio 95 11

12 -b~,;j;> RIVISrA DELLA COMUNrrA' ITALIANA THE GARTHHOTEL BANQUETING & CONFERENCE SUITES The hotel has two new purpose built conference al'ld banqueting suites capable ofaccommodating up to 300 people. Each suite IS elegantly furnished and equipped to the highest standards with purpose built bars, full audio visual and lighting facilities, which help to provide the atmosphere for any occasion. A selection ofmenus are available for banquets with an emphasis on Italian cuisine. For more information or a brochure pack please contact Mr Marino at the Hotel. G~" GARTHHOTEL Ikndon W,y' Cri,klcwood' London NW2 2NL RESERVATIONS 081., December 941JuIIlIUry 95

13 Oggetti Religi'osi Potete trovare tutti gli oggetti religiosi per: Prima Comunione, Cresima, Matrimoni, Benedizione del Papa; Rosari,Bibbie, Statue, it Nuovo Catechismo delta Chiesa Cattolica, quadri, ecc... bomboniere tulle confetti fiori BOMBONIERE NELLA PIU' SELLA TRADIZIONE ITALIANA Claudia Simioni, ~ 77 Pine Walk ~ Carshalton Beeches Surrey SMS 4HA Tcl: Melis Interior Designs SJI('('ialisl Curtain Mahr Modern & Antique Upholsh'ry allll R('pai,'s SHOWROOM: 2\ IIigh Su>'" Wahhl1ln Cro,,, lierts ENB 7AA Tel \ 114 Fax COllfeziolle e Posa ill Onera: TCIidaggi. Tappezzeri~. Tende Vertieali. CopriIetti. Trapunte. Rieopertura e Restauro di Salotli e Sedic. Vasto Assortimento di Tessuti e Parati Coordinati.. Interpellated! L'lvorazionc Arligianalc Italiana IJt~r1umfo Som:HlillO ~.t:4.x Dicelllbre 941Gennaio 95 13

14 The Hill -b~..p RlVISl'A DEIU COMUNITA'ITALlANA Olive Besagni France.!!co Luigi Lurati Final Episode Well dear readers, Christmas is almost upon us, and I'm sure' that most of my generation will be enjoying time spent with families and grand children. I hope 'like myself that you. have discovered the joy of growing older and wiser together. When in the years gone by you viewed the dreaded approaching milestones ('God I'll be thirty on my next birthday'), with apprehension, you would go the mirror, scan your face for the signs ofthe ravages of time, breathe a sigh.of relief, nothing yet. You may be wondering what I' am going on about! I just want to share with you the knowledge that cach passing decade is as wonderful as the last. Merry Xmas & A Happy New Year to you all. At the conclusion of last months article we left Giuseppe, Franccsco's fhthcr, in France where during the Great'War his artistry was put to use painting the epitaphs on the crosses of the fallen. With the war behind him he returned home, to his wife and thrce little girls, Agnese, Teresa and Margherita. His parents celebrated the annistice with the birth of Franccsco, our story teller. I leave the rest to him. "My father as an artist, self taught by regular visits to the library in Holloway Road, mastered water-<:olours, oil-painting, tempcra (colours mixed with the white of an egg) portraits, etching, lithography, wood carving, fresco (painting on fresh plaster as in the 'Capclla Sistina', almost every aspect of art. My father although born here in England, was ardently drawn towards Italy, cradle of his religion and his art. He encouraged me to learn a poem. I recall the first stanzas: L'csula colla, lontano sui orizzontc Ovc, tingendo di Rosa ii Monte, Pur ora ii sole nel mar disccse Et il mio Paese VornS pos,1nni coll'aura molle Sui primi fiori del natio colic Baciar con dolce 'malinconia La TerraMia IJ tempio e I'ara ove primiera Feci al Signore la prima pregwera,,e' come puro raggio de stella I'almit era bella In our garden in Beresford Road, Highbury Papa built a swing decorated with trellis,work and a seesaw, although, the street was the great attraction with all the other boys and girls - and the games: skipping, cricket, football, whipping-tops, spinning tops, tin- can- copper, five sticks, marbles, conkers,,jimmy, Jimmy naeko.. various games played with cigarette cards - all had their seasons.. I Went to Italy for the first time in 1929, With the Colonic Estive. The faseio at that time, was at 98 Gt Russell St, by the' British Museum. We lined up outside in the road and marched to Victoria Station to entrain at hours. My father and some of my sisters, with other 'families, came along. I was particularly glad of this because Papa' carried my "zaino" Francesco on his wedding day (rucksack).. We were two nights and three days on the train. The train chugged through Belgium, France, Germany and Switzerland, picking up boys and girls from the various towns. The train became longer and,1,onger: engines at front, centre and back. Between the carriages there were observation platforms, open, like verandas, so that onc could feel part of the countryside. At around hours, on the second morning wc arrived at Chiasso. The sun was not up, it was a cold, grey and misty morning. In a daze I heard "Lurati" being called up and down the platfonn. I peered out of the window and became aware of a crowd of people calling for ME! Upwards of fifty relatives: Pap's Zio Eugemio, 81 years old, down to Cugino Flaviano, 4 years old, in a black velvet suit with a frilly blouse: Cugino Giulio, ten years my sen- 14 December 94/January 95

15 :1f:.~FJLA COMUNtTA'ITAlJANA During the Procession ior, lined me down from the high 'carriage window as the doors were locked. I was shivering, half awake: Non hai qualehecosa calda da: metterti?" Of course" I had been well fitted out but had not thought of putting on the thick grey 'woollen pullover that nestled in my "zaino". Giulio called for my "za ino"- and.discovered my pullover, meanwhile these wonderful people plied me with gifts, chocolate, cakes, uva, peaches, pere... I handed them up to my companions hi the carriage and was taken to the station buffet where I was given warm goat's milk, the goats having just come down from the farm. I remember the great marble halls of "La Stazione di Milano" where we were all welcomed with a colazione of caffelatte etc. and divided into groups, to be sent to various mountain or sea resorts. I still have one of my arm bands which we wore during our stay, I was nine years old, I wept many tears of homesickness during those first days, but the warmth of hospitality and sun soon dispersed,these tears. My first memories of my Palria,L'Alabandiera with a prayer each morning, and the ensuing 8 weeks of a wonderful holiday are,indelibly etcheq' forever 'in my memory. This was the first of many such holidays with the Fascio (A fact which sealed my fate during the last war). When I arrived home, I was greeted 'with "We have a surprise for you!" "What is it?". '''Something live'" - tt', A rabbit" _ ' 'Where is it?" - "Upstairs". I went up to my parents bedroom and, there, at last, was a brother Eugenio!. So ignorant?... rather so innocent we were in those days that this was the first that I knew of what was happening. Prior to this in 1926, my bed was by the side of my parents'; One night I was aware of a bit of a stir and'my bed was moved to the far corner of the rooin, behind the washstand - In Ihe morning I awoke to find that Maria had joined our happy band, on the 2nd February Candlemas Day. In 1945 I just skipped,"all fools day" and married Delfina Maria Rossolti on the 2nd April she had waited for me - I don'i'know why throughout the four years of my internment - we are still living Happy Ever After". Francesco, Lurati... thank you....,, We wish all our readers a Very Merry Christmas Dicembre941Gennaio 95 15

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17 It, ITALIAN RESTAURi\NT' 150 Southampton Row London WCl 'U /5837 Open 11.30am until 11pill..,. WE WELCOME WEDDINGS, BANQUETS AND PARTIES IN OUR COMPLETELY REFURBISHED DOWNSTAIRS RESTAURANT SilNDWICH BiIR I FORSilLE SMALL WELL SITUATED AND ESTABLISHED BUSINESS IN THE CITY OF LONDONNEAR THE BANK STATION WITH A GOOD TURNOVER. THIS EASILY RUN, RECENTLY REFURBISHED BAR WOULD IDEALLY SUIT A SMALL FAMILY. FOR FURTHER DETAILS AND APPOINTMENTSTO VIEW PLEASE PHONE: (Daytime) (Evenings) PLEASENO AGENTS Dicembre9,4/Gen1!aio 95 STUDIO PARIS PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO A Personal& Friendly Service for Your Wedding Day Colour, Black & W1Ilte and Hand-Tinted Photographs presented in Hand Made Italian Leather Albums. OtherServicesAlso Available: Two Camera Video. Commercial, SOCial & P.R. 17

18 Cronaca -b~ ~. RMSI'A DELLA COMUNITA' ITALIANA attivita' della comunita' Association of.the BritishItalian Pensioners Allravcrso un accordo con 1'1 NAS, ii Sindacato Pcnsionati ltaliani ha dcciso di CSSCrc operativo sui tcrritorio italiano c su qucllo inglese. Si c' quindi formata l'abip'con ii Cav. Biasi alia Prcsidcnza c MrGiimni!)earpa.comc 'Scgrcatrio 'Nazionalc FNP-CISL-UK. Qucsta Assoeiazionc'vuolc csscrc I'appoggio moralcdcll'anziano c ncllo stcsso tcmpo difcndcrc i suoi dirilli. 11 Scgrctario Scarpa ha affcrmato' chc i governi devono considerarc i pensionati come i cittadini che piu' di tutti hanno contribuito alia cassa. della Stato, costruendo quel bencssere di eui la Societa' alluale gode quotidianamente. L'Anziano, ha continuato ii Segretario Scarpa, e' un elemento vivo e operante in tutti i sellori della Societa': ed e' determinante nella vita della Societa' con ii patrimonio di csperienza e di profcssionalita', mcsso a disposizione delle nuove generazioni. L'ABIP ha fallo sentire subito la sua prcsenza conereta con la protcsta dei pensionati iialiani, rcsidenti in Inghilterra, comtro i tagli alle,pensioni proposti dal Governo. L3 protcsta c' stata organizzata venerdi' 14 ollobre 1994.in coneom~tmiza alla'.sciopero generale dituttc le ciltegorie, in Italia. Iiisieme allo.~iopero generale in Italia del 19 novembre, si svolgeranno qui altre manifetazioni di protcsta. L.'ABIP difende la dignita' dei nostri pensionati. Dalla sinistra: Sig. Scarpa, segretario Generale FNP-CISL; Sig. Rapa. Direttore INAS; Jack Jones,del Trade Union NEP; Comm. LonginoW; Cav. Biasi dellamaie; Sig. Spaczinski del. DSS; e C,:,mm. Rizzi Foto: Salvatore Mancuso [Catholic WoDi.en Association) Sabato 22 ollobre vi e' stata la solita fcsta delle C.W:k. Quando dico la solita fcsta" intendo.dire che.lo spirito di queste nostre Signore non tramonta inai. Non conoscono' la fatica, e, con ii passare degli amii, diventano sempre piu' pimpanti. La fcsta e" stata un succcsso sotto tulli i punti di vista: quello che a me piacc di piu'," e' la gente ehe si diverte e si rasserena e si uniscc nell'amicizia, con la bencdizione di Dio. [ An Outing with Don Carmclo ) On Saturday 29th October, Don Carmelo and friends went for an outing at Villa Scalabrini. A convoy of cars len the Italian chureh and trailed up the AI. As we,arrived,we were greeted by Padre Vico. We had a get-together filled with' talks and discussions.follo\vcd by a Buon Appetito lunch cooked by our very own ChefVincc. The group socialised.,and, dcispite "the rain outside, turn'cd the day into an memorable'family event. We hope to organise another,outing in the near future:.. ' - Foto: P. Russo 18 December 9-1IJanllary 95

19 [ Bruno BergOlliied Amici 11 nostro caro Bruno Bcrgonzi ha organizzato una festa per sostcncre i lavori che si fanno ncl Club. E' un vero arnico ed e'stalo aiutato da altri earl amici: tutti banno contribuito con entusiasmo e diverti" mcnto. Grazie, cari Amici, 'non' solo pc r I a ' somma rac. colla, ina anchc' perehe' avete sapulo creare fra di noi un arnbicntc di scrcnita' e', di festa, ncl nome dcr Signore. ) Viola Club: Mareello Maneini, Presidenle; Poolo Biscioni, Consigliere; Kevin Tempeslini. Viee-Presidenle;' MassilllO Cregul, Tesoriere. Folo: Dennis Ralllsey [ Catholic Police Guild ) 1.-_--_--.:.'---- On Wednesday 9 November the annual solemn requiem mass for all deceased Police Officers' in the United Kingdom took place at Westminster Cathedral. In the photograph we sce Fr. Carmeto \\lth Conor Dunne, a parishioner at SI. Peter's, and a senior Police officer,,[' 'Viola Club ) Oggi, 2? ollobrc 1994, qui a Londra si c' dato formalmcnte \., --''-...:...,..;.;:--' '-'-'--,--'--'... ii via alia costituzionc dcl primo Viola Club per I'lnghillcrra grazie all'idea di due fiorentini residenli nclla capitatc britannica, Kevin Tcmpcstini e MarceIlo Mancini, 'c ealorosamcnte sostcnuta da allri tifosi dcl)a Fiorenlina in gran partc attivi nel.cenlro finanziario della City. Questa fondazione vuole rapprescntare la palpitante cert= di vedcre quanto prima la Fiorenlina di nuovo protagonista nelle coppe curopce. Nella riunione con i soci fondatori sono state decisc le cariche sociali ehc saranno operative appena espletatc le formalita' previstc. il Presidente sara' ii Sig. Marcello Mancini, Vice-Presidcnte ii Sig. Kevin Tcmpcstini, Scgrctario ii Sig. Carlo Posarelli e Tesoricre ii Sigo" Massimo Cregul. 'La scdc sociatc c' loealizzata prcsso ii prestigioso albergo Hyde park Hotcl per gentilc concessionc dcl suo fiorcntinissimo Dircllorc Paolo Biscioni nco-consiglicre del Viola Club Londra. La cerimonia di inaugurazione e' prevista per la sceonda meta' di novembre all'auspicata prescnza dcl Console Generale, DOll. Luca Brofferio, socio onorario, nonche' di esponenli della Socicta' Calcio Fiorentina e con ii patrocinio dclla Cassa di Risparmio di Firenzc. A mille miglia da Fircnze un allro Viola Club si unisce ai numerosi gia~ esistenti ovunque per incitarc appassionatamcntc la Squadra: Alc' Viola!lI Foto: Robin Ilumphreys Dieembre 94/Gimnaio ~.'.

20 Cronaca continua da pagina 19 ( Mazzini-Garibaldi Dinner & Dance This memorable and important annual event took place in the deluxe setting to the Napoleon Suite at the Cafe' Royal on the evening of the 12 November There was a large gathering of members and friends who combined the youth and experience of the' club and its present membership. The 'guest of honour was,dott. Luea BrolTerio, the Italian Consul General who attended with his lady wife, Manucla and other special guests were Lord Charles Forte, the Patron of the Club with Lady Irenc also in attendance: the 'Club's Hon. President Comm. Lino,Quaradeghini'and wife lole, with Mrs 'Tcresa Preston, Mr Brett McLean and MrScrgio,Viggiani and his daughtcr Franccsea adorning the top table with Padre RObCrto Russo of St.Pcter's Italian Church and Padre GiaJldomenico of the Sealabrini Centre. A splendid meal WaS accompal)ied by delightful 'music performed by Caludio Allodi and his orehestra and the Club,President Gino'Bastiani"who attended with his wife Rita, Welcomed the guests with a review'of the past years' event,and a focus of'the future. "" ", Dott.Luea BrOlTerio made an impressive speech on behalf of the guests during which he announced the launch of the "Mazzini-Garibaldi Club Flood, Appeal'" which has been set up with the Istituto Baneario San Paolo Di Torino, Wren House, 15 Carter, Lane, Londn, EC4V SSP for the victims of the flood disaster which has swept through Italy in! recent weeks. The :Vice-President of the Club, Avvocato John Zani who attended with his wife Cinthia, supplemented the, Consul's speech by 'expanding on the flood tragedy and by encouraging people who were in attendance not to forgeuhose less fortunate than thcmselves. During the course of the evening 4,600 was raised' for the, fund' from generous donations to the Auction. The Committee wish to thank all of those who supported the Appeal so generously. Particular thanks go to Lord Charles Forte, Mr Brett McLean and Mrs Teresa Preston in their generosity in relation thereto. It was a truly memorable evening for those who attended and a happy cordial atlllosphere was created,and enjoyed by all who stayed dancing through to the early hours. ' For those who wish to donate to the FloodAppeal please contact: Isiluto Btlncario SanPaolo Di Torino. Wren House. 15 Carter Lane. London. EC4V5SP Tel: / ', Account no / Allproceeds will be going to the Italian Red Cross and the appeal will be closed at the end ofdecember '/994. l Abovefrom leflto right: Lord Forte, Sig.ra Bastiani, Doll. Brofferio. Gino Bastiani (president). Sig.ra BroJferio and John Zani (Vice-President). Right: Guests ofhonour -.foto: Salvalore Mancuso 20 December 94/January 95