So running a business in a recession is hard enough right? Well imagine running a business and having to pay out some of your hard earned cash in the form of “protection money” (pizzo) or risk having your business burned to the ground. Unfortunately this is the reality of business in many parts of southern Italy. However this tragic situation is changing. 2004 saw the foundation of the “Addiopizzo” (goodbye pizzo) movement, a grassroots attempt by ordinary members of the public to stand up and shake off the shackles of the mafia.
The message that jump started this campaign went like this:
“ Un intero popolo che paga il pizzo, e’ un popolo senza dignita’”
A whole people who pays the pizzo is a people without dignity
If you have an interest in Italy I encourage you to visit this site ( don’t worry its in English) to learn a bit more about this underhand, shameful practice and fuels criminality in Italy.
http://www.addiopizzo.org/english.asp
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