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Morti Bianche: "Veleni dal cielo"
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Workplace Deaths: "Poison from the heavens"
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Riporto una testimonianza dal libro "Morti Bianche " di Samanta Di Persio disponibile sul blog a prezzo libero.
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Here is a story drawn from the book written by Samanta Di Persio, entitled "Morti Bianche" (Workplace Deaths) and available on the blog free of charge.
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"Quando ho perso il mio papà avevo 20 anni, mio fratello più piccolo 17 e il maggiore 23.
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"I was twenty years old when I lost my father. My youngest brother was 17 at the time and my eldest brother was 23.
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Non si è mai pronti alla scomparsa di un genitore, specie quando si è giovani e soprattutto quando la persona cara viene a mancare in modo violento.
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No one is every prepared for the loss of a parent, especially when you’re still young and above all when the person dies in a violent manner.
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Domenico Bonan, mio padre, è morto dopo nove mesi dalla scoperta di un tumore ai polmoni.
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My father, Domenico Bonan, died only nine months after the doctors discovered a tumour in his lung.
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A ottobre del 1999, a seguito di una tosse che gli toglieva il respiro, siamo andati da un medico pensando fosse una banale bronchite, ma scoprimmo la tragica notizia del cancro.
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In October 1999, after suffering a bout of coughing that had left him breathless, we went to see a doctor, thinking that the problem was merely a bout of bronchitis, however, we were given the terrible news that he had cancer.
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Gli furono diagnosticati tre mesi di vita, ma se avesse accettato di fare la chemioterapia il dolore sarebbe stato meno acuto e avrebbe vissuto un po’ più a lungo.
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He was told that he had three months left to live, but if he was prepared to undergo chemotherapy treatment, the pain would have been more bearable and he could even have lived for a little longer.
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La posizione del cancro fra i due polmoni non permetteva un intervento chirurgico.
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The location of the cancer, which lay between his lungs, meant that it was inoperable.
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Riuscirono a tenerlo in vita altri sei mesi.
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They managed to keep him alive for another six months.
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A luglio del 2000 ci lasciò, all’età di 56 anni.
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In July 2000, he left us at the age of 56 years.
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Dalla scoperta del cancro fulminante al decesso, tra i miei genitori e noi figli non ci sono stati particolari confronti su ciò che si stava vivendo.
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From the time that the fulminating cancer was discovered, to the moment of his death, there was no discussion held between we children and our parents regarding what my father was going through.
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Bastavano gli sguardi.
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The glances were enough.
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Questo era frutto anche del nostro carattere alquanto schivo e riservato, ma soprattutto per non aggravare lo stato di "serenità" familiare.
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One of the reasons for this was our character, which is somewhat private and reserved, but the subject was also avoided in order to avoid disturbing the family’s "peace of mind".
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Eravamo consapevoli di quanto ci stava succedendo e altresì che stavamo facendo tutto quello che si potesse fare.
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We were well aware of what was happening to us as a family, just as we were aware that we were doing everything that could be done.
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Non nascondo, eravamo speranzosi che si trattasse solo di un incubo.
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I must also admit that we were hoping that this would turn out to be nothing more than a terrible nightmare.
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Mio padre ha lavorato quasi trent’anni presso la Tricom, nel reparto di cromatura.
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For almost thirty years, my father had worked in the chrome-plating department of a company called Tricom.
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Prima di lui sono deceduti altri colleghi, una ventina.
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A number of his colleagues, around twenty of them, had died before him.
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Avevano cominciato tutti allo stesso modo, un po’ di tosse, sangue dal naso.
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Their ailments had all begun in the same manner, namely, some coughing followed by bleeding from the nose.
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Ma mio padre pensava di salvarsi in tempo.
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My father thought that he could still get out of there in time.
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Non faceva altro che ripetere: "Non vedo l’ora di andare in pensione!".Era convinto che andando via da quel posto sarebbe stato salvo.
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All he would say was:" I can’t wait to go on pension!" He was convinced that by leaving that place he would be safe.
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Però le cose sono andate diversamente.
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However, that was not to be.
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Mio padre amava il lavoro, trovava sempre qualcosa da fare.
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My father loved to keep busy and he always found something to do in order to keep himself occupied.
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Se potessi rimproverargli qualcosa vorrei dirgli che avrebbe dovuto trascorrere più tempo con noi figli.
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If I were to blame him for anything in particular it would be that he should have spent more time with us children.
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Dal giorno in cui è morto, ho preso la decisione di capire cosa c’era dentro quella fabbrica.
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On the day he died, I made a conscious decision to try to find out what went on in that factory.
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C’erano troppi segnali che inducevano a pensare "Qualcosa non va".
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There were far too many evident signs that would lead one to think that: "Something is wrong there".
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Anche per il paese in cui vivo, la morte di mio padre per cancro era scontata: lavorava alla Tricom!
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Even as far as the country in which I Iive is concerned, my father’s death was a "fait accompli", after all, he worked for Tricom!
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Ho iniziato a raccogliere testimonianze di colleghi operai, a chiedere analisi ed è iniziata una causa dove la mia famiglia si è costituita parte civile.
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I began gathering witness statements from his technical colleagues, asking for tests to be carried out and legal action was instituted with my family acting as plaintiff.
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Ho fatto diversi sopralluoghi.
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I carried out a number of site inspections.
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Mi sono reso conto che i reparti non erano separati fra loro: un unico stanzone dove c’era il reparto di imballaggio, di cromatura, di verniciatura, di pulitura ecc.
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I realised that the various departments were not isolated from one another and that this single, large area that housed the packaging department, the chrome plating department, the painting department, the cleaning department, etc.
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Chiunque poteva ammalarsi, nessuno utilizzava guanti, mascherine, non c’erano sistemi di protezione.
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It was perfectly possible for anyone to fall ill because no one wore any gloves or masks and there were no protection systems in place.
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I dirigenti non fornivano niente di tutto ciò, così come non fu mai detto a quali rischi effettivi si poteva andare in contro.
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The company’s management provided nothing of the sort and no one was ever warned about the actual risks to which they would be exposed.
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Perfino l’impianto di depurazione non era funzionante, o meglio lo era solo in caso di controlli.
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Even the purification plant was not working, or rather, it was only operational in the event of an inspection.
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Sì, perché nell’impianto era impiegato il sindaco che ha governato per 25 anni, a qualche giorno dai controlli si cercava di nascondere la polvere sotto il tappeto.
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Not at all surprising when you consider that the same man who had been the town’s mayor for the past twenty five years was also employed at the plant and, therefore, just a few days prior to each inspection, he would see to it that any dirt was simply swept under the carpet.
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Dalle testimonianze trovate, è emerso che in prossimità dalle ispezioni, agli operai venivano fornite delle mascherine per proteggesi dalle polveri (ma non idonee a ridurre l’esposizione a sostanze chimiche), si riduceva la temperatura delle vasche affinché non uscissero i fumi, si azionavano i pochi aspiratori presenti e si spalancavano tutti i portoni per creare flusso d’aria.
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From the testimonies we obtained, it emerged that just prior to these inspections the workers were supplied with masks to protect them against the dust (however, these were inadequate in terms of protecting them against exposure to any chemical substances), the operating temperatures in the tanks would be lowered to the point where no fumes were emitted, the few available suction systems would be switched on and all of the large doors would be opened in order to create some sort of airflow.
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Ma oggi anche il sindaco è indagato per i reati di omicidio colposo plurimo, lesioni colpose gravi, omissioni di difese e cautele contro disastri ambientali e infortuni sul lavoro.
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Nevertheless, the mayor is now also under investigation for crimes relating to multiple cases of culpable homicide, causing grievous bodily harm, failure to apply precautions or protective measures with regard to environmental disasters and workplace accidents.
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Dalle analisi chimiche, oltre al cromo esavalente e al nichel sono stati trovati ben sette tipi di cianuro, piombo, soda e composti, acido solforico, ecc.
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In addition to hexavalent chromium and nickel, chemical analyses also revealed the presence of no less than seven different types of cyanide, lead, sodium carbonate and soda compounds, sulphuric acid, etc.
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Quando vidi le condizioni in cui lavoravano degli uomini per poter far mangiare loro famiglia, rimasi attonito.
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When I saw the working conditions that the workers had been forced to endure simply in order to be able to feed their families, I was well and truly dumbfounded.
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Dalle vasche, dove avveniva la cromatura, saliva su una nebbia persistente, alla quale gli operai erano sottoposti per tutta la durata della loro mansione.
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A continuous mist was rising from the tanks that were being used for chrome plating and the operators were being exposed to this mist for the entire duration of the job.
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Alcuni accusavano: bruciori agli occhi con lacrimazione, bruciori allo stomaco, alla gola.
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A number of people had complained about burning and streaming eyes and a burning sensation in their stomachs and throats.
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I pannelli che erano posti sopra le vasche per essere azionati imponevano di sporgersi sul bordo delle vasche, vasche corrose, che si sgretolavano al tatto, ribadisco senza nessun tipo di protezione che potesse evitare schizzi o fuoriuscite di liquido.
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The panels located on top of the tanks forced the workers to lean out over the edge of the tanks. The tanks themselves were so badly corroded that pieces broke away as soon as they were touched. All this, I repeat, without any form of protection against possible splashes or fluid leaks.
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Alcuni testimoni hanno raccontato che quando un oggetto rimaneva dentro la vasca, gli operai dovevano salire sopra il bordo e con delle pinze prelevavano l’oggetto.
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A number of witnesses told us that when a work piece came loose inside one of the tanks, the workers were obliged to climb up onto the edge of the tank and remove the offending item using something like a pair of pliers.
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Questa operazione doveva essere compiuta tempestivamente per non bloccare il ciclo produttivo.
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Furthermore, this operation had to be performed hurriedly so as to prevent any production stoppage.
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Ci sono stati lavoratori che sono addirittura caduti nella vasca, ricordo che mio padre mi raccontò di quando successe a lui, dovette tornare a casa a lavarsi e cambiarsi.
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There are even reports of workers having fallen into one of the tanks and I remember my father telling me about it when this happened to him and he then had to come home to wash up and change his clothes.
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L’intera area lavorativa era un bagno di cromo esavalente, l’operaio camminava in una fanghiglia, il pavimento in cemento era stato corroso ed i veleni sono filtrati nel terreno inquinando perfino le falde acquifere.
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The entire working area was awash with hexavalent chromium and the workers walked around in the sludge. The cement floor had been eaten away and the toxic substances leeched into the ground beneath, even polluting the underground watercourses.
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Tutti i familiari degli ex operai ricordano i forti odori nauseanti con i quali tornavano a casa.
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All the former workers’ families remember the strong nauseating smell that used to accompany the workers upon their return to their homes.
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Altro elemento inquietante emerso, riguarda lo smaltimento del liquido verdastro prodotto.
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Another disturbing element that emerged was the way in which the company disposed of the greenish effluent produced by the plant.
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Invece di essere sottoposto a regolare depurazione, in gran parte veniva disseminato attraverso autobotti nei terreni del comprensorio.
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Instead of being duly purified prior to disposal, much of the effluent was simply loaded into tanker trucks and dumped around the district.
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Operazioni condotte probabilmente di notte, visto che alcuni operai hanno raccontato di vasche piene di sera e vuote al mattino.
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These operations were most probably performed at night since a number of the operators told us about certain tanks being full at night, only to be found to be mysteriously empty the next morning.
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Si era pensato ad uno scarico in una roggia adiacente all’industria, risultata altamente inquinata, ma in realtà le uniche tubazioni a portare liquidi in quella roggia, erano quelle dell’acqua piovana:
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They thought that the effluent was being dumped into a nearby canal, which also proved to be badly polluted, but actually, the only pipes discharging any liquids into that canal were storm-water drains.
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La pioggia che scivolava dal tetto si impregnava, vista l’assenza di aspiratori, di tutte le sostanze.
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In other words, the rainwater running off the roof of the building was impregnated with all of these toxic substances as a result of the lack of any form of scrubbing systems.
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Purtroppo queste cose sono emerse solo dopo la morte di un numero consistente di operai e di un inquinamento alle falde acquifere da cromo esavalente.
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Unfortunately all of these facts only emerged after the death of a significant number of workers and the pollution of underground water sources by the hexavalent chromium.
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Risultavano esserci state delle ispezioni da parte della USL, ogni volta nei verbali segnalavano carenze, ma la copertura politica ha permesso di ovviare.
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Apparently a number of inspections had been carried out by the USL (National Health Service) and each time the inspection reports revealed certain shortcomings, but the political backing allowed these to be simply overlooked.
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Tutti sapevano ma nessuno parlava.
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Everyone was aware of what was going on, but no one was prepared to speak out.
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Basta pensare che l’agibilità alla ditta è stata notificata solo nel 1983, mentre era attiva già a partire dal 1975.
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Sufficient to say that the company was only given the official go-ahead in 1983, when it had already been operational since 1975.
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Ricordi di paese parlano di bambini che andavano a giocare nei campi e tornavano a casa con le gambe macchiate di verde.
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Town residents recall that the children used to go out and play in the fields, returning home later with their legs stained with green.
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Un infermiere che tentò di denunciare questa cosa ricevette intimidazioni per non parlare.
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A male nurse who once tried to report this occurrence was intimidated in an attempt to prevent him from saying anything.
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Oggi la mia famiglia, insieme a poche altre, porta avanti questa battaglia per veder riconosciuto il danno fatto ai nostri cari.
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Today, only my family and a few others are continuing to fight for recognition of the injuries that were caused to our loved ones.
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Purtroppo non riceviamo molta solidarietà, né dall’opinione pubblica, né dai giudici che vogliono archiviare il caso.
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Unfortunately we have not received much in the line of support, neither from the general public nor from the judges, who are only interested in archiving the case.
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Se tutte le famiglie coinvolte facessero la loro parte, penso non ci sarebbero problemi a chiedere un’imputazione per strage; ma credo non se la sentono per due fattori.
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If all of the families involved would only do their bit, I am sure that there would be no problem in securing a conviction for culpable homicide, but I believe that they are unwilling get involved due for two factors.
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Il primo perché c’è sfiducia nelle istituzioni ed il secondo perché c’è troppa indifferenza condita di paura.
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The first is a lack of faith in the institutions, and the second is total indifference, perhaps liberally laced with fear.
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Ed intanto chi dovrebbe essere altrove a pagare per i danni cagionati a vittime innocenti, cammina indisturbato a testa alta."
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Meanwhile, the guilty parties who should be elsewhere, paying the price for the injuries that they have caused to innocent parties, are instead walking around free with their heads held high."
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Samanta Di Persio dal libro "Morti Bianche".
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Samanta Di Persio from her book entitled "Morti Bianche".
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