Workers Unite in Rome

Union worker listening to speech by CGIL Union leader Susanna Camusso during protest Saturday in Rome. Freeze frame of video shot by AP Television Cameraman Gianfranco Stara.

This morning I had to cover a union demonstration in Rome.  There were thousands of people young and old who descended on the city to participate in this peaceful demonstration to demand rights for workers and retired people.  Now, as everyone knows, the economic situation in Europe is dramatic.  Italy is among the handful of countries, also including Greece, Spain and Ireland, facing the most difficult economic crises.  The current Italian Prime Minister, Mario Monti, and his government have imposed some tough austerity measures including raising the retirement age, and are working to change the country’s labor laws.  The unemployment situation in Italy is worrisome and particularly so among young people.  All this is to say, there is plenty to be concerned about and plenty to protest about, but that is not what I am going to write about today.

A view of Rome's Piazza del Popolo during union protest. Photo by Trisha Thomas

Today I am going to write about protesting in Rome. The first story that I ever covered for AP television back in the fall of 1994 was a union protest.  Tens of thousands of people in the street to protest against then Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi.  Since then I have probably covered at least one protest a month for the past 18 years.   I have covered hundreds of protests and marches in this city whether it is union protests, anti-war protests, women’s rights protests, anti-abortion protests, gay rights protests—you name it, I’ve covered it.

It has taken me awhile but today I came to the conclusion that people protest so much in Rome because it is fun.  The weather is usually beautiful, the piazzas are gorgeous.  If one had to march somewhere why not through the cobblestones streets of one of the oldest cities in the world past spectacular fountains and uniting for final rallies in magnificent piazzas.

Today’s protest was a perfect example, protesters  wearing red union caps and carrying red flags gathered near the fountain of the Naiads at Rome’s Piazza della Repubblica.  The Naiads fountain has 4 nymphs battling it out with various monsters and water squirts all around them.  The are the nymph of the lakes, the nymph of the oceans, the nymph of the rivers and the nymph of the underground waters.  Once they left the battling nymphs behind, the protesters  wound their way around Bernini’s famous Triton fountain at Piazza Barberini, up to Trinita’ dei Monti above the Spanish Steps, past Villa Borghese and down into the marvelous Piazza del Popolo where they found a handsome Neptune statue waiting for them.  Neptune proudly stood naked, gripping his trident, surrounded by colorful union balloons and banners.

Neptune with his Trident stands watching for union demonstration at Rome's Piazza del Popolo. Photo by Trisha Thomas

 

My boss always says that Senior AP Television Cameraman Gianfranco Stara is in a “brodo di giuggiole”  when he is covering protests.  A “Brodo di Giuggiole”  is a broth of sweet liqueur which is supposed to be the ultimate in happiness and is an Italian way of saying 7th heaven.  Just hearing an Italian use that expression brings up images of someone floating happily in a sweet, sticky, syrupy liquid.  I mean no disrespect whatsoever, but despite the honest concerns and demands of the workers, I so enjoyed covering this protest that I think maybe even I was in a  “brodo di giuggole”. (I will leave it to any foodie followers to clarify what goes into a brodo di giuggiole)

Statue representing "summer" by Achille Stocchi in Rome's Piazza del Popolo surrounded by union flags and balloons during union demonstration. Photo by Trisha Thomas

And a final note for those who ask me to include the behind-the-scene Mamma perspective in my posts.

Before I ever had a baby,  no woman ever stopped and told me how incredibly painful childbirth can be, or perhaps I just did not want to hear it.  The same thing with blogging.  Before I ever gave birth to my first, innocent blog post, no one ever told me how hard it is to maintain a blog, and that if you have a job and three children it is nearly impossible.  To write decent, interesting, informed posts, one needs time.  The problem—and all bloggers will know the feeling—is that once you start blogging it seeps into your life, starts eating up your existence and you suddenly are thinking of every little event in your life as something that is either “post-able” or not.  Then there is the blog-guilt and blog-panic that comes one when you have not gotten around to posting anything at all, and as hard as you try to push it away and not care there is some invisible blog-master out there cracking in the whip telling you to heave-ho and write.  Sigh.

In addition to my recent move, I have been bogged down with work demands, and end-of-the-year academic demands.  I am class representative for one daughter and organizing the birthday party for another.  I have failed miserably to fill out camp health forms, and have not even filed my US taxes.  But at least now I have posted.

A young women with a union flag protesting on Stilts at Union Demonstration in Piazza del Popolo, Rome. Photo by Trisha Thomas

 

13 thoughts on “Workers Unite in Rome”

  1. Hi Trisha,

    Well, I certainly can relate to all the blog points. Everything I cook or bake is now vetted for “blogworthiness”, rather like your “post-able” parameter. And it does take a great deal of time to keep these things going. Ir sounds like you have been up against it. So many things to do at the end of term, and Uncle Sam knocking on the door. Call for an extension! And the move. I’d say that rates a a total overwhelm. How are the new digs, by the way?

    I so enjoyed your protest shots. I too remember how colorful a protest was I saw in Milan. The Communists were at it – this was long ago, and it was more colorful than any of our anti-war or civil rights protests that I could remember. I also remember that they blocked entrance to the Duomo. I suppose I simply should have hoped to Bar Zucca (as it was then called ) and sat it out downing some Zucca!

    The Italians do it with style!

    Thanks for another great post. IT is good to see you back in print!

    1. Trisha Thomas

      Hi Adri — No you are not adled– it is my comment system. I have to approve them before they show up, that is why sometimes there is a few days delay. Anyway, I am always grateful to your lovely comments. I thought you might be someone who could clarify for my readers what a “Brodo di Giuggiole” is? Have you ever made that?

  2. Hi Trisha,

    Well, I must be the best example of the addle pated female – I was just certain I had commented on this very entertaining post. I guess not – so here goes. The Italians surely do know how to protest in a colorful manner. I recall being in Milan many years ago when the Communists were demonstrating in front of the Duomo. I had never seen such a thing. At that point here in the U.D. our anti-war demonstrations and college sit-ins were in black and white, even up close and personal. Because of the demonstration, I was blocked entrance to the Duomo. Had I been savvy at that point I would have ducked in to (the then) Bar Zucca and imbibed of the liquor of the same name. That would be the way to pass the time while the demonstrators had their day.

    And I can relate to every word you wrote about this blogging life. Every dish I make is judged on “blog worthiness” and I think that somehow I ought to photograph everything I cook. This can get to a girl.

    You’ve been busy – with you end of term obligations, the move and with Uncle Sam knocking at your door, I am amazed and very pleased you are able to find time to write for us at all. I must ask – how are the new digs? I hope your move went well and that your family has unpacked and adjusted to their new surroundings.

    Thanks for another great post. It is good to see you in print.

    P.S. I believe we have the same blog master.

    1. Trisha Thomas

      Adri — Thank you for your comment. That protest at the Duomo must have been something. I am glad you can relate to by blog-master anxiety. It is really all very silly. Why should one worry whether you have posted or not? But we do. Somehow, once one starts in on this blog business, one feels obliged to continue. Most of the time it’s lots of fun though. And I always enjoy reading yours!

    2. Hi Trisha,

      The very charming saying about being in happy in the soup sure has some legs has some legs. It is documented as having appeared as early as 1791. I guess it is sort of like “to be in 7th heaven” as we say in America. I will not mention the happy pig and his environs. Giuggiole (Ziziphus zizyphus) are Chinese dates – in English, the jujube. Do you remember those super sweet little candies, tiny, multicolored, translucent nuggets, about the size of a little fingernail – the ones that could pull out a filling? Now we know why they called them Jujubees; giuggiole, when dried, are also super sweet and small, somewhat like raisins with a flavor like apples.

      Freshly picked they look like red olives. Of interest is that some scholars claim that giuggiole grew in great abundance in the original Lotusland, that of Homer’s Odysseus, and that his men ate the naturally fermented fruit and became drunk on it.

      News to me is that in October the town of Arqua Petrarca in the Veneto celebrates the very popular Festa della Giuggiola. Of course, una festa! Celebrants can sample dried giuggiole, gelato di giuggiole and can even purchase candles made from giuggiole. Apparently after its introduction in Roman times, the fruit was widely cultivated, but over time has come to be grown only in this region.

      You can use them to make marmelatte and confetturre. It is important to use ripe giuggiole. Underripe fruit lacks the pectin content necessary to thicken and set. Chopped, they are added the batter of small almond cakes, somewhat similar to madeleines or a financier. You can use them to make a sweet liqueur by macerating them with grappa, straining and adding simple syrup, as for limoncello. They are occasionally used in savory fillings to add a sweet note, but their main use is in sweets.

      And as to the brodo di giuggiole – that stuff is sweet, sweet , sweet. This too is new to me. I have neither made nor tasted it, but I just had to poke around and find out about it. Often taken as an after dinner drink, it is the typical liquor of the area of Arqua Petrarca. The recipes I have seen vary little. The basics are as follows:

      1 kg giuggiole
      1 kg sugar
      1 liter water
      2 bunches Golden Muscat grapes
      2 cups red or white wine (all of the recipes I have seen specify one or the other, but neither gives the cook a choice)
      2 quinces, peeled, sliced thinly, seeds removed
      zest of 1 lemon

      Some recipes direct the cook to dry the giuggiole for several days allowing them to ferment slightly and gain some sweetness. Wash and pit giuggiole. Place in large pot with water, grapes and sugar. Cook about 1 hour. Add quinces and wine. Cook, stirring occasionally to prevent scorching until wine has evaporated and mixture thickens. Remove from heat. Add lemon zest and combine well. Ladle into glass jars. Cover and turn upside down for a quick self seal. When the jars have cooled, place right side up.

      By the way, in Chinese medicine the “great date” ( da zao) is used to treat weight loss, convalescence from hepatitis and tuberculosis, weakness and anemia.

      As my sister would say “So there you go!” And I always preferred JujyFruits over Jujubees. How about you?

      1. Trisha Thomas

        Wonderful!! I knew I coud count on you Adri to give us all the background on the “brodo di Giugiole”. It is fascinating. I love the stuff about Homer’s men getting drunk on them in Lotusland. Marvelous. Thank you!!

  3. Sure is a beautiful place to protest! How lucky to live in a country where you can share your opinions peacefully. Thank you for the time and effort involved in blogging. Your photos are really beautiful. You have the ability and artistic eye – thank you for sharing.

    1. Trisha Thomas

      Yes, one does have to remember it is wonderful to live in a democracy where one can demonstrate peacefully. However, sometimes the demonstrations are not that peaceful. Sometimes there are violent clashes and our cameramen have to wear their moped helmets because people throw cobblestones and policemen use the batons to whack protesters. But more on that another time.

  4. the protestors may think it is fun but living near piazza repubblica for over 20 years I find it the number of manifestazioni way, way too much and unfair that they all start in the same place. It is very distruptive and not fun.

    1. Trisha Thomas

      Gosh — you are right about that. They always to start in Piazza della Repubblica. Perhaps it is because it is near the train station and easier for people to get to. I can imagine if would get tiring if you live there.

  5. Another great blog. It does make me sad though to note that when I was there in the 1960’s and covered almost the same route you did, over whelmed by the architecture, the fountains, etc. there was no colorful union protest.Makes me want to go back to see that combination.

    I know blogs and the blog schedule must be difficult, with your side jobs of work and being a Mama, but keep it up. You add a bright side to most events and life experiences.

    U.B.

    1. Trisha Thomas

      Thank you Uncle Bob! You must come and visit and I am pretty sure I can find you a demonstration to help me cover!

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