Who we are

The entire region of Abruzzo has come together in this battle to keep big oil out of our land. Here are a few communities and organizations that have joined the struggle. As a people we have learnt of drilling plans for Abruzzo early in 2007. Since then, there have been countless and tireless efforts to stop big oil. From the Catholic church to local politicians we have all said no.
Due to the activism of the people, a moratorium was passed in March 2008 and no oil operations are permitted until 2010. We are fighting for a 30 year moratorium to be approved before that time.

Here are a few of the communities that have said no to big oil in Abruzzo:

Regione Abruzzo, Provincia di Chieti, Comune di Pescara, Comune di Tollo, Comune di Miglianico, Comune di Crecchio, Comune di Lanciano, Comune di Pineto, Comune di San Giovanni Teatino, Comune di Francavilla a Mare, Comune di Orsogna, Comune di Palombaro, Comune di Frisa, Comune di Giuliano Teatino, Unione di Comuni Città della Frentania e Costa dei Trabocchi, Unione dei Comuni delle Colline Teatine, Comune di Casacanditella, Comune di Casalincontrada, Comune di Ripa Teatina, Comune di San Martino sulla Marrucina, Comune di Vacri, Comune di Villamagna, Comune di Mozzagrogna, Conferenza episcopale e molisana, Associazione Valori Idee Passione, Legambiente, WWF, Confcommercio, Confesercenti, Archeoclub, Operatori turistici della zona, Copagri, Coldiretti, Confagricoltura, Confcooperative, Lega Confcooperative, Città del vino, Slow food, Partito della Rifondazione Comunista, Partito dei Verdi, DS, Pdci, S.d.ii, Udeur, Italia dei valori, Alleanza Nazionale, La destra, Movimento comunità, Forza Nuova, Fiamma Tricolore, M.I.S. con Rauti, Comitato Punto Ortona, Coordinamento per la tutela della costa teatina, MareLibero, Comitato natura verde, Nuovo Senso Civico, Le impronte, Comitato Abruzzese del Paesaggio, Emergenza Abruzzo, Comitato civico Miglianico, Circolo per la valorizzazione delle terre pubbliche attraverso le popolazioni locali, Centro Internazionale Crocevia (CroceviaTerra), CCDD Tollo, Progresso Agricolo, Cantina Tollo, Olearia Vinicola Orsogna, Cantina Miglianico, Vini Citra, Cantina Sociale Sannitica, Cantine Dragani, La Castellina soc. coop., Collefrisio S.r.l, Azienda Agriverde S.r.l., Cantina Matteucci, Cantina Di Virgilio

ENI (NYSE:E) and its shame on the Financial Times

On November 17th, 2008 Guy Dinmore published an article on the Financial Times about the Italian oil company Eni, traded on the New York stock exchange as NYSE:E and its environmentally irresponsible ways of drilling oil and of respecting people, parks and history. Dinmore describes the nightmare of what it meant and still is for the people of Basilicata, a southern Italian region, to accept oil companies on their territory.

At first, the discovery of oil was celebrated by the people of Basilicata as the beginning of a new future of wealth and opportunity. Basilicata was a very poor region, plagued by emigration, and little job opportunities aside farming. They believed the promises ENI made them, they believed that young people could lead a prosperous life at home, and that high unemployment in the region would finally belong to the past.

Fiftenn years after the promises the truth has finally come. Starkedly naked.. The population of Basilicata continues to dwindle. Over the last ten years the population has fallen from 600,000 to only 530,000 people, the jobs created by the oil companies are few and mostly for people coming from outside Basilicata. The enviroment is seriously damaged by hydrogen sulfide and other toxic chemicals released in the atmosphere and on the ground. Public health has been compromised, corruption is rampant and cancer rates are skyrocketing.

What was celebratated many years ago as the beginning of a new development turned into the worst nightmare for Basilicata. We don't wont this to happen to Abruzzo. We know the truth about oil companies. Despite all the corruption that exists in Italy's commanding heights we are determined to save our land and not to make any of this happen to us.

The Financial Times news article can be reached following this link.