FILM OF DEBATE: Modernisation, development and conservation. Click on the image below to view this film
Book review of Roger Scruton’s ‘Green Philosophy’: weaknesses in thinking seriously about the planet. Click on the image below to read the review
Italy’s Constitutional Referendum ‘No’ Vote and Renzi’s Resignation
On Sunday, 4 December 2016, Italians voted in a referendum to reject constitutional reforms supported by previous Prime Minister Matteo Renzi and his government. This vote led to the resignation of Renzi and the establishment of a caretaker government with new elections likely in February 2017 after the Constitutional Court examines a new electoral law … Continue reading
Balloon Debate: what’s the best invention ever? I proposed language & debated other ideas. View this ‘Battle of Ideas’ festival film.
Filmed at the Battle of Ideas and expertly chaired by Timandra Harkness, this incredibly engaging balloon debate sees panelists attempt to convince the audience of their choice for the best invention ever. At the end of each round, the least popular invention is eliminated – and its proponent thrown out of the balloon. The debate … Continue reading
UNESCO Committee undemocratically calls for blocking of projects backed by Venice’s elected City Council and funded by Italy’s government
During the 40th session of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization’s (UNESCO) World Heritage Committee in Istanbul on 14 July 2016, an ultimatum was issued to Italian authorities threatening to remove Venice from its World Heritage List and add it to its List of World Heritage in Danger. UNESCO has charged the Italian … Continue reading
Venice’s Festa della Sensa on May 7-8 2016 symbolises the city’s changing environmental, political, economic, religious and military relationships
Venice’s Festa della Sensa will be held on 7-8 May 2016. Sensa is Venetian for Ascension referring to the Ascension of Christ. Yet Ascension Day (40 days after Easter) in Venice also celebrates the ceremony of Spozalizio del Mare (Marriage to the Sea). The changing role of this ceremony symbolizes Venice’s changing environmental, military, political, religious and economic … Continue reading
Should we build in flood-prone areas? Contribution to debate in Prospect Magazine
Following heavy flooding in the UK, Prospect Magazine published an article on 8 January 2016 with five different contributors debating whether construction in flood-prone areas should go ahead. Although Venice is a very unique environment, I ask if Venetians could innovate to cope with flooding, why can’t people in other flood-prone places be defended? This … Continue reading
International Business Times article: Changing Oceans Provide Opportunities, not Apocalypse in Venice & Elsewhere
The International Business Times published the article in the link and text below by Dominic Standish on 13 October 2015. Link: Barack Obama’s apocalyptic warnings about our oceans betray the opportunities hidden in their depths These themes will be explored further in this debate in London on 17 October 2015 at the Barbican Centre: Plumbing … Continue reading
Battle over Venice cruise ship exhibition indicative of wider battle for the oceans
Venice’s Maritime Port An exhibition depicting cruise ships sailing through the Venetian lagoon will open in Venice on 22 October 2015 after it was previously blocked by the Mayor of Venice, Luigi Brugnaro. The exhibition of photographs by Gianni Berengo Gardin was due to open on the weekend of 19 September 2015 in the prestigious … Continue reading
Inside Venice’s bid to hold back the tide – article on the city’s MOSE dams in The Guardian
This article by journalist Antonia Windsor was published by The Guardian (UK) in its resilient cities series on 16 June 2015. The article is a perceptive insight into the discussion about Venice sinking and especially protecting the city with the MOSE flood barriers, which are nearing completion. There are numerous quotes from key figures involved … Continue reading
Venice’s MOSE dams delayed with added costs of €150 million
This week revealing reports have explained that work on the MOSE dam project has been on hold for the last eight months at an estimated cost of €150 million. Promised tranches of funds to continue the project from the CIPE committee charged with releasing them have not been forthcoming. It is estimated it takes approximately … Continue reading
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Book Review of ‘Venice in Environmental Peril? Myth and Reality’ by Elisabetta Gasparoni. Click on the image below to read the review on Spiked Review of Books
New York Times/International Herald Tribune. My comments on Pierre Cardin’s proposed LIght Palace for Venice. Click on the image below to read the article
‘Plumbing the depths: the battle for the oceans’. Debate at ‘Battle of Ideas’ Conference, Barbican, London, 17 October 2015. Click on image below for 6 minute film of introductory remarks by Dominic Standish
‘Plumbing the depths: the battle for the oceans’. Click on ‘Battle of Ideas’ image below for debate speaker and topic details, plus a Soundcloud link to listen to the debate.
Inside Venice’s bid to hold back the tide – my comments in The Guardian newspaper website. Click on the picture below to go to the article
Film of debate: ‘Death in Venice: Is Tourism Killing or Saving the City?’ Click on the image below to view this film
‘Italy: Renewables Policy as a Barrier to Energy Innovation.’ Click on the image below for a link to the paper
