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
My interview on @SkyNews live about #coronavirus in Italy
This interview was conducted live on Sky News by Kay Burley on Monday 9 March 2020 and part of it can be viewed on Twitter (you probably need an account) by clicking on the image below. Sky News Live Interview I also had an article published by Spiked-online ‘How Italy succumbed to coronavirus’, which can … Continue reading
‘How Italy succumbed to coronavirus.’ My article published by @spikedonline, before the irrational US government raised the risk level for travel to the Italian Veneto & Lombardy regions to level 4
This article was published on 27 February 2020. So it was published before the irrational response to the coronavirus by the US government, which raised the travel risk level to Italy to level 3 late on 28 February 2020, then to level 4 for the Veneto and Lombardy regions on 29 February. The article can … Continue reading
The #coronavirus or #COVID19 outbreak in #Italy has been met by a risk-averse, fearful panic. Instead of banning direct flights, closing schools in non-affected areas, a rational management response is needed. My comments on @SkyNews daily podcast
While it is logical to lock down areas (mostly in the Lombardy region like Codogno, plus Vo’ Eugeneo) with multiple cases of coronavirus, it is irrational to close schools, universities, museums, monuments and companies in areas without cases of the virus. Many of these institutions have been closed until 1 March 2020 in 5 regions … Continue reading
Now people in Venice are tracked by 34 sensors around the city using cell phone data; the end of freedom and privacy!
Regulated Carnival! Remember when Carnival was known as an opportunity for free experimentation with the anonymous protection of a mask? This year, for the first time, you are being tracked if you have a cell phone! Venice City Council has installed 34 sensors around the city which will use cell phone data to track your … Continue reading
On #Brexit Day, reflections on the debate ‘THE FUTURE OF THE EU’, Battle of Ideas
As the UK leaves the European Union on 31 January 2020, it is a good moment to reflect on the informative debate at the Battle of Ideas festival titled ‘The Future of the EU: the return of remain and reform?’. This was held at the Barbican centre in London on 3 November 2019. This is … Continue reading
‘The strange death of Italian democracy’. After regional elections in Italy, my thoughts published by @spikedonline
Following elections on Sunday 26 January 2020, this article was published on 28 January 2020. It can be read by clicking on the link below: The strange death of Italian democracy The text of the article is also here: The strange death of Italian democracy The loser of the last national election is now the … Continue reading
“The year the EU took over Italy”. My reflections on 2019 published by @spikedonline
This article was published by Spiked-Online on 29 December 2019. It can be read by clicking on the link below: The year the EU took over Italy This is the text of the article: The year the EU took over Italy The economy, immigration and the make-up of the cabinet are all conditional on Brussels’ … Continue reading
“Borders and Divisions. Immigration to Europe.” New book published in Germany including my chapter on Italy and the EU
This book was published in December 2019 in German titled “Grenzen Spaltungen. Immigration nach Europa”. It was edited by Sabine Beppler-Spahl and includes chapters by twelve contributors. It can be ordered on Amazon by clicking on the link below: https://www.amazon.de/Grenzen-Spaltungen-Immigration-nach-Europa/dp/3944610652/ref=sr_1_2?__mk_de_DE=%C3%85M%C3%85%C5%BD%C3%95%C3%91&keywords=Beppler-Spahl+Immigration&qid=1576950868&sr=8-2 Below is an initial English translation of my chapter if you cannot read in German: … Continue reading
Venice’s floods are not signs of a ‘climate apocalypse’. My article on the problems faced by #Venice and the nearby area published by @spikedonline.
While Venice and the surrounding area have suffered badly from flooding over the last two weeks, there has not been apocalyptic devastation. Moreover, although climate change has been a cause of rising sea levels and contributed to the flooding, subsidence has been a major cause too. As I set out in the article published on … Continue reading
Doomsday in #Venice|If we built it today. My comments and others in TV programme on Discovery Science, SKY Vision. After the recent high floods, a timely reflection on different responses.
This programme examines how Venice was built, its unique environment, problems with flooding and sinking and some possible responses. In addition to the MOSE mobile dam project, there are discussions about replicating, moving and pumping Venice up or a combination of these measures. It was broadcast on the Discovery Science channel in the USA … Continue reading
Click on the image below to order this book from Amazon.com . Other buying options are available on the page above listed ‘Book information’
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
‘IS MASS TOURISM RUINING VACATIONS AS WE KNOW THEM?’ MY COMMENTS AS ONE OF THREE INTERVIEWEES DURING LIVE TV AND YOUTUBE BROADCAST BY AL JAZEERA @AJSTREAM
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
Venice suffered its worst floods for 20 years in 2019. My interview on Euronews
‘VENICE ASKS OTHER PORTS TO HELP FIND SOLUTION TO CRUISE SHIP PROBLEMS’. ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE GUARDIAN INCLUDING MY COMMENTS
IMPROVING LAND USE TO FEED MORE PEOPLE. INTERVIEW WITH ME AND AN ENVIRONMENTAL POLICY SPECIALIST ON SKY NEWS LIVE
‘VENICE OVERTOURISM?’ TV AND YOUTUBE INTERVIEW WITH ME AND TWO ITALIANS ON THE NEWSMAKERS, @TRT WORLD
‘Italy: Renewables Policy as a Barrier to Energy Innovation.’ Click on the image below for a link to the paper
Film of debate: ‘Death in Venice: Is Tourism Killing or Saving the City?’ Click on the image below to view this film
