Fucibet Cream On Rashes

Letizia Battaglia


© Photo: F. Zecchin

Creative Labs Vf-0040

Ms. Battaglia, Palermo as a photographer of the newspaper "Time", she has lived near the explosion of mafia violence of the early eighties ...
When I arrived at the newspaper in 1974, did not know much Mafia: I thought it was a problem in the countryside. Then, in the late seventies, I came increasingly to take pictures of the killings: I came to count up to five per day. It was not easy because being a woman made me very credible as a photographer of the Mafia, and the scene of the crime or the victims' families that the police hindered me.
What value he had in those years to denounce what was happening with photography?
In reality, "Time" was not available to photographers any independent role of the complaint. I was happy to work in an anti-Mafia and anti-fascist newspaper, but even there the photos were only treated as a set of articles.
Yet his work has not stopped the news ...
No, but occurred outside the newspaper. In 1980 I participated in the founding of the Center of Documentation Peppino Impastato Sicilian. It was a beautiful presence in Palermo Umberto Santino and Anna Puglisi, have long been promoters of anti-mafia efforts to involve us all. With the Centre, and I Franco Zecchin, photographer and my partner for twenty years, organizing exhibitions in the streets, one of which, memorably, in Corleone, the town was in holiday and many are making their way to wander around, until someone saw among our panel photos of Luciano Liggio. Then, little by little, all disappeared from the square leaving us alone. We were afraid. What
expose shots and why?
photos representing the entire mafia world: poverty, politics, processes and arrests. We wanted people Mafia was aware of the strategy in place against the democratic institutions.
sometimes ended up being too naive in our dream of a clean and honest Sicily. Yet to share with others our pain is not been in vain indeed aroused new attention on the problem. But lacked a strong response from the political world, and as judges, police, journalists and politicians fell under the blows of the mob we began to be haunted by a growing sense of loneliness.
How did the city of Palermo to the mountain of mafia violence?
During the seventies, people still believed that the mafia hit only the mafia. Even when in January 1980 killed the president of the region Piersanti Mattarella was born a collective reflection. It took time to attend the first reactions of the square: the first was in 1982, for the funeral of the prefect of Palermo, Carlo Alberto Dalla Chiesa, and then the following year for the murder of Rocco Chinnici (Adviser instructor by the prosecution to Palermo, ed.), well known for its outreach activities in schools made mafia.
The growing attention of civil society also resulted in political and cultural phenomenon known as "Spring of Palermo" that marked the rise of Leoluca Orlando mayor of the city ...
The awakening was slow and gradual, accelerated murders excellent, and Orlando was able to seize and drive this desire for renewal. The "Spring of Palermo" made us dream of a different future.
In those years she has moved from a civil complaint
political action ... I've been twice alderman, the first time in 1986 with the Green Party, then alderman "In urban livability" with Orlando and finally regional member . I have great memories of my work alderman, because I was able to work effectively, clean bed, dirty hands. We have planted many trees in those years: I liked to bring people to a city full of greenery. Finished the job I continued to work with Orlando as a consultant for the jail.
Why the prison?
When I worked at the newspaper I was ashamed to photograph people in handcuffs, I felt him to violence.
asked to work in the prison because I do not feel hatred towards those who work for the mafia, in fact I think some of them would change their lives. That's why I always believed that the fight against crime can not be limited repression on the street.
When I chose to work in prison was as if I wanted to forgive me for not having been able, with others, building a society able to keep them away from crime. I wanted to give back to those in prison, a hope, because I always thought that children born in the worst neighborhoods of Palermo will be forced to refer to the Mafia. Of this I spoke with Giovanni Falcone, who was said to be convinced that certain neighborhoods can just run away, because in them there is no possibility of escape.
How did you experience the death of Falcone and Borsellino? I felt a pain
burning, and because their murder is the culmination of a crescendo of violence, both because the two judges had made love. I felt a strong emotion crying with so many people. It was as if their sacrifice was finally able to awaken the public spirit of the Sicilians. The people took to the streets and expressed great anger and pain. At the time we believed not only to continue to fight but also to have found new strength. Then, instead it was all over, people got tired.
What happened to the anti-mafia movement then?
I wonder. I wonder where those who cried at the funeral today. The anger has turned off, the emergency has ceased and it seems that the shame is gone. The minds are corrupted, the young do not know and do not want to know anything. A Palermo work of the Centro Impastato Addiopizzo and boys, but there is more public support.
believe in education for law schools done?
Not much, I think now it is emptied of meaning and has become a school subject like any other. But I admire the guys who work the land confiscated from the mafia. Lentils, pasta, tomatoes are fruits concrete un'antimafia I believe.
Because last year has left Palermo?
I could not bear the silence. It is not good to live in Palermo. But in the end I felt guilty and I'm back: my city imprisons me too much love, I would still try. I have seventy years, and I can not do much if you do not persevere in the promotion of integrity.
Then you can still do something ...
Definitely. Against the indifference of the younger generation becomes important just to be there. And then I meet people who deserve our commitment: to know and love very much a boy, the son of a mobster and the nephew of a murdered Mafia that I photographed years ago. He despises the work of his family, and suffers from the silence that hangs over his house. It is the most anti-mafia of all, do not miss an event, study, read a lot. I'm sure that will never be thrown back into the world of his father. It is worth to do something else for people like him.
What do you think of those fleeing from Sicily and its problems?
are not morally to this type of choices: there are lofty minds who need to leave to shoot a film, publishing a book, specialize. Retain ties to their land is a commitment that and that some feel is being sorely tested by the facts. Do not always have the strength to resist, I do not have had either. Of course if we were all here, with our beautiful heads, perhaps would be better, but I understand those who left Sicily because his dreams or his rights are not respected.
How can we reconcile the commitment and personal life, especially being a mother?
can reconcile, it should be. I never left my children and a grandmother most benign. Life is so beautiful for it is: fight, love and joy.
What form has the His struggle today?
I've got my publishing house, harbor around my photos and my dreams ... I live by honest person. What more can I do?