Theresa Maggio

I just did the math. The traffickers generally charge around $2,000, a phenomenal sum for people from southern Africa. Then they cram them onto boats and rafts and send them off. Without food, life jackets, water or sufficient fuel, nor a compass nor anybody who knows how to run a boat. Under the broiling sun, no shade, crammed  Read More 

The Libyan navy has admitted taking part in a confrontation with the refugee rescue boat the Bourbon Argos in international waters off the coast of Libya, following days of speculation about who attacked it.
A navy spokesman was reported to have claimed that Libyan forces had approached the rescue boat, chartered by the aid group Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF), after its crew allegedly refused to identify themselves. But the navy denied that it had fired directly at the MSF boat, and claimed it did not board the boat itself. Read More 

While searching for shipwrecked immigrants 24 nautical miles off the Libyan coast on August 17 the Doctors Without Borders ship Bourbon Argos was fired upon by unknown men in a motor boat who then boarded the ship, then gave up their enterprise when they found that all crew had secured themselves in parts of the ship  Read More 

Governor Crocetta has sent personnel and equipment from Sicily to aid in rescue attempts, according to La Repubblica. The Guardian has a brief video here:

Click on the caption to read live updates The Guardian in English.

A linear kilometer, about .6 mile worth, was stolen from La Favorita Park between downtown Palermo and Mondello, according to La Repubblica. 70 lights went out in the park.

One of Palermo's historic street markets.

Per the Italian news agency ANSA:
Two days ago 534 immigrants were saved in 11 rescue operations in the Strait of Sicily.Five bodies were recuperated. The migrants were aboard rubber rafts and nine small boats, according to the Italian Coast Guard, ANSA reported. Involved in the rescues were Italian Navy ship Sirius, the German Navy  Read More 

It's been more than a week since choppy seas have prevented traffickers from sending their clients, indigent migrants and asylum seekers, off to find their own way to Europe. They are expecting the next wave of migrants to be a huge surge of people who have been backed up on the shores of Libya, waiting to embark. The traffickers are cruel. Read More 

Catania and Palermo

The great videographer Bill Livingston, who made the double Emmy-winning film "The Italians", just sent me a link to this three-minute promo for Sicily. WOW what a great job and what JOY the video maker must have had making it.