Peter Riley“Our idea is that the sea should not be considered solely for economic uses like industry and tourism. Its value is beyond consumption. It is about public health, both mental and physical. This is an environmental, cultural and social struggle.”
In Italy, a post-industrialised Neapolitan district struggles to reclaim a healthy sea
Looking over the turquoise Mediterranean Sea, the beach at the tip of Bagnoli, hugged by cliffs in westernmost Naples, should be a picture of tranquillity. It is not. “We cannot swim because of the extreme pollution from the ex-industrial area,” local resident Anja Raggia explains. “Toxic pollution is also spread about by the wind and causes locals to develop tumours and other diseases.” Behind the beach, the skyline is haunted by the remnants of industry. Until 1992, Bagnoli had one of (...)