Month: March 2011

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Summer school on social banking: a reason why…

Last summer 2010 I went to florence to attend the Summer School on Social Banking, organized in my Country by the Institute which is involved in best practices in economics.

I started studying  economy, ethics and sustainable development in 2009, when I decided to enroll in the master’s degree in conflict management (interreligious and intercultural)..As I have a degree in economics (banking and financing) I decided to deepen the microcredit, and of course, responsible investment.

After my stage I had the chance to know the Institute for Social banking, based in Germany. The Summer School’s week was the best holiday I have ever had after the trip to Petra!! (where I tried the Stendhal syndrome).

During this special week I met people who came from all over the world and did various jobs (not only bankers). Young and old, people with great experience and other early in their careers..motivated and bored (as well in the world!!).  We had many classes, workshops, discussions, open space groups..We had a special lesson in Florence, in the town council hall (Salone de’Dugento), and another just in front of the dome of the cathedral..The first example of social investment. The first time someone decided to rise money to built something wonderful to show the world…Social banking, of course!!

Maybe I  heard a lot of things I already knew: I have read many book and studied many documents about Social Economy…But the way in which the subjects were exposed was fantastic for the memory and to give me the charge to continue on this line..

Just a little suggestion…When I went to Ethiopia for a journey of cooperation, I could understand how our efforts can help Africa to recover, return to that greatcontingency which gave rise to man (Lucy is in the museum in Addis Ababa).

We need to study the development of our Planet along with all the peoples of the Earth.We must think about responsible and sustainable development. We need a common knowledge, a common language of communication and digital platforms to stay connected.

Not only are more aid to build wells. Now they need education, schools, qualified teachers able to form new generations who have mobile phones, Nike shoes, but still live in Tukul.

The next Summer School will be in Canterbury, and the title is “Money rules the world. Who rules the money?” ..

We rules our money and we must decide to use the money in the righy way, far from the speculation that caused the failure of many banks and forced the Government to cover losses..

The week of Canterbury is a great opportunity to understand, to learn and to becomeresponsible citizens. we can not discuss and jack, if the first things you do not know!

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Happy New Year 2012 Pisa

In Pisa the New Year is celebrated twice. Not only on January the 1st, but also March 25, according to the tradition of the ancient maritime republic. Pisani infact have not forgotten their traditions and revive the beginning of each year as happened in the period between 1200 and 1749, when the New Year coincided with the day of the Annunciation, nine months before Christmas (Anno Pisano ab Incarnatione Domini).

Today as yesterday, the beginning of the New Year and  is marked by a kind of sundial, a physical phenomenon as simple as spectacular and impressive: at midday a ray of sunlight penetrates the round window of a cathedral nave and strikes a marble egg on a shelf placed on the pillar next to the pulpit by Giovanni Pisano, on the other side.

The event is preceded by a historical parade and a solemn religious ceremony that closed at 12 o’clock.The appointment book is very rich and includes walks in the city, museum visits, wine tasting and typical dishes…

Chicken liver crostini

Ingredients: chicken livers, capers in vinegar, half cup of broth, half a glass of Vin Santo, 1 red onion, 2 or 3 anchovies, extra virgin olive oil
Preparation
Wash the chicken livers by depriving them of the gall: rinse and dry.
Sauté in a pan with a generous fund oil finely chopped onion.While the onion browns, add the chicken livers and let sear, season the meat with half a glass of Vin Santo and cook over medium heat for about twenty minutes, adding, when necessary, a little water.
Once cooked, you can choose to chop them with the masher or food processor,depending on the consistency you prefer.
Be careful not to strain but to also add the oil and sughino cooking. At your pleasure, add the chopped capers or anchovies with capers ed’acciughe paste to adjust the flavor.
Serve with toasted Tuscan bread toasted strictly moistened with very little broth.
Rice with truffle
Ingredients: onion, rice, glass of sherry, beef broth, butter, parmesan cheese, white truffle
Preparation
Sauté with olive oil, chopped onion. When it has browned, add the rice, stir andsprinkle with seasoning to make it a good prosecco.When the champagne has evaporated, finish cooking the rice to a meat brothgradually.
Once cooked, after about 17
minutes, mix with butter and grated Parmesan cheese.
Serve immediately with over abundant and thin slices of white truffle.

Mullet (Triglie alla pisana)

Ingredients: red mullet, garlic, parsley, salt, flour, extra virgin olive oil

Preparation
Fill the cleaned red mullet, scaled, washed and dried with chopped garlic and

parsley,salandole slightly.
Flour and brown them in a pan with extra virgin olive oil on all sides.
If the rating can also add a slightly spicy tomato sauce.

Tiramisù

Ingredients:
– 4 egg whites
– 500 g mascarpone
– 5 egg yolks– cocoa powder
– Sugar (about 5 tablespoons)
– bitter coffee
– sponge
– chocolate flakes
Preparation
Mount sugar and egg yolks until a foam that slowly add the mascarpone, mountedwith an electric mixer to a minimum. Stir in the egg whites in a circular motion from top to bottom so as not remove them.
Distribute the biscuits in a pan and moisten (not much) with the coffee. Spread withthe mascarpone cream, dusted with cocoa and chocolate chips. Superimposeanother layer of ladyfingers soaked in coffee, but arranged in the opposite direction (ifthe first vertical, horizontal, and now vice versa). Coat again with cream, sprinkle withcocoa and add chocolate chips for garnish.

Store in refrigerator. Serve cold.

BUON ANNO 2012

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Lampedusa: what kind of solution?

We have seen our italian isle, Lampedusa, full of people in these days.

We are used to seeing the island overrun by African migrants. But these days things get really difficult for residents. They are about 5000 and they must share this little land with more than 6000 migrants. We are all responsible for what is happening in North-Africa.  And we must find a common solution.

I love Africa, I love North Africa:Tunisia, Maroccan, Egypt. I do not know Libya but I know many people born there and then fled in response to changing political events (which seems, again, cyclically). They are wonderful land, rich in history and culture. The knowledge and the flavors arehanded down from father to son, from mother to daughter..They are the cradle of ancient civilizations which are still recalled by the monuments we admire.Every time I come back from a trip to find ways to be able to come back, maybe for a long time, even to live there.

Last summer when I was in Cairo I started a joke with a friend: I told him that I wanted to find a boyfriend in Egypt..He asked: why? and I said: because you are still capable of strong emotions and great courage.

This is true. If you watch the news broadcasts, photos, youtube-videos..you can see… you can see in their eyes the desire to change, the desire to be like all those who are free to surf the internet, drink a beer at the bar, go to discos, to study at university..wear a pair of jeans. Women and men of our time with a wealth of ancient history on his shoulders.

Africa can once again become the cradle of civilization and progress will be if only given the opportunity to those who live to be free to choose the path of development best suited to the community. No impositions dictated by the law of profit, Western exploitation of oil and mineral resources, but a duty to exchange know-how among those who are still capable of inventing a new future and perhaps sustainable.

So: Lampedusa…They canìt stay there for long time. They need a new chance. Let’s help them to find a new way for their life. Let’s host them in our Countries (they have friends in Italy, France, germany, Polland, Uk, Spain..). They are a great chance for many European who have the will to build their future and expect to have others do it.

Possiamo davvero pensare al nostro futuro comune..