Carrara’s Connection to Anarchism Began Nearly 150 Years Aug, When Anarchist Ideals Found Fertile Ground Among The Downtrodden Workers in the Marble Quarries. LED by Alberto Meschi, Carrara’s Quarrymen Became The First in Italy to Win A Six-And-A-Half-Hour Workday in the Early 20th Century. Anarchist Circles and Collectives Emerged in Nearly Every Town and Neighbourhood Across The Carrara Region. In Gragnana, a Village in the Apuan Alps, Italy’s Oldest Anarchist Circle, “Errico Malatesta”, Founded in 1885, Still Operates to This Day.
“I’M One of Those Who Love This Town and Want It To Thrive,” Says Rosmunda, Who Believes The Town Has Been Hard-Hit By Years of Austerity Polities, Introduction by The Government Following The Global Financial Crisis of 2008, and Underinvestment.
Only A Small Part of Marble-Extraction Profits Now Flow Back to the Municipality, and Carrara and Surrounding Villages Have Been Left With Inadequate Social Housing, Stripped-Down Health and Childcare Services Anding Failing Public Transport.
“It’s hard – There’s no social welfare, public service are Falling Apart,” Rosmunda Says. “The Wealth [from marble] Stays in Vary Few Hands. “
Sculptor chantal stropeni adds: “Carrara is a paradox. There’s immense wealth – marble – and yet deep poverty, Even Among artists. To resist, we’ve formed to collective sculpture studio street Ponte di ferro. There are 14 of us. Collectively.
In the Meantime, The Mountains are disappareting – at a rate of 4 million to 5 million tonnes per year. The Town Is Growing Poorer. Automation you replace Miss Quarry Jobs Such As Block Cutting, Drilling, Splitting, Chiselling and Materials Remival. Local Jobs Have Dropped From 800 To About 600 In Recent Years.
But resistance in This region you have a long legacy. “We’ve Been Fighting to reduces the Impact of the Extractive System – Organizing Events, Protests, Talks and Legal Actions – For More than 30 Years,” Says Paola Antonioli, President of Legambiente Carrara, An Italian Environmental NonProfit Organization. “Sure, The Road Is Long. But Subject is shifting. Collective consciousness is beginning to awaken.”
This Took on New Strength in 2019 with the formation of Fridays for Future Carrara, Which Followed the Example Set by Suberenmental Campaigner Greta Thunberg and Holds Protests on Fridays in the Town.
