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Severgnini, Beppe
5 articles of this author have been cited in the European Press Review so far.
Stop imitating Italian cuisine!
Columnist Beppe Severgnini has jumped to the defence of authentic Italian cuisine. "Stop eating fake Italian cuisine. Stop sanctifying anybody that has a name that ends in a vowel and writes cookery books. Stop ordering a smoking cappuccino after a dish of egg-based pasta. This message goes out not just to Americans, although they are the best-meaning sinners. It goes out to all foreigners. We encourage them to love Italian cookery, but not to open it up to parody. The global success of our cuisine lies in its simplicity and in the fact that it's easy to imitate, healthy and cheap. These qualities, along with the diaspora of the past 150 years have spread our culinary traditions all over the world. ... The assault on Italian cuisine is insidious precisely because it is involuntary: the saboteurs are acting out of their love for it."
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More from the press review on the subject » Public Culture, » Italy
'Skypare' and 'googlare', two new words in the Italian dictionnary
The editorialist Beppe Severgnini wonders whether new Internet vocabulary should be translated. "I admit that I have never read nor heard the verb 'Skypare'. I used it once because the Italian translation 'telephone with Skype', is longer: 16 letters instead of 5 ... . Every new instrument develops its particular vocabulary that surprises at first without resorting to ministerial commissions: the tribunal ruled over by habit is less merciful ... . Today we have to decide what to do with Skype and Google. Should the terms be translated, kept as they are, or turned into verbs?"
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More from the press review on the subject » Online media, » Italy
The EU is seeking a future for itself
The Italian journalist and writer Beppe Severigni calls on History to defend the European project. "The future of the European Union will be at stake over the next few hours. We had heard and read about it: the German revolving presidency was determined to take apart the Constitution, a text that no longer carries that name. Despite being approved by eighteen countries, it was abandoned because of the French and Dutch referendums in 2005. Today there is nothing but talk about a new mini-treaty aimed at giving the new Europe of 27 countries a set of new rules, seeing as the current ones don't work anymore ... . [As is recalled by the Hungarian writer Imre Kertész], Europe was born out of an historic decision: the decision of Athens to oppose the Persians. Do we really have to wait for the Persians to come back to understand that it is good, right and necessary to stay together?"
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More from the press review on the subject » EU Policy, » Europe
Italians are called to defend family values on the street
Catholic organisations have called for a demonstration on May 12th in Rome to defend "family values". The journalist and writer Beppe Severgnini explains why he doubts the grounds of this rally that has been baptised with an English name, 'Family Day'. "Granted, family remains the cement of Italian society. But are we sure that a demonstration needs to be organised in order to defend it? It seems to me that this is diminishing its importance. What kind of person goes down onto the street? Football fans out to party, frustrated dissidents, obscure minorities, those, for example, who go around collecting signatures to change the electoral law. ... Why doesn't family day suit me? Because of its English name? I don't think so. We are used to this linguistic sloth. The problem is more serious, it doesn't suit me because it doesn't strike me as charitable ... . Are we sure that this day isn't cruel for those suffering from solitude, failure and separation?"
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More from the press review on the subject » Domestic Policy, » Religion, » Weltanschauung, » Italy
The pathetic prospect of the Italian tourist industry
The journalist and writer Beppe Severigni wonders what Italy has left to offer tourists. "The readers [who are writing letters to the newspapers] travel, see, verify and evaluate, and every time, they are a bit more embarrassed. The blackberry bushes, linseed, rye and hemp are disappearing. Orchards are shrinking, corn, soy and rice are increasing. The land is dry and barren, a bit like the plains in America. Less swamp-land, less cultivation, fewer trees, fewer colours. ... Ironically it is this patchy Italy that wants to be reborn as tourism's super power ... . In addition, only 41 % of the hospitality industry offers Internet to its clients, one out of five hotel rooms. An this is the 21st century, in a country without any raw material and practically deprived of any big industry we want to become a superpower for tourism. What's the big deal ? Oh, nothing, summer is on it's way, let's just think about having fun."
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More from the press review on the subject » Infrastructure / Travel and Transport, » Labour market / Services, » Italy
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