Italy Population: 58 000 000 Life Expectancy: 80.2 Years Fertility
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Italy
Population: 58 000 000 Life expectancy: 80.2 years Fertility rate: 1.31 children/woman School life expectancy: 16 years Religion: Roman Catholic (88%), Non-religious (7%) Islam (2%), Orthodox Catholic (1.2%), Evangelical (0.8%) Other (1%) Persistent problems in Italy include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with with the ros erous north. north. Concerns Organized crime Italy has a time-honoured tradition of organised crime, especially in the south. While this makes a base for numerous entertaining movies, it also is a severe problem with respect to democracy, freedom and drug abuse, in Italy as well as around the globe. The mafias are specializing in heroin and military arms trafficking, money laundering, cocaine and people smuggling as well as political corruption. Corruption Italy has the highest number of members of parliament found guilty of criminal offences in Europe. Corruption and affiliations to the mafia has caused numerous political crises in the last decades. Natural disasters In southern Italy there are frequent earthquakes and active volcanoes that constantly threatens the local population. Through the centuries there has been plenty of fatal earthquakes, for instance in 1908, when 70 000 Italians lost their lives. The last o ccurrence of a major earthquake was in April 2009, causing 295 deaths.
The volcano Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, as there are over three million inhabitants nearby, and it has explosive tendencies. Low fertility rate A low fertility rate causes a rise in the average age, increasing the pressure on a shrinking work force. The pressure is particularly high in health care occupations.
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Pray for a decline in organised crime Pray for those who suffer the consequences of organised crime Pray for the numerous of illegal immigrants that get caught up in criminal networks seeking to make money out of their desperate circumstances. Pray for the integrity of police officers, politicians and judges as they fight for a better society Pray for those who have suffered losses in earthquakes Pray for the volcano Vesuvius, that it remains calm for yet another thousand years. Pray for the challenges related to the low fertility rates Pray for Italy’s political leaders, that they may reign wisely for the benefit of their country and for the world Pray for the advancement of justice and selfless love in Italy
Head of Government: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi The successful entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi entered politics in 1994 by introducing his own political party “Forza Italia,” which primarily focused on defeating the communists. With respect to foreign affairs, Berlusconi is among the most vocal supporters of closer ties between Russia and the European Union; in the same spirit he wants to invite Turkey to join the EU. Simultaneously he has supported US with forces in Iraq. Berlusconi is however a figure of great controversy. He has been accused of entering politics with the purpose of avoiding bankruptcy, and he has an extensive record of criminal allegations, including mafia collusion, false accounting, tax fraud, corruption and bribery of police officers and judges. Yet, so far he has never been convicted. His overwhelming control over broadcasting media is also criticized.
Chief of State: President Giorgio Napolitano Napolitano started his political career as an anti-fascist activist during Second World War, and joined the Communist Party immediately afterwards, where he held various positions till its dissolution in 1992. When Napolitano was elected president of Italy in 2006, he was the first former communist ever to hold that position. On February 6, 2009 President Napolitano refused to sign an emergency decree made by the Berlusconi government in order to suspend a final court sentence allowing suspension of nutrition to 38-year old coma patient Eluana Englaro; the decree was enacted by Berlusconi himself despite being already notified from Napolitano regarding the unconstitutionality of such a measure.
Population: 58 000 000 Life expectancy: 80.2 years Fertility rate: 1.31 children/woman School life expectancy: 16 years Religion: Roman Catholic (88%), Non-religious (7%) Islam (2%), Orthodox Catholic (1.2%), Evangelical (0.8%) Other (1%) Persistent problems in Italy include illegal immigration, organized crime, corruption, high unemployment, sluggish economic growth, and the low incomes and technical standards of southern Italy compared with with the ros erous north. north. Concerns Organized crime Italy has a time-honoured tradition of organised crime, especially in the south. While this makes a base for numerous entertaining movies, it also is a severe problem with respect to democracy, freedom and drug abuse, in Italy as well as around the globe. The mafias are specializing in heroin and military arms trafficking, money laundering, cocaine and people smuggling as well as political corruption. Corruption Italy has the highest number of members of parliament found guilty of criminal offences in Europe. Corruption and affiliations to the mafia has caused numerous political crises in the last decades. Natural disasters In southern Italy there are frequent earthquakes and active volcanoes that constantly threatens the local population. Through the centuries there has been plenty of fatal earthquakes, for instance in 1908, when 70 000 Italians lost their lives. The last o ccurrence of a major earthquake was in April 2009, causing 295 deaths.
The volcano Vesuvius is one of the most dangerous volcanoes in the world, as there are over three million inhabitants nearby, and it has explosive tendencies. Low fertility rate A low fertility rate causes a rise in the average age, increasing the pressure on a shrinking work force. The pressure is particularly high in health care occupations.
Suggested prayer topics • •
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pray for a decline in organised crime Pray for those who suffer the consequences of organised crime Pray for the numerous of illegal immigrants that get caught up in criminal networks seeking to make money out of their desperate circumstances. Pray for the integrity of police officers, politicians and judges as they fight for a better society Pray for those who have suffered losses in earthquakes Pray for the volcano Vesuvius, that it remains calm for yet another thousand years. Pray for the challenges related to the low fertility rates Pray for Italy’s political leaders, that they may reign wisely for the benefit of their country and for the world Pray for the advancement of justice and selfless love in Italy
Head of Government: Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi The successful entrepreneur Silvio Berlusconi entered politics in 1994 by introducing his own political party “Forza Italia,” which primarily focused on defeating the communists. With respect to foreign affairs, Berlusconi is among the most vocal supporters of closer ties between Russia and the European Union; in the same spirit he wants to invite Turkey to join the EU. Simultaneously he has supported US with forces in Iraq. Berlusconi is however a figure of great controversy. He has been accused of entering politics with the purpose of avoiding bankruptcy, and he has an extensive record of criminal allegations, including mafia collusion, false accounting, tax fraud, corruption and bribery of police officers and judges. Yet, so far he has never been convicted. His overwhelming control over broadcasting media is also criticized.
Chief of State: President Giorgio Napolitano Napolitano started his political career as an anti-fascist activist during Second World War, and joined the Communist Party immediately afterwards, where he held various positions till its dissolution in 1992. When Napolitano was elected president of Italy in 2006, he was the first former communist ever to hold that position. On February 6, 2009 President Napolitano refused to sign an emergency decree made by the Berlusconi government in order to suspend a final court sentence allowing suspension of nutrition to 38-year old coma patient Eluana Englaro; the decree was enacted by Berlusconi himself despite being already notified from Napolitano regarding the unconstitutionality of such a measure.
