George Clooney Filming Movie In Earthquake Hit Area, L'Aquila, Italy.

Hollywood actor and humanitarian, George Clooney visited the earthquake hit area of L'aquila, Italy yesterday during the G8 summit. He vowed to help the region by announcing a part of his upcoming movie set to film in September, will be shot in parts of L'aquila, Italy. Clooney's hope is to bring a boost to the Italian town and get it back on its feet. Clooney's been known to bring attention to world issues and says, "The only way that people who are famous can help is by bringing attention." God, I love that guy.

For more on the story:
http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b133407_george_clooney_pull_italian_job.html

(AP Photo/Alessandra Tarantino) Tweet

Madonna, Italian American Celebrity, Gives To the Victims of the Italian Earthquake.

Famous Italian American celebrity, Madonna has pledged an undisclosed large amount of money to the victims of the earthquake in L'Aquila. Madonna was quoted as saying. ""I am happy to lend a helping hand to the town that my ancestors are from."

I commend her for being one of the first influential Italian American celebrities to step forward and help the victims of this tragic event in Italy.

Here's more on the story:

http://tinyurl.com/c7mdns

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How You Can Help the Victims of the Italian Earthquake.

These past few days for the people of L'Aquila in the Abruzzo region of Italy have been devastating. Many have endured tragedy along with losing their homes. Tents were set up by the local government and make shift hospitals were resurrected in the streets in order for the injured to receive care. We hope and pray that rescue workers will continue finding those trapped, as they've done an incredible job already.

If you want to help, the National Italian American Foundation has set up a relief fund for your convenience.

https://www.niaf.org/relief/Relief_info.asp

(Photo-Epa)

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Breaking News..... Earthquake Hits Central Italy.

We would like to extend our prayers to the people of Italy who suffered great tragedy last night while a 6.3 Earthquake shook and destroyed many homes and buildings in neighboring cities outside of Rome and further central. We send our warmest wishes for every one's health.

To find out what you can do to help: Click onto Why Go Italy's site, where you can find detailed info on donating necessities to the hard hit areas. http://bit.ly/vTk0


News Articles:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_italy_earthquake

http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/europe/04/06/italy.quake/index.html Tweet

Commemorating the 100th Anniversary of the Messina Earthquake.

Interestingly enough, I was reading the article today on i-italy.org on the commemoration of the earthquake in Messina, Sicily/Reggio Calabria. Now, what's so interesting for me, is that this is a very familiar topic, because where my family is from and still lives, is in Reggio Calabria. We are directly on the beach in Calabria, facing the Strait of Messina.

When I'm there, I swim in the very water and walk on the land where the earthquake had devastating effects. The most interesting part about the earthquake, is that I am directly connected to that tragedy because my father's grandparents both perished in that earthquake and my mother's grandmother was trapped in her house for days and almost died. By a miracle, she survived and this story was told over and over again, to the family, to my mother and then to me and my siblings. To know about the devastation and then be there first hand, is very moving.

If you visit Calabria you know its literally a skip away from Messina. So, the region in itself was completely hit by this enormous earthquake. When you're in Calabria, the characteristics of the region almost seem untouched. You will see houses that were built 100 years ago, that are still in ruins or somewhat resurrected. I always say Calabria gets a bad rap, but to be in Calabria is like being part of history and living in it. There is something to be said about the untouched ruins or the archaic streets. So, when I read the article today, it really hit me, because here we are on this side of the pond talking about the devastation to a region that many people have no idea about or a region that many people left because of the devastation generations ago.

Its an interesting concept to realize that you're part of something or that you're living somewhere else because of an indirect event in history. Its all very surreal. So, I leave you with the article from today's commemoration. Its fascinating. Also, the picture I'm posting..is the same area where the devastation occurred 100 years ago. This is my personal picture from the summer in Reggio Calabria and the view is looking towards Messina, Sicily.

http://www.i-italy.org/5311/commemorating-centenary-strait-messina-earthquake-italian-academy Tweet