Journalistic news article

Ercolano – the city which refuses to obey the mafia

Camorran loses his power in the suburbs of Napoli. There is not a mafia boss captured this time.

In Ercolano, like the known antique city which was overwhelmed by the ashes of the Vesuvius is called today, the mafia totally lost control.  – Not one shop owner is paying the mafia anymore and all of them have lodged a complaint to their extortionists, tells Tanno Grasso in triumph to DN when he has a quick visit in Rome.

Tanno Grasso is very experienced with how to stop the mafia on an effective way. He had en shoe shop on Sicily for more than 20 years ago. There he started a movement that grew quickly to a national network which was saying no to the unwanted protection by the mafia.

The protection money that has to be paid to the mafia is nothing more than a criminal and unwanted insurance premium called “pizzo” or more often in Napoli “racket”.

When Grasso settled in Napoli six years ago, he did start to adapt Ercolano. In the city, which counts more than 60,000 inhabitants, a bloody mafia war proceeded between two clans. Between 2002 and 2009 totally 60 murders occurred, something that made many tourists canceling their visit to the antique remains of the city.

One of the first who chose to lodge a complaint to their extortionists was Sofia Ciriello who has a big bakery. – Camorron was two times in the store. They wanted me to pay immediately 5.000 Euro (45.000 Swedish Crowns) and after that 500 Euro every month. I said no, both of the times, despite I was threatened with a pistol, is she telling by phone from Ercolano. Camorron wanted Sofia Ciriello to visit the mafia quarter Cuparella to agree on the payments. She did not. She neither submitted near she was threatened with a pistol. The mafia took revenge by placing a bomb which destroyed the bakery. Even this did not stop her. The bakery reopened and she lodged a complaint. The quarter’s butcher followed her like the fish shop, the optician and the jeweler.

Today is a big process taking place against mafia´s extortionists in Ercolano. 41 members of Camorron is accussed for threat and extorsion.

Tanno Grasso is satisfied. It is not sure that the Ercolano model will be exported. A series of fortunate circumstances caused that the mafia lost, does he point out.

Geography assignment on volcanoes

 2012-12-06

Churchill School, Class 4

Teacher: Krijn Bouhuis

Geography assignment on volcanoes

Product: Answers on the questions below, about volcanoes

Instructions:

• Read these instructions attentive!
• Work on the assignment together with the class mate you are normally working with.
• Make one set of answers for the both of you.
• Answer the questions below.
• Use literature from the library and/or use the internet in order to find the information that is needed to answer the questions.
• Write your answers as whole sentences.
• Use the computer for answering the questions. Handwritten answers are not accepted. You are welcome to illustrate your answers by pictures or handmade drawings.
• About question 1: write at least 5 sentences and use a picture or a drawing that illustrates your answer.
• About questions 7 and 8: write at least 5 sentences.
• Mention the used sources in your answers.
• Deadline of handing in: 16^th of December 2011.
• Good Luck!

Questions:

1. What is a volcano?  How does it work?
2. How becomes a volcano founded?
3. On which particular places on earth can we find volcanoes? Why?
4. What is the difference between magma and lava?
5. Why do often many people live nearby volcanoes?
6. Describe a death, a sleeping and an active volcano.
7. Write about an active volcano on Island. What happened with this volcano for two years ago?
8. What is the name of the volcano near Napoli in Italy and what happened with this volcano and some cities in the surroundings, about 2000 years ago? Write about this.

new version

Catty

It was Chrismas-eve, late at night. It was cold and it had snowed a lot. Alex, Jasmine, Mum and Dad came home. They had just visited grandma. They should drink a hot chocolate and after that is was it time to go to bed. Alex and Jasmine ran to the front door to open it. “Ouch!” Alex cried. He stumbled over something. “What was that?” Alex and Jasmine could not believe their eyes. There was an old woman lying in front of their house. The old woman woke up and said with a friendly voice “Help me please.” Jasmine and Alex were frightened to death and ran back to the car. “Mum, Dad” they cried. “There is an old lady lying there and she wants us to help her”. “We can do that” Dad said. “It’s incredibly cold and we have enough beds.” “Let’s see, where is she lying, in front of the door?” “Alex, Jasmine, I do not see an old woman, are you joking?” “There is only a cat here,” Dad said. “No, we are not joking!” Alex and Jasmine cried. “There was really an old lady. But could we take the cat inside? Please?” “Ok, ok, it is Christmas-eve so why not” Dad said. The cat was wet and cold and seemed extremely happy that she may came in. Mum opened a tin with fish for the cat and Dad prepared the chocolate for the children. Catty (they called the cat for “Catty”) finished her fish in a minute, she was really hungry. For Jasmine and Alex was it time to put on their pyjamas and go to bed. “Good night Mum and Dad, good night Catty.” They went to bed en slept quickly, dreaming about how they should play with Catty tomorrow morning….