General strike in Europe on 14N - November 14 European action

There were literally millions of people out demonstrating on the streets of Europe yesterday in the largest European general strike ever held. One thing they all agreed on, "We have no future!" Includes videos.

In total, workers in 23 countries across Europe participated in the European Day of Action and Solidarity. As reported by Digital Journal on Wednesday, some actions were small and others were full-blown strikes. 

The Europe-wide strike action was coordinated by the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC) and promoted on Twitter under the hashtag “#14N".. read more and watch videos.

Venice, Italy flooded with high tide and rain (video)

Venice has been inundated with high water levels since Thursday, due to a high tide. The city is on high alert as the water is not expected to recede for at least 15 hours.

While people are used to a lot of water in Venice, Venetians took to wearing high boots and using wooden walkways to wade through the streets on Thursday. Some shops and ground-floor apartments were flooded.

With Venice having been built on hundreds of small islands, the city often experiences high water levels in autumn and winter... read more and watch video.

Venice and Veneto region seeking independence from Italy (video)

First it was Scotland and Catalonia protesting for independence, now the people of Venice and the Veneto area of Italy also want to be separate, free and on their own.

Instead of being saddled with austerity by Rome, Venice wants to be free. Over 70% of residents in the area support the push for independence, according to the latest poll conducted by local newspaper Il Gazzettino, although a previous poll conducted by Corriere della Sera in September found that 80% were in favor.

Protesters gathered in front of the central government building in Veneto, Italy on Saturday, demanding an immediate referendum on the region's independence from Rome.... read more.

Video: Italian miner slits wrist to protest mine shut down

One of the Sardinian coal miners, barricaded underground in protest over the possible closure of the mine, slit his wrist live on TV during a press conference.

Digital Journal reported on August 27, that 100 miners had barricaded themselves underground in the Carbosulcis di Nuraxi Figus mine, just west of the Sardinian capital city of Cagliari. This was ahead of a government meeting on the future of the mine... read more and watch video.

Sardinian coal miners barricade themselves in over job security

100 workers in the only Italian coal mine have barricaded themselves in, armed with explosives, wanting reassurance their jobs will continue.

Around 100 Sardinian miners, armed with hundreds of pounds of explosives, have barricaded themselves just over 1,300 ft (400m) underground, to put pressure on Rome to ensure the survival of the mine, and also their jobs... read more.

Syria Files: Selex sold communication technology to police forces

WikiLeaks has released the "Syria Files", which reveal embarrassing ties between Syria and various Western entities. This article relates to Selex, a subsidiary of the Italian communications company, Finmeccanica.

Digital Journal reported on the release by WikiLeaks of the "Syria Files" on July 5. This release involves a series of controversial emails and documents that will very embarrassing to both the Syrian government, its opponents and also Western companies with business ties with Syria.

Among the 2011 and 2012 emails in this release are documents relating to Selex, a subsidiary of the Italian communications company, Finmeccanica.... read more.

Video: Spanish fans celebrate Spain's win in Euro 2012

The Spanish team thrashed Italy 4-0 and naturally the crowds went wild. While cheers could be heard all over Spain, fireworks lit the skies in Kiev to mark the end of Euro 2012.

At the Euro 2012 final in Kiev, Spain played a magnificent game and will be retaining their title as European champions, with a score of 4-0 against Italy.. read more and watch videos.

Op-Ed: Spain gears up for tomorrow's final in the Euro 2012

Despite being Saturday night, it's a quiet evening here in Spain. Everyone must be having an early night in hopeful anticipation.

Will Spain retain the Euro 2012 championship tomorrow? We will have to wait and see, when they enter Kiev's Olympic Stadium tomorrow evening to go head-to-head with Italy.

One thing is for sure, all thoughts of bail-outs and austerity will be on hold for a while.

While waiting to see who wins, I thought I would put some impressions together of what it is like to live in Spain during football championships.... read more.

Video: Demolition of earthquake damaged bell tower in Italy

Many old buildings were damaged in the recent earthquakes and aftershocks in Italy. Some are beyond repair and have to be demolished for safety.

Digital Journal reported on the 6.0- and 5.8-magnitude earthquakes and the strong aftershocks in Italy during May.

As reported, besides the tragic deaths from the earthquakes and the following aftershocks, many old buildings were badly damaged.

Read more and view video

Aerial video of Italy ruins & collapsed buildings after quake

The video shows collapsed factory and other buildings damaged in the 5.8-magnitude earthquake which hit on Tuesday this week.

Digital Journal reported on the 5.8-magnitude earthquake which hit Italy on Tuesday.

17 people are confirmed dead and 200 people were injured in the quake. Thousands have been left homeless in the agricultural and industrial area north of Bologna in the second fatal earthquake in just 9 days... read full article and view video.

5.8 magnitude earthquake hits Modena, Parma & Bologna, Italy

Northern Italy has once again experienced an earthquake this morning with a 5.8 magnitude quake striking near Parma, Modena and Bologna.

Digital Journal reported on the earthquake and aftershocks experienced in Italy earlier this month, with 6 people reported dead and 50 injured. Scores of historic buildings were destroyed during both the earthquake and the aftershocks.

Now according to the U.S. Geological Survey, a further 5.8 quake has struck Northern Italy, causing more buildings to collapse in the same areas affected by the previous earthquake... read full article.

Italy continues to experience aftershocks following 6.0 quake

With more aftershocks shaking the country, buildings continue to fall. Some 3,000 people have been evacuated to safety and rescuers search the rubble for more.

Digital Journal reported earlier today on the 6.0 magnitude earthquake which has struck northern Italy. At that stage, five people had been killed and fifty others injured. Much damage had occurred to buildings in the area.

The total of dead has now risen to six and the initial earthquake, which occurred at 4:04 am (02:04 GMT) affected the cities of Mantua, Verona, Ferrara and Modena... read full article and view video.

Arab Spring: Life on the curb (RT documentary)

A different view on the situation with illegal immigrants in Italy. People escaping from war-torn countries have nowhere else to go.

Due to violence in the Arab Spring and the civil war in Somalia, many refugees take a boat across to Italy in hope of a better life.

Many head for Rome and either sleep on the streets or squat in empty buildings. But more head for Lampedusa Island.

The Somalians have more luck when arriving in Italy, due to the civil war in their country giving them a legitimate reason to apply for asylum. However, the Libyans don't have the same luck, as their country is now considered to be settled and the government legitimate. But for black Libyans especially, it is not a safe place to return home to... read full article and view documentary.

Video: Italy museum burns art to protest deadly cuts

In the latest drastic example of protests against austerity measures, an art museum director has promised to burn 3 pieces of art per week until the Italian government listens to him.

"Our 1,000 artworks are headed for destruction anyway because of the government's indifference," said Antonio Manfredit of the Casoria Contemporary Art Museum in Naples, as he set fire to the first painting on Tuesday.

Artists have given their permission for this and the first piece was by French artist Severine Bourguignon, who was in favour of the protest and watched it online.

Manfredi says he will burn 3 paintings a week from now on, in a protest he has dubbed "Art War"... read full article and watch video.

Video: Singing plants of Damanhur eco-society

Damanhur, an eco-society based on ethical and spiritual values, has centers and activities in Italy, Europe, Japan and the United States. They are experimenting with plants and generating music from them.

Damanhur collaborates with international organizations engaged in the social, civic and spiritual development of the planet and has been awarded by an agency of the United Nations as a model for a sustainable future.

The Federation was founded in 1975 and has approximately 1,000 citizens and over 500 hectares of territory throughout Valchiusella and the the Alto Canavese area, at the foothills of the Piedmont Alps.

For 30 years, Damanhur has been experimenting with plants to find out if they are intelligent beings. They say that plants can pick up the emotions of people and react to these emotions.... read full article and watch video.

Video: Italy's Mount Etna erupts hurling lava & ash into sky

Mount Etna has erupted for the 6th time this year on April 12, from a new crater on its south-eastern slope. There appears to be no danger to houses or people in the area.

Mount Etna is Europe's highest and most active volcano, and is situated on the southern Italian island of Sicily.

RT reports that normally Etna erupts at least twice per year, but in 2012 it appears to be far more active than usual as the volcano has spewed lava and ash 3 times over the past month, approximately 12 days apart, and a total of 6 times this year.  Read full article and view video.