Stefano Schirato

Where Shall I Go?

“I don’t think anyone will survive,” said Schiavone, repentant, in his secret testimony. “In Casal di Principe, Castel Volturno, and so on, the inhabitants are all at risk of dying from cancer within twenty years.” He was former treasurer of Casalesi clan controlling the territory in the so-called “Land of fires”: an area in Campania, situated among the province of Caserta and Naples, sadly known for being the most polluted area of this region, due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. Waste is not only buried underground, in fields where agriculture and farming are present, but also incinerated. The environmental disaster is the greatest in Italy, affecting not only soil, and the related products of agriculture and breeding, but also the aquifer. The presence of leachate flowing underground; poisons filling up enormous caves; the air unbreathable due to miasmas and the smoke coming from pyres set on fire. Day by day, the lives of people living near the dumping sites are put at risk, especially among children and young people.

My work is actually made of two strands: on one hand, the story of a land, tormented by an underworld pollution, that’s sentencing the inhabitants to death. On the other hand, my purpose is to tell the story of its inhabitants: young children who died of cancer; inconsolable but courageous mothers, who unceasingly march and protest against this massacre; ill people, daily fighting to keep alive; teenagers who lost their parents and claim a better future. All these people united by the same destiny and by such a strong attachment to their origins that if you dare ask them why they don’t decide to move somewhere else, you might get an answer like “And where shall I go?”.

Casalnuovo-Napoli Waste in Via “Cinquevie”, in the heart of Land of Fires. April, 18 2015 Casalnuovo, Naples. Casalnuovo is a small town within the so-called “Land of fires”, an area in Campania between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. The result of the illegal industrial dumping, hidden underneath various sites in Campania, is dioxin, tetrachloride, lead, arsenic, PCBs, asbestos, industrial sludge, toxic solvents, and other chemicals seeping into the soil and ground water. I came across the scene while I was walking in the surroundings of Casalnuovo. I didn’t influence the scene in anyway.

Villaricca-Naples, Italy. Pina Palma, 52 years old, wiping one’s eyes, while she’s talking about her daughter Francesca died because of an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. She was only 7 years old. Francesca is one of many young victims of a disaster, that’s been going on for too long. Villaricca-Naples,Italy. April, 27 2016 Villaricca is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania among the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, though a direct connection between illegal landfills and illness has not been officially proved yet. Pina is one of many mothers-courage, fighting for justice and for the revival of Land of fires.

Pollution in Regi Lagni in the surroundings of Marigliano.
May, 25 2015 Marigliano- Naples Regi Lagni are an artificial water way, piping rainy and spring waters into the seaside of Caserta, projected by the Bourbons. The works for repairing Regi Lagni led to inquiries and police raids since the beginning of 90’s.
Rubbish was dumped illegally onto the seaside near Caserta. Cow buffalo farms poured poinson, slime, liquid and solid rubbish into the water pipes, that flowed in the mouth of Volturno river. I came across the scene while I was walking in the surroundings of Marigliano. I didn’t influence the scene in anyway.

Orta di Atella-Caserta Farmings along the extension of Via Clanio in Orta di Atella. This is one the most polluted areas, due to toxic waste is illegally dumped.

A Roma child comes out of the toilet of the camp. May, 28 2015 Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano-Naples Roma from the camp in Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) live differently from other Roma camps in Italy. The municipality of Naples allowed them to live in an authorized area, within the Land of fires, surrounded by highly contaminated dumps. Giugliano, a town of about 120,000 inhabitants, is in fact the heart of the so-called “Land of fires” is an area in Campania, situated between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly known for being the most polluted area of this region, due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. Half of the Roma living here are children and they are totally abandoned to themselves, without either the possibility to attend school or have a proper health assistance. Their playground is the dump; they wander and play and spend their days between toxic miasmas and industrial waste. I came across the scene while having a tour of the surroundings of Giugliano. I didn’t influence the scene in any way.

Member of State Forestry Corp enters an illegall legal dump site, revealed by Carmine Schiavone, pentito, former high-ranking member of the Casalesi clan. Casal di Principe – Naples June, 15 2016 Especially in small towns like Casal di Principe, by burying the waste in its backyard near Naples and the surrounding region of Campania, Camorra ensured a measure of protection, and silence. Bosses often exert a powerful influence over the local economy and politicians, “The inhabitants are all at risk of dying from cancer within twenty years,” said Carmine Schiavone, repentant and former treasurer of Casalesi clan, in his secret testimony. “In towns like Casapesenna, Casal di Principe, Castel Volturno, and so on, they have, perhaps, twenty years to live. In fact I don’t think anyone will survive” continued Schiavone. I was brought to the site by the activist Enzo Tosti. I didn’t influence the scene in any way.

Pollution in Regi Lagni in the surroundings of Marcianise.
May, 25 2015 Loc. Santa Veneranda-Marcianise (Caserta) Regi Lagni are an artificial water way, piping rainy and spring waters into the seaside of Caserta, projected by the Bourbons. The works for repairing Regi Lagni led to inquiries and police raids since the beginning of 90’s.
Rubbish was dumped illegally onto the seaside near Caserta. Cow buffalo farms poured poinson, slime, liquid and solid rubbish into the water pipes, that flowed in the mouth of Volturno river. I came across the scene while I was walking in the surroundings of Marcianise. I didn’t influence the scene in anyway.

Casalnuovo-Napoli Banner written by Gabriele Aiello and the Committe of the association “C’at accis a’ salut”, (“You have killed our health), formed by about 50 teenagers, all between 16 and 19 years old. The writing says: “Camorra is a mountain of shit”.

Maura Messina, 29 years old, shows a small catheter under her breast skin.If cancer should ever occur again, chemotherapy would be injected through it. She will get rid of it only after 5 years from the last chemotherapy cycle have passed. September, 15 2015 Villaricca-Naples. Maura fell ill with tumour when she was 26 and finally beat it after several chemotherapy cycles. Maura has written a book, “Diary of a kemionauta” and she’s very busy launching it all over Campania to sensitize public opinion about the Land of fires. Land of fires is an area in Campania between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. The result of the illegal industrial dumping, hidden underneath various sites in Campania, is dioxin, tetrachloride, lead, arsenic, PCBs, asbestos, industrial sludge, toxic solvents, and other chemicals seeping into the soil and ground water. I met Maura in her home, and I asked her to pose for me.

AFRAGOLA-NAPOLI Anna Magri, 39 years old, lives in Afragola, one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires. Her son Riccardo is one of many young victims of a disaster, that’s been going on for too long. In 2009 he died because of an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He was only 22 months old.
Riccardo’s cradle in his parents’ bedroom.

Marzia Caccioppoli, 40 years old, in front of the church of San Paolo al Parco Verde in Caivano, Naples. May, 28 2015 Caivano-Naples. Marzia lost her 9 years old son Antonio because of brain tumour. He was ill with Glioblastoma multiforme, a type of cancer that generally strikes elderly people, in particular in Japanese areas affected by radioactivity. She has founded the association “Noi genitori di tutti” (We, everybody’s parents) and she is one of many mothers-courage, fighting for justice and for the revival of the Land of fires, where the ground is polluted and poisoned by industrial waste illegaly buried. She attend the parish of Don Maurizio Patricello, an activist priest who in the last years has been fighting for the rebirth of the Land of fires. I met Marzia outside the church of Don Patricello and while she was praying in front of the cross, I decided to take the photograph. I didn’t influence the scene in anyway.

A Roma child climbs over the steel fence around the camp. All around it, fields are full of waste. December, 15 2015 Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano-Naples Roma from the camp in Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) live differently from other Roma camps in Italy. The municipality of Naples allowed them to live in an authorized area, within the Land of fires, surrounded by highly contaminated dumps. Giugliano, a town of about 120,000 inhabitants, is in fact the heart of the so-called “Land of fires” is an area in Campania, situated between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly known for being the most polluted area of this region, due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. Half of the Roma living here are children and they are totally abandoned to themselves, without either the possibility to attend school or have a proper health assistance. Their playground is the dump; they wander and play and spend their days between toxic miasmas and industrial waste. I came across the scene while having a tour of the surroundings of Giugliano. I didn’t influence the scene in any way.

Protest against the plan to realize a new dumping site in the area close to Chiaiano, Marano and Giugliano. The new site should be able to contain 1 million and a half tons of waste. Chiaiano-Naples (Italy) November 16, 2016. Chiaiano is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, officially connected to illegal landfills.

Luigi de Magistris, mayor of Naples, during a protest against the plan to realize a new dumping site in the area among Chiaiano, Marano and Giugliano. The new site should be able to contain 1 million and a half tons of waste. Chiaiano-Naples (Italy) November 16, 2016. Chiaiano is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, officially connected to illegal landfills.

Afragola-Naples, Italy. Funeral of Raffaela Loffredo, died because of a cancer. She was 62 years old. Raffaela is one of the victims of a disaster, that’s been going on for too long. Afragola-Naples,Italy. April 27, 2016. Afragola is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania among the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, though a direct connection between illegal landfills and illness has not been officially proved yet.

Rosa Bianco, 67 years old, shows me the notebook with the names of inhabitants of Terzigno, who fell ill with cancer. September, 16 2015 Terzigno, Naples. Rosa has collected 120 evidences of tumour on her notebook, so far. Thanks to her work, environmentalist lawyers Maria Rosaria Esposito and Mariella Stanziano are fighting to have local cancer registers updated and obtain proper drainage and environmental protection. In 2010 she fell ill with leukaemia and now she lives a life of medicines and chemotherapy cycles. In the last two years she has been reporting on her notebook all the sick people living around Cava Ranieri, a disused waste storage that has gradually become a stinky poisoned lake full of leachate. The site was meant to be only temporary but delays and emergencies have always prevented drainage operations. Tarpaulin are torn by bad weather and rubbish has started to ferment. I met Rosa in her home and I asked her to show me her notebook.

Cars stolen and then burned, found in the Roma camp by the police. Giugliano – Masseria del Pozzo-Naples (Italy) June 15, 2016. Roma from the camp in Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) live differently from other Roma camps in Italy. The municipality of Naples allowed them to live in an authorized area, within the Land of fires, surrounded by highly contaminated dumps. Giugliano, a town of about 120,000 inhabitants, is in fact the heart of the so-called “Land of fires” is an area in Campania, situated between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly known for being the most polluted area of this region, due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. Half of the Roma living here are children and they are totally abandoned to themselves, without either the possibility to attend school or have a proper health assistance. Their playground is the dump; they wander and play and spend their days between toxic miasmas and industrial waste.

A shovel digs into the ground in the Ex Pozzi area in Calvi Risorta. This area is supposed to be the widest illegal dump in Europe. June, 17 2015 Calvi Risorta-Caserta In the Land of fires, in Campania, they’re still digging in order to understand the amount of buried waste: industrial muds; 25 kilos nags once containing toxic chemical materials produced by French companies; damaged cans with remains of solvents and varnishes. Special waste continuously emerges from the ground of the industrial area, disused 30 years ago. I came across the scene because I was with the Country Rangers to see with my eyes, digging operations. I didn’t influence the scene in anyway.

A carpet hangs from the steel fence around the Roma camp. Behind it, in the distance, a column of black smoke is rising up. December, 15 2015 Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) Roma from the camp in Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) live differently from other Roma camps in Italy. The municipality of Naples allowed them to live in an authorized area, within the Land of fires, surrounded by highly contaminated dumps. Giugliano, a town of about 120,000 inhabitants, is in fact the heart of the so-called “Land of fires” is an area in Campania, situated between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly known for being the most polluted area of this region, due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. Half of the Roma living here are children and they are totally abandoned to themselves, without either the possibility to attend school or have a proper health assistance. Their playground is the dump; they wander and play and spend their days between toxic miasmas and industrial waste. I came across the scene while having a tour of the surroundings of Giugliano. I didn’t influence the scene in any way.

Roma children set up fires. Though it’s winter, they don’t wear clothes. December, 15 2015 Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) Roma from the camp in Masseria del Pozzo in Giugliano (NA) live differently from other Roma camps in Italy. The municipality of Naples allowed them to live in an authorized area, within the Land of fires, surrounded by highly contaminated dumps. Giugliano, a town of about 120,000 inhabitants, is in fact the heart of the so-called “Land of fires” is an area in Campania, situated between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly known for being the most polluted area of this region, due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. Half of the Roma living here are children and they are totally abandoned to themselves, without either the possibility to attend school or have a proper health assistance. Their playground is the dump; they wander and play and spend their days between toxic miasmas and industrial waste. I came across the scene while having a tour of the surroundings of Giugliano. I didn’t influence the scene in any way.

Portici, Naples, Italy. Sabrina Russo, 5 years old, is fighting with an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. Now is in the period of maintenance care. Sabrina is one of many young victims of a disaster, that’s been going on for too long. Sabrina’s mother, Gilda, 26 years old, is one of many mothers-courage, fighting for justice and for the revival of Land of fires.

Naples-Italy ‘Bipiani’ quarter in the Ponticelli district, Naples. ‘Bibiani’ buildings are made with asbestos in which Africans, Albanians and Italians live in inhuman conditions.

Gricignano di Aversa-Caserta, Italy. Anna Guarino, 55 years old, mother of Salvatore died in 2009 because of an acute lymphoblastic leukaemia. He was only 12 years old. Salvatore is one of many young victims of a disaster, that’s been going on for too long. Gricignano di Aversa-Caserta, Italy. April, 27 2016 Gricignano di Aversa is one of the towns in the so-called Land of fires, an area in Campania among the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, though a direct connection between illegal landfills and illness has not been officially proved yet. Anna is one of many mothers-courage, fighting for justice and for the revival of Land of fires.

Naples-Italy. State Road 162 Asse Mediano is the main suburban freeway in the city of Naples underground. This road network touches all the countries of the Land of Fires: Afragola, Casalnuovo, Acerra, Pomigliano D’Arco.

Naples-Italy ‘Bipiani’ quarter in the Ponticelli district, Naples. ‘Bibiani’ buildings are made with asbestos in cui Africans, Albanians and Italians live in inhuman conditions.

Assunta Tuzzolo, 51 years old, puts away the wig she used to wear during chemotherapy cycles. December, 15 2015. Terzigno, Naples Assunta lost her father for non-Hodgkin lymphoma in 1998 and her sister, aged 61, for a breast cancer. Two years ago, she finds out she is ill with a breast cancer, as well. After 6 chemotherapy cycles and a mastectomy, the worst seems to be over. She lives in the nearby of Cava Ranieri, a disused waste storage that has gradually become a stinky poisoned lake , full of leachate. The site was meant to be only temporary but delays and emergencies have always prevented drainage operations.

Acerra, Naples-Italy. “Congo” quarter in Acerra town, a district council houses. Acerra is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania among the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, though a direct connection between illegal landfills and illness has not been officially proved yet.

Caivano, Naples, Italy. Nathan, 5 years old, is fighting with an acute brain cancer. He did 4 cycles of chemotherapy. Nathan is one of many young victims of a disaster, that’s been going on for too long.

Lucia Veneroso, 22 years old, kisses her daughter Martina, 5 years old. Martina is struggling, for 9 months, against bone sarcoma. The cancer has confined her to a wheelchair. After 9 cycles of chemotherapy, she’s waiting for the autotrasplant. December, 16 2015 Casoria-Naples. Casoria is a small town in the so-called “Land of fires”, an area in Campania between the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. The result of the illegal industrial dumping, hidden underneath various sites in Campania, is dioxin, tetrachloride, lead, arsenic, PCBs, asbestos, industrial sludge, toxic solvents, and other chemicals seeping into the soil and ground water. I met Lucia at her place. I asked her to tell me the story of her daughter Martina and to pose for me with her.

NAPOLI. Luisa Crisci, 38 years old, graphic designer, is an activist and member of the association “Noi, genitori di tutti” (“We, everybody’s parents), founded to fight against the Land of fires. Her daughter Alice died in 2013 because of a brain tumour, when she was only 3 years old.
Today, Luisa has two children, a 4 year old boy and a new born. During protestation marches against toxic fires and illegal waste, Luisa always brings this giant poster showing her daughter with her.

Afragola, Naples-Italy. Street of Afragola town center. Afragola is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania among the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, though a direct connection between illegal landfills and illness has not been officially proved yet.

Casalnuovo, Naples-Italy. The Virgin Mary statue in a street of Casalnuovo. Casalnuovo is one of the towns in the so-called “Triangle of death” within the Land of fires, an area in Campania among the province of Caserta and the province of Naples, sadly re-known for being the most polluted area of this region due to millions of toxic waste that have been illegally dumped here over the past 20 years. National and international industries have been illegally disposing hazardous waste thanks to deals with local politicians and the Camorra, cutting down the enormous costs of legal disposing. The area is also interested by a worrying and wide rise of cases of cancer, especially among children and young people, though a direct connection between illegal landfills and illness has not been officially proved yet.

Bio

Stefano Schirato was born in Bologna in 1974, where he graduated in Political Sciences.
He has been working as a freelance photographer with a keen focus on social themes.
 After several reportages covering topics such as the condition of the street children living in the sewers of Bucharest, he was  awarded with a scholarship to take part in a course with Magnum photographer Paolo Pellegrin.
In 1999, together with the Non-Governmental Organization New Humanity and in support of Emergency, he proposed to witness the drama of landmines in Cambodia. This work gave birth to his first book, Gli occhi della Cambogia, with a preface by Ferdinando Scianna.
Starting from 2000 he devoted himself to a long-term project about seized ships which was to take him, over the next two years, in various mediterranean ports in order to document the life of maritime prisoners on board.
In 2002 he met the Oscar-winning film director Giuseppe Tornatore, who examined his images and encouraged their publication.
 The same year, the publisher Silvana Editoriale launched his new book entitled Né in terra, né in mare (neither on sea nor land) with an essay by G. Tornatore.
 In the last years has been divided between social issues and still photography and backstage of G. Tornatore’s movies. His works have appeared on Vanity Fair, Panorama, D La Repubblica delle Donne, Il Manifesto, International Herald Tribune, New York Times, Cnn, Le Figarò Magazine, Washington Post, Geo International. His last work on the Refugee Crisis along the Balkan Route “One Way Only” has been exposed in the Chamber of Deputies in Rome by the President Laura Boldrini.

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Stefano Schirato