Fire Clouds

There are some beautiful clouds over the sky in Turin these days.

Such as these fire clouds over the sky behind the San Tommaso church at via Pietro Micca.

Location : Via Pietro Micca

Reflected In Royal Garden

Part of the Royal Garden is still under renovation since closeing it's gate to public in the year 2000.

Still, it is rather nice to take a walk in the other part which is opened to public, especially in these hot days. 

The occasionally pour doesn't actually reduce the heat, but it does leave over some pond of water here and there ideal for making photo of reflection.

Location : Giadini Reali

Heat Days

The last couple of days were hot, reaching 35°C at certain time of the day.

As per every year during the hot days, people rely on the fountains at piazza Castello to cool off themselves.

 Location : Piazza Castello

Pride Without Parade

Is the time of the year for Pride, apparently, this year there will be no parade in Turin, so that gathering at piazza Castello was sort of a Pride event.

Here are some more photos of that day to celebrate the Pride month.

 

Location : Piazza Castello

Supporting The DDL Zan

Last Saturday, a demostration to support the DDL Zan was held in piazza Castello.

In Italy, a disegno di legge (DDL) is the initial phase of a law that is proposed by one or more members of parliament. The bill contains a set of articles that need to be discussed, one at a time, by the different branches of the parliament and go through various approval steps before becoming an effective law (or not!). While passing laws in Italy can sometimes take an easy path, that’s not the case with those regarding LGBTQI+ rights. In May 2016, Italy recognized same-sex unions, a monumental moment that is considered as the first step in the long road to more civil rights and greater freedom. Since then, however, the country has had five governments, elections and even a pandemic, but progress has mostly stayed at a standstill.

 Alessandro Zan (a member of the Partito Democratico, Italy’s major left-wing political party) introduced the DDL extending the Legge Marino (a law passed in 1993), which denounces language and deeds that amount to religious, political and racial discrimination by adding aggravating factors for sexual orientation, gender and gender identity. If approved, those who discriminate against a member of the LGBTQI+ community (along with other categories included in the Marino law) would be punished by up to four years imprisonment or community service. The DDL Zan is an inclusive proposal aimed at protecting all Italian citizens. 

 

 

The DDL Zan was voted on in the Italian parliament in November 2020, where it gained 265 votes in favor and 193 against. In order to be approved, the text needs further passage in the Senate. But this is where the obstructive behavior of center-right parties comes into play. Political parties Fratelli d’Italia and Lega, heavily supported by the Catholic branches, broadly assert that a law is not really necessary to prevent discriminatory acts based on sexual and gender identity, affirming that the Marino Law—a law passed in 1993, I’d like to underline this again—already offers enough protection. (Spoiler alert: it doesn’t.) They also state that the DDL penalizes freedom of speech and is offensive due to its introduction of the concept of ‘gender identity’, with the (alleged) aim of canceling male-female gender differences and causing biased propaganda in schools in favor of surrogacy and sexual confusion. This is simply not true. People will always be able to express their opinions, however questionable, but they will be punished if they commit discriminatory actions or behavior. 

Anyone interested to know more about DDL Zan and the situation now can refer to the https://www.theflorentine.net/2021/06/07/ddl-zan-italy-why-it-is-necessary/  where I have quoted the article from.

Location : Piazza Castello

Pfizerised

Finally got my first jab of Pfizer yesterday at the hub in Nuvola Lavazza, the new Lavazza headquarter in Turin.

 

The waiting was a bit longer than expected, but not terribly long, just had to wait under the sun at noon for a bt less than half an hour, then about 20 minutes or so inside the hub.

So, now I have my arm pains. 

Next dose will be in July to complete the pfizerization.

Location : Nuvola Lavazza

CDP June Theme : When I Can Travel Again

When I can travel again, obviously the first place I have to travel to is my home country Singapore.

 I have to visit my family and friends, also I need to update and change my ID card which I am obliged to do so before I reach 56 years old.

Here are two photos taken in 2019 the last time when I was there....

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