Equitalia

Squatting against austerity: Occupy Pisa grows and evolves

Submitted by Italy Calling on Jun 10 2012 20:47

Squatting is on the rise again in these times of austerity (see for example the recent occupations of flats in Southern Spain, mostly carried out by housewives and families). An Italian project that’s caught my attention since its beginning is in Pisa, where last year’s Occupy protests evolved into the reappropriation and transformation of abandoned buildings for the benefit of the local community.

The Occupy Pisa project started in November 2011 with the occupation of some old buildings owned by a bank in Pisa, with the aim of providing alternative and self-managed social spaces for the local community. After only a few months of successful initiatives, such as a low-cost canteen, courses and advice drop-ins, the building was evicted in February.

Occupy Equitalia

Submitted by StrugglesInItaly on May 15 2012 14:52
Equitalia

Equitalia is a state-owned tax collection agency. Created in 2007, it was meant to replace all the private companies previously in charge of the task.

In 2010 Equitalia collected 8.87 billion euros; its profits for the same year came to 1.29 billion euros (Report), with 1.22 billion coming from the 9% commission premium that Equitalia charged on top of the 4% interest that debtors owed to different public administratio