Sweden hosts football’s alternative World Cup

July 14, 2008

...the Viva World Cup - a competition designed to bring together teams from indigenous ethnic groups and unrecognised territories...

“It’s created a very positive response here in Samiland, and the rest of Sweden, and also in Kurdistan region at home ..." ...

Organisers had said they wanted to keep politics out of the tournament but Padania were openly backed by Italy’s Northern League party, which wants autonomy for their region. And leader Umberto Bosse was hoping the tournament would have far reaching consequences.

‘It will help our cause if it brings more attention to our fight for freedom,’ Bosse said.

This is the way to preserve diversity and promote peace: ethnic autonomy. Not the violent melting pot.

Bossi to escape anthem slur case, Italy

2008-08-06

Bossi, whose Northern League party wants devolution of powers to the regions, was speaking at a Veneto League congress on July 20 when he hit out at a line in the anthem which appears to say Italy is Rome's slave. ''Never again slaves to Rome,'' the minister said, raising his middle finger...

In 2001 he received a suspended prison sentence of one year and four months for insulting the Italian flag at a July 1997 rally near Como... he told a woman who was flying a flag from her balcony to ''shove that down the toilet''...

No stranger to polemics, he once opened an unofficial 'northern parliament' and has played media stunts such as a mystical journey along the Po in search of northern Italy's 'Celtic roots'.

Bossi is a tad crude, but at least he's fighting against immigration and for greater autonomy of his Padania region. Celtic roots? There does seem to be some white Italians among his party.

Italy deploys 3,000 soldiers in city centres

Aug 4, 2008

About 1,000 will be used to patrol around embassies and other key targets, about 1,000 at centres where illegal migrants are held and 1,000 for mixed patrols with police in city centres...

Four hundred soldiers were to guard 10 major underground railway stations in the Italian capital, the main Termini railway station, embassies and a centre for migrants...

On the island of Lampedusa, where thousands of migrants have arrived from Africa in recent months seeking to enter Europe, 70 air force troops will replace police who patrol the perimeter of a reception centre.