Families in Taranto, Italy, battle cancer and pollution from a nearby steelworks, trying to protect their children while living in contaminated conditions.
Lisa Sorgini reports for The Guardian.
In short:
- Photographer Lisa Sorgini captures the plight of mothers in Taranto’s Tamburi neighborhood, highlighting their daily struggles to protect their children’s health.
- Parents live in fear as children play on contaminated soil and grow up near the hazardous Ilva steelworks.
- Residents face the impossible choice between moving to safer areas and staying due to economic constraints.
Key quote:
“My heart breaks as Maddalena speaks of her awareness of this danger. The balance between allowing a child a normal childhood and protecting them from harm is impossible to achieve here.”
— Lisa Sorgini, photographer.
Why this matters:
The dire situation in Taranto underscores the need for effective environmental policies and support for affected communities, emphasizing the devastating health impacts of industrial pollution on vulnerable populations. Read more: “Stop hurting us:” Protestors plead for their health outside a Pittsburgh gathering of coal and steel execs.
