Pompeii Emergency

I read on the BBC website today that the Italian Government has declared a state of emergency at Pompeii saying neglect is causing the piecemeal destruction of one of Italy's most popular sites. The government estimates 150 square meters (1700 square feet roughly) of Roman stucco disappears each year, beaten down by neglect and the weather. I could have told them that, actually i did on my recent post about Pompeii.

I'm glad they've noticed and they've admitted the problem in public to the news paper Corriere Della Sera. Now we wait and wonder what, if anything happens next. I will say that at a time when the rest of world finds much to criticize about this country our National Park Service does an outstanding job with not enough money. Perhaps we should export rangers and administrators and technical experts to shore up the world's great monuments.

(Sounds of Souza, off stage).