No doubt you no-TAV people are being funded by the oil companies and airlines who are traditionally opposed to high speed rail links.

High speed rail is the only viable alternative to more aircraft, more airports and more greenhouse gas. I know which I'd rather have.

The campaign had massive support from local people, such a huge area is affected, and it is so beautiful. It is nothing to do with oil companies 'bank rolling' protests! Are you stupid?!

P wrote:

"No doubt you no-TAV people are being funded by the oil companies and airlines who are traditionally opposed to high speed rail links.

High speed rail is the only viable alternative to more aircraft, more airports and more greenhouse gas. I know which I'd rather have."

I strongly suggest that you read a bit more about the protests before commenting. It's not public transport that's at issue - Italy's got a pretty good PT system, as I know from personal experience - it's the massive environmental destruction and pollution that will be caused by a multi-billion Euro project, the main rationale of which is to make politicians look good and line the pockets of building contractors and corrupt local and national politicians, a common theme in major construction projects throughout Italy's post-war history. There are already extensive cross-border rail and road links without destroying a relatively unspoilt valley, and the health of its citizens, to build a new one.

I'd advise you to do a bit of searching and learn more about the issue. Go on, pull your finger out instead of sitting there making snap moral judgements. You might even learn something. Right now you're being an ignorant pillock and a self-righteous moralist.

Today Italy has become one big building site .
A network of TAV which stands for treno Alto velocita' high speed train (HST), lines are being built.
The main one is from Florence to Milano via Bologna the area known as the muguello north of florence has been declared an environmental disaster after the tunnels built to carry the high speed rail line cut through the water table leaving many wells dry and causing untold damage. The works sites and extra tunnels have been used to dump hundreds of thousands of tons of toxic waste. A large part of the line north of Bologna is being built by Snam progetti part of the Eni group which is based in the
The HST from Milano to Torino has also caused a lot of problems and made travelling by road or rail a nightmare from time.
protests are kicking off against the Genova Milano (HST) and various other problems in the area including inceneritores and other nasties. Since the G8 genova has become a vocal point for protest which is unfortuntely often hijacked by the Delinquanti di Sinistra (DS) and the fake lefties of the Italian opposition.
their site is ? sito Comitato Verità e Giustizia per Genova www.veritagiustizia.it,

Other big works that are likely to cause widespread protests in Italy include the bridge over the straights of Messina which will be almost entirely built by the Mafia ..
Although Romani prodi and the other leaders of left wing opposition parties are huffing and puffing about the strong arm police tactics leftist/ commie coopertatives have about 50% of the projects to build the high speed line including the Lyon Torino so they won't be doing anything to stop the work.
In left wing controlled regions such as tuscany and Emilio Romagna the old communists coop's have become a mafia unto themselves and are at least as bad as the right wing corporate mafia and the traditional organized crime. talking of which the Italian oil giant ENI, AGIP it's petrol and service station wing and SNAM are amongst 160 companies, all part of the ENI Groups of Companies, registered as BV's (PLC's) in the off shore tax haven of Amsterdam at none other than the WTC all at strawinskylaan 1725 TOREN B 17 1077 XX AMSTERDAM Tel. 020-5722300 perhaps just maybe some cave dwelling arabs would do us all a favour and ..... it seems that there are also twin towers ...