The Marble Quarry Wars ____________ The art critic Philippe Daverio on the marble quarries: “Enough with paleolithic ideas, the Apuan Alps are beautiful because of the intervention of man”

The noted Italian art critic Philippe Daverio goes on record against the environmentalists on the subject of the marble quarries above Carrara.

In an interview with the Carrara-based journalist David De Filippi, given out during the Henraux Foundation Prize ceremony at La Versiliana, the critic came out against the environmentalists and the Tuscany Region Environmental Protection Plan stating that stopping the extraction of marble in the Apuan Alps would be like stopping the cultivation of wine in the Chianti Region. Daverio joked that certain environmentalists’ ideas are “paleolithic” and that their trying to give back to the Apuan Alps their primordial aspect – green peaks and wild vegetation – is untenable. “A little order would not be bad” stated Daverio, “urban planning is the science of harmony, and in the science of harmony balanced ideas have a right; but in the science of harmony, the harmony of humans is the most important.”

For months now the Environmental Plan is subject of heated discussion; the region passed the Plan last January – it forsees the closure of 50 quarries, which are located within the confines of the Natural Park of the Apuan Alps. The marble quarries have mobilized their attacks through a media campaign – they have also written a letter to the Italian President Napolitano, asking that he help “save” the industry, and the local economy.

Previously on Art is Life:

The Marble Quarry Wars ____________ Local hiking club trail signage destroyed

The Quarry Controversy: Tuscany passes a compromise plan on the management of marble quarries within the Apuan Alps Natural Park – and no one is happy; scheduled for tomorrow Tuesday the 1st of July: a complete shutdown of the industry… and a “March on Florence”

24 hours to “Stop the Destruction of the Apuan Alps”

“In the quarry of Michelangelo, it’s war between environmentalists and quarrymen” The Italian daily ‘La Stampa’ follows the ongoing controversy over the marble quarries in the Apuan Alps

Marble Quarry Closures – The seven mayors of the Versilia stand united against Tuscany

48 marble quarries at risk of being shut down as part of new Tuscany Region environmental plan

“L’economia alternativa nelle Apuane” conference will address alternatives to the ongoing marble quarrying, this Saturday, in Lucca

“Turning Art History into Toothpaste” The issues involving the “ongoing environmental disaster” in Carrara’s marble region are beginning to be noticed

<Reposting: “The destruction of the Apuan Alps; the greatest environmental disaster of Europe”

UPDATE: ____________ “Stop the destruction of the Apuan Alps” – Online petition gathers steam, prompts an official response

“SALVIAMO LE APUANE” Environmentalists and “escursionisti” tag Mount Pania to stop the “destruction of the Apuan Alps”