Civil Peace Corps (CCPs) are groups of peace workers who intervene as third parties, through civil, unarmed and non-violent action, to support local actors in conflict prevention and transformation. The operators of Un Ponte Per CCPs intervene, abroad and in Italy, in territories of conflict or where conflicts caused by environmental emergencies are expected to break out. Their deployment can be envisaged when the conflict is still latent, in a preventive function, when the conflict has already flared up, in a non-violent transformation and civil peacekeeping function, and in the post-conflict phase, in peacebuilding activities, to help rebuild the social fabric.
One of the contexts in Italy where an environmental emergency with these characteristics has emerged is Campania, in the area called 'Terra dei Fuochi', located between the Campania provinces of Naples and Caserta, characterised by the strong presence of toxic waste and, above all, numerous waste fires. There are currently 92 municipalities in Campania that are included in the 'Terra dei Fuochi' territory. These are those municipalities that have joined the so-called 'Terra dei Fuochi Pact', under which the first citizens have signed a document in which they undertake to adopt measures to combat the phenomenon of waste abandoned on roads and public areas or areas subject to public use; and to take action for the timely removal of waste.
The aim of the 'Civil Peace Corps in the Land of Fires' project is to contribute to improving the quality of life of citizens living in the area by providing for the involvement and active participation of the local population. The main fields of action the project intends to affect are:
The PCCs proposed to the 'Terra dei Fuochi' Steering Committee of the Prefecture of Naples a project to combat illegal waste dumping by implementing a pilot strategy in the municipalities of Acerra, Brusciano and Bacoli. In cooperation with the Deputy Prefect, targeted actions will be carried out in the Giugliano area.
The CCPs have already worked to create a network of committees, associations, civic observatories and active citizens in the Giugliano area to understand what the critical issues are, to collect solutions and proposals, and to liaise with the 'Terra dei Fuochi' steering committee of the Prefecture. They also worked on a new version of the audit addressed to municipal bodies, aiming at a more qualitative and quantitative data collection.
At the same time, an awareness-raising campaign was launched on social media through the creation of short videos on the terra dei fuochi theme.
The direct beneficiaries of the project's activities are the municipalities of the terra dei fuochi, for which monitoring activities are being intensified; the families of the municipalities, who will be reached by massive information on events, data accuracy, scientific developments, results, opportunities; the population of the municipalities, who will benefit from ad hoc meetings and targeted information, especially on development policies; the Region's agri-food products, for which promotion and dissemination paths will be activated.
