Join LifeInAbruzzo on Zoom,  with special guests Rita Salvatore and Nitsan Morag on 12th July for Sunday Live in Abruzzo!

Whilst Abruzzo’s greeness has weathered the recent pandemic better than many, industrialised regions in the North, the fragility and long-term viability of many of its rural communities is governed by one-third of the region being enclosed within its three national parks and the Apennine mountains that run through them.

• For those with an eye on setting up a business in Abruzzo, what is the best way to approach this sustainably?
• What will encourage locals to remain in the houses of their ancestors while guaranteeing the services and infrastructure required to attract tourists?
• How do you encourage youngsters to stay and farm the land when social media tells them their version of the ‘good life’ doesn’t fit in the more commonly promoted urban norm?

The chat will be in English, with plenty of time for breakouts and questions in English or Italian.

Sunday 12th July, 5.15 pm CET, 4.15 pm BST, 11.15 am EDT

It will be chaired by the trustee of Slow Food L’Aquila, Rita Salvatore. An environmental sociologist, she has been conducting research into the role of tourism within Italian protected areas and rural contexts for more than 20 years.  She has a particular interest in the analysis and social planning of sustainable tourism with special concern to participative processes and community development.

She is joined by Nitsan Morag who alongside his partner Lucy Freidlander manages the tent making company Spirits Intent and The Heartland Association based in Chieti’s Torricella Peligna.  Together they assist individuals and businesses to create sustainable tourism projects that preserve the rural traditions of the mountains. They see Abruzzo as one of the last strongholds of traditional lifestyles in Western Europe and are dedicated to supporting this way of life.

Sam, the blogger behind LifeinAbruzzo, will be talking about the exciting new cooperative marketplace that will be launched later in the summer, helping to foster new relationships between individuals and small businesses both in Abruzzo and abroad.

Each will discuss how a more sustainable business model needs to be developed within the region that doesn’t rely solely on tourism, but which ensures the viability of businesses that utilise the region’s healthy resources and ecosystems — fresh water, clean air, robust biodiversity, productive land. Do join us!

How to Join

To join the chat simply go to the Life in Abruzzo Facebook page and the chat will play automatically on Sunday  12th July

or join via Zoom

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/88540680353?pwd=ZEVWNXJDUFRWcTdaM3U5byt3cEVzZz09

Meeting ID: 885 4068 0353
Password: 069812

Date & Time: Sunday 12th July, 5.15 pm CET, 4.15 pm BST, 11.15 am EDT

Couldn’t attend listen to our Sunday Live here

Author: Sam Dunham

Sam is a very lucky midlife 'mamma' to A who is 13 and juggles working as a freelance SEO copywriter & teaches IGCSEs at Istituo Cristo Re in Rome. She is the founder of the Life In Abruzzo Cultural Association, co-founder of Let's Blog Abruzzo and 'English in the Woods' initiative.