Depopulation of internal areas: «We are at the point of no return»

Regarding the phenomenon of depopulation, Emiliano Deiana, president of Anci Sardinia, says it clearly: «We are at the point of no return. At this rate, dozens of countries risk disappearing."

From the meetings promoted by the Nino Carrus association in Macomer, in which various representatives of regional politics participated, disturbing data emerged, linked to the phenomenon of depopulation. Fausto Mura, founder of the association, referring to official data, exposed a dramatic situation: «The data from a couple of years ago confirm the state of a crisis that appears irreversible - says Mura - Of the 3500 young people who left the island , 90% are from internal areas. This means taking strength and energy away from our countries. It means taking away vitality from these places. It means that politics has failed."

The data referring to Macomer confirm the demographic fall. Last September the town had 9334 inhabitants. Of these, 919 are from 0 to 14 years old and 2691 are from 65 to over 100 years old. 3610 people are not and cannot yet enter the world of work, while 2691 are now out or about to leave because they are elderly. Of the remaining 5724, almost half are unemployed or laid off, while the others normally work full time, temporary workers, housewives and people who are no longer looking for work. Similar situation also in the other towns of Marghine, with the exception of Silanus, where in recent years there has been a slight change, reversing the negative trend until now. «To stem depopulation, the responses provided by various political exponents were not sufficient to be able to start a new phase - says Rosanna Carboni, president of the Nino Carrus association - we note that there is no strategy to reverse the trend. However, there is little conviction and little awareness of the phenomenon that is now overwhelming the entire island, as demonstrated by the recently published Istat data. Our association will continue with the path of study and activities to create awareness, convinced that the Municipalities, the territories and the populations of the internal areas must demand a significant change, therefore proposing a new idea of Sardinia with a balanced development of the Island. Whoever will govern the Region in the next five years will have to take this dramatic situation into account."

An appeal from the meetings: a great mobilization is needed, with politics having to take charge of the problems. «We must demand it, concludes President Carboni.