羅馬日誌
羅馬：該保護遺迹還是流浪貓？
報道 2012年11月26日
Paolo Marchetti for the International Herald Tribune
文物官員們正試圖搬走羅馬的銀塔貓咪收留所。
羅馬——從古時起，貓就在羅馬的大街小巷穿行。近來，它們更是得到了一個志願者機構的庇護。該機構多年來，在古代遺址的廢墟間悉心看護着成千上萬隻流浪貓。據說公元前44年正是在這裡，布魯圖(Brutus)刺殺了尤利烏斯·凱撒(Julius Caesar)。
這座位於地下的貓舍毗鄰一處受保護的古迹，幾間房間亮堂堂的，籠子整齊地排列其中，能同時容納上百隻流浪貓。這裡已經小有名氣，成為一處旅遊景點，吸引了不少捐款。
該組織在此地經營一、二十年，雖然沒有正式的授權，至少也是一直被容許。可是如今，意大利國家文物官員卻向該機構提出，他們必須搬走，說這樣的非法佔用可能會破壞脆弱的古建築。但愛貓者們立即回復：他們無意搬離。
退休歌劇演員、銀塔貓咪收留所(Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary)創始人之一西爾維婭·維維亞尼(Silvia Viviani)警告說，“如果他們想要開戰，我們就和他們開戰。這些貓需要我們。”
隨之而來的一場糾紛，許多當地官員紛紛捲入，愛貓的人們也憤憤不平，郵件雪片般飛來。這場戰爭揭露了更深層次的傳統與法治的衝突，考驗了羅馬人對文化遺產的態度。
一邊是文物保護的官員們，他們竭盡全力想要意大利人遵守法律，保護他們得天獨厚的歷史遺產。一邊是一群惹不起的羅馬護貓人士，人稱“貓夫人”。兩派劍拔弩張。
夾在中間的，是這些羅馬的貓。民主黨的當地議員莫妮卡·奇林納(Monica Cirinnà)指出，這些羅馬城的古老居民，已正式被認定為“城市生態文化遺產的一部分”。中右翼執政羅馬期間，奇林納成立了一個政府機構，倡導動物權利。
羅馬有不計其數的貓群，通常由社區的“貓夫人”照顧，她們把盛在塑料盤子里的貓食留在空地邊或人行道上。
也有一些更有組織的志願者機構，照料數量較大的流浪貓群，其中有些貓群分佈在一些古建築遺址，包括一個在公元前1世紀建成的塞斯提伍斯金字塔 (Pyramid of Cestius)的貓群，以及一個在圖拉真市場(Trajan’s Market)的貓群。圖拉真市場在古迹區為貓夫人們開闢了一間房間。不過他們有政府許可。
然而政府文物官員說，這間貓舍沒有許可。兩年前，該貓舍申請設置一間廁所，似乎這成了他們致命的錯誤，讓官方注意到了他們。貓舍只有基本的設施，比如籠子、醫藥櫃、舊傢具和垃圾箱等；比起別處，這裡是很有組織的了。但是政府仍然堅持，要他們搬走。
這座地下貓舍每次可收留150到180隻貓，靠近銀塔廣場的祭祀區。這座位於羅馬市中心的建築遺址包括四座羅馬共和國時期的神殿。貓舍所在的狹小空 間還是墨索里尼時代留下的，當時人們在神殿的遺址上建了一條路。貓舍正好位於凝灰石基座遺址的上方，這個基座上面的建築，被考古學家認定為神殿D，建於公 元前二世紀。
文化部負責該地區的考古專家費多拉·菲利皮(Fedora Filippi)說，“貓夫人們佔領了銀塔廣場最重要的遺址之一，這不符合保護歷史遺迹的原則。”
她說，這座貓舍引發了很多問題，例如貓咪會從貓舍漫步到臨近考古區域，遊客們會扔給它們食物，“這會讓情況更糟。”她說。經過一次檢查，衛生官員們認為該貓舍對志願者和遊客的健康不利，更不用說貓了。
菲利皮說，“這件事與貓無關，”又不勝厭煩地補充道，她的電腦里滿是來自愛貓人士的憤怒郵件。“我不會傷害一隻貓的。我家也養了一隻貓，所以我並不反對貓。”但是她說，“我們有責任保護意大利的文物遺產，並執行相關法律。”
她說，為了給貓舍問題找到一個合適的解決方案，談判已經進行了兩年。但至今毫無進展。除非能很快找到一個方案，這個愛貓機構將被強制遷出。
愛貓的志願者們憤怒地回應，說他們沒有妨礙到任何人。他們說，貓舍用地以前是一個倉庫。更重要的是，他們稱在過去20年里，為近2.9萬隻貓做了絕育手術，費用由約1萬名捐助者資助。
志願者們不同意將貓舍轉移到遊人較少的區域。因為該機構需要一個遊客容易看到的地方，很多遊客從世界各地專門來此看這些貓，並解囊援助。而且它也需要一些空間來安放專給病貓的籠子，還需要存儲食物以及其它物資的地方。
上周，將競選連任的羅馬市市長詹尼·阿萊曼諾(Gianni Alemanno)在Twitter上加入了這場討論，說他和他的貓切爾托斯諾(Certosino)“站在羅馬貓的一邊。誰要動這些貓，誰就會有麻煩。”
這座位於地下的貓舍毗鄰一處受保護的古迹，幾間房間亮堂堂的，籠子整齊地排列其中，能同時容納上百隻流浪貓。這裡已經小有名氣，成為一處旅遊景點，吸引了不少捐款。
退休歌劇演員、銀塔貓咪收留所(Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary)創始人之一西爾維婭·維維亞尼(Silvia Viviani)警告說，“如果他們想要開戰，我們就和他們開戰。這些貓需要我們。”
隨之而來的一場糾紛，許多當地官員紛紛捲入，愛貓的人們也憤憤不平，郵件雪片般飛來。這場戰爭揭露了更深層次的傳統與法治的衝突，考驗了羅馬人對文化遺產的態度。
一邊是文物保護的官員們，他們竭盡全力想要意大利人遵守法律，保護他們得天獨厚的歷史遺產。一邊是一群惹不起的羅馬護貓人士，人稱“貓夫人”。兩派劍拔弩張。
夾在中間的，是這些羅馬的貓。民主黨的當地議員莫妮卡·奇林納(Monica Cirinnà)指出，這些羅馬城的古老居民，已正式被認定為“城市生態文化遺產的一部分”。中右翼執政羅馬期間，奇林納成立了一個政府機構，倡導動物權利。
羅馬有不計其數的貓群，通常由社區的“貓夫人”照顧，她們把盛在塑料盤子里的貓食留在空地邊或人行道上。
也有一些更有組織的志願者機構，照料數量較大的流浪貓群，其中有些貓群分佈在一些古建築遺址，包括一個在公元前1世紀建成的塞斯提伍斯金字塔 (Pyramid of Cestius)的貓群，以及一個在圖拉真市場(Trajan’s Market)的貓群。圖拉真市場在古迹區為貓夫人們開闢了一間房間。不過他們有政府許可。
然而政府文物官員說，這間貓舍沒有許可。兩年前，該貓舍申請設置一間廁所，似乎這成了他們致命的錯誤，讓官方注意到了他們。貓舍只有基本的設施，比如籠子、醫藥櫃、舊傢具和垃圾箱等；比起別處，這裡是很有組織的了。但是政府仍然堅持，要他們搬走。
這座地下貓舍每次可收留150到180隻貓，靠近銀塔廣場的祭祀區。這座位於羅馬市中心的建築遺址包括四座羅馬共和國時期的神殿。貓舍所在的狹小空 間還是墨索里尼時代留下的，當時人們在神殿的遺址上建了一條路。貓舍正好位於凝灰石基座遺址的上方，這個基座上面的建築，被考古學家認定為神殿D，建於公 元前二世紀。
文化部負責該地區的考古專家費多拉·菲利皮(Fedora Filippi)說，“貓夫人們佔領了銀塔廣場最重要的遺址之一，這不符合保護歷史遺迹的原則。”
她說，這座貓舍引發了很多問題，例如貓咪會從貓舍漫步到臨近考古區域，遊客們會扔給它們食物，“這會讓情況更糟。”她說。經過一次檢查，衛生官員們認為該貓舍對志願者和遊客的健康不利，更不用說貓了。
菲利皮說，“這件事與貓無關，”又不勝厭煩地補充道，她的電腦里滿是來自愛貓人士的憤怒郵件。“我不會傷害一隻貓的。我家也養了一隻貓，所以我並不反對貓。”但是她說，“我們有責任保護意大利的文物遺產，並執行相關法律。”
她說，為了給貓舍問題找到一個合適的解決方案，談判已經進行了兩年。但至今毫無進展。除非能很快找到一個方案，這個愛貓機構將被強制遷出。
愛貓的志願者們憤怒地回應，說他們沒有妨礙到任何人。他們說，貓舍用地以前是一個倉庫。更重要的是，他們稱在過去20年里，為近2.9萬隻貓做了絕育手術，費用由約1萬名捐助者資助。
志願者們不同意將貓舍轉移到遊人較少的區域。因為該機構需要一個遊客容易看到的地方，很多遊客從世界各地專門來此看這些貓，並解囊援助。而且它也需要一些空間來安放專給病貓的籠子，還需要存儲食物以及其它物資的地方。
上周，將競選連任的羅馬市市長詹尼·阿萊曼諾(Gianni Alemanno)在Twitter上加入了這場討論，說他和他的貓切爾托斯諾(Certosino)“站在羅馬貓的一邊。誰要動這些貓，誰就會有麻煩。”
本文最初發表於2012年11月7日。
翻譯：曹莉
翻譯：曹莉
Strays Amid Rome Ruins Set Off a Culture Clash
November 26, 2012
ROME — Cats have prowled the streets of
Rome since ancient times, more recently finding refuge with an
association of volunteers who have lovingly tended to thousands of
strays over the years amid the ruins of a site where Brutus is thought
to have stabbed Julius Caesar in 44 B.C.
The shelter, in an underground space abutting a cherished archaeological site, consists of several bright, cage-lined rooms that hold dozens of strays at a time and has gained fame — and donations — as a popular tourist draw.
But after a couple of decades of tolerated, if not quite authorized, occupancy, Italy’s
state archaeologists have told the association that it has to go,
saying the illegal occupation risks damaging a fragile ancient monument.
The cat lovers issued a ready reply: They have no intention of leaving.
“If they want war, we’ll give them war,” warned Silvia Viviani, a retired opera singer and one of the founders of the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary association. “The cats need us.”
What has ensued is a fight that has drawn in a host of city officials, elicited a flood of e-mail from upset cat lovers and revealed a deeper clash between tradition and legality that has tested Rome’s notions of its cultural heritage.
The battle has pitted preservation officials who struggle mightily to get Italians to obey laws protecting their historic birthright against an especially feisty Roman breed of cat caretakers — the so-called gattare.
In the middle are the cats themselves, ancient inhabitants of Rome who have been officially declared “part of the city’s bio-cultural patrimony,” noted Monica Cirinnà, a local lawmaker with the Democratic Party who created an animal rights advocacy department when the center-left governed the capital.
Rome has countless cat colonies, usually cared for by neighborhood gattare who leave plastic plates of cat nibbles in communal courtyards or on sidewalks.
Then there are more organized volunteer associations for larger colonies of feral cats, some in archaeological sites, including one at the Pyramid of Cestius, from the first century B.C., and another at Trajan’s Market, where gattare have been given a room within the ancient area. But they have official authorization.
The cat shelter does not, say the state archaeology officials, who are trying to close it two years after it made the apparently fatal mistake of applying for a permit to install a toilet. That put the shelter on the officials’ radar, and they now insist it has to go even though — with just basic equipment like cages, medical cabinets, ramshackle furniture and garbage bins — it is far better organized than the others.
The underground shelter, which cares for 150 to 180 cats at a time, is near the Area Sacra of Largo Argentina, a downtown archaeological site consisting of four Republican-era temples. Situated in a squat space created during the time of Mussolini, when a street was built over the site, the shelter sits directly above the remains of the travertine podium of what archaeologists identify as Temple D, a structure from the second century B.C.
“The cat ladies are occupying one of the most important sites in Largo Argentina, and that is incompatible with the preservation of the monument,” said Fedora Filippi, the Culture Ministry archaeologist responsible for the area.
The shelter has invited corollary problems, she noted, such as the tourists’ throwing food to the cats that wander from the shelter into the adjacent archaeological area, “which makes the situation worse.” After an inspection, health officials decreed the shelter an inappropriate environment for volunteers and visiting tourists, let alone for the cats, she said.
“This isn’t about the cats,” Ms. Filippi said, adding wearily that her computer had been inundated with angry e-mails from cat lovers. “I wouldn’t touch a cat. I live with one so I am not against cats.” But, she said, “it’s our responsibility to protect Italy’s archaeological patrimony and to apply the law.”
Discussions have been under way for two years to find another solution for the cat shelter, she said. So far they have been fruitless, and unless an alternative is found soon, the cat association will be forcibly evicted.
The cat lovers — all volunteers — bristle that they are not bothering anyone. The shelter, they say, occupies a former storage space. More important, they claim to have neutered and spayed close to 29,000 cats over the past 20 years, all paid for by an estimated 10,000 benefactors.
Moving the colony to a less-frequented area is not an option, the volunteers say. The association needs to be in a visible place for tourists, who come from around the world to visit and give donations. It also needs a physical space to house cages for sick cats, and to store food and other supplies.
Last week, Rome’s mayor, Gianni Alemanno, who is up for re-election next year, weighed in on Twitter that he and his cat, Certosino, “are on the side of the cats of Rome. Anyone who touches them will be in trouble.”
The shelter, in an underground space abutting a cherished archaeological site, consists of several bright, cage-lined rooms that hold dozens of strays at a time and has gained fame — and donations — as a popular tourist draw.
按图放大
Paolo Marchetti for the International Herald Tribune
The cat shelter draws tourists from all over the world.
“If they want war, we’ll give them war,” warned Silvia Viviani, a retired opera singer and one of the founders of the Torre Argentina Cat Sanctuary association. “The cats need us.”
What has ensued is a fight that has drawn in a host of city officials, elicited a flood of e-mail from upset cat lovers and revealed a deeper clash between tradition and legality that has tested Rome’s notions of its cultural heritage.
The battle has pitted preservation officials who struggle mightily to get Italians to obey laws protecting their historic birthright against an especially feisty Roman breed of cat caretakers — the so-called gattare.
In the middle are the cats themselves, ancient inhabitants of Rome who have been officially declared “part of the city’s bio-cultural patrimony,” noted Monica Cirinnà, a local lawmaker with the Democratic Party who created an animal rights advocacy department when the center-left governed the capital.
Rome has countless cat colonies, usually cared for by neighborhood gattare who leave plastic plates of cat nibbles in communal courtyards or on sidewalks.
Then there are more organized volunteer associations for larger colonies of feral cats, some in archaeological sites, including one at the Pyramid of Cestius, from the first century B.C., and another at Trajan’s Market, where gattare have been given a room within the ancient area. But they have official authorization.
The cat shelter does not, say the state archaeology officials, who are trying to close it two years after it made the apparently fatal mistake of applying for a permit to install a toilet. That put the shelter on the officials’ radar, and they now insist it has to go even though — with just basic equipment like cages, medical cabinets, ramshackle furniture and garbage bins — it is far better organized than the others.
The underground shelter, which cares for 150 to 180 cats at a time, is near the Area Sacra of Largo Argentina, a downtown archaeological site consisting of four Republican-era temples. Situated in a squat space created during the time of Mussolini, when a street was built over the site, the shelter sits directly above the remains of the travertine podium of what archaeologists identify as Temple D, a structure from the second century B.C.
“The cat ladies are occupying one of the most important sites in Largo Argentina, and that is incompatible with the preservation of the monument,” said Fedora Filippi, the Culture Ministry archaeologist responsible for the area.
The shelter has invited corollary problems, she noted, such as the tourists’ throwing food to the cats that wander from the shelter into the adjacent archaeological area, “which makes the situation worse.” After an inspection, health officials decreed the shelter an inappropriate environment for volunteers and visiting tourists, let alone for the cats, she said.
“This isn’t about the cats,” Ms. Filippi said, adding wearily that her computer had been inundated with angry e-mails from cat lovers. “I wouldn’t touch a cat. I live with one so I am not against cats.” But, she said, “it’s our responsibility to protect Italy’s archaeological patrimony and to apply the law.”
Discussions have been under way for two years to find another solution for the cat shelter, she said. So far they have been fruitless, and unless an alternative is found soon, the cat association will be forcibly evicted.
The cat lovers — all volunteers — bristle that they are not bothering anyone. The shelter, they say, occupies a former storage space. More important, they claim to have neutered and spayed close to 29,000 cats over the past 20 years, all paid for by an estimated 10,000 benefactors.
Moving the colony to a less-frequented area is not an option, the volunteers say. The association needs to be in a visible place for tourists, who come from around the world to visit and give donations. It also needs a physical space to house cages for sick cats, and to store food and other supplies.
Last week, Rome’s mayor, Gianni Alemanno, who is up for re-election next year, weighed in on Twitter that he and his cat, Certosino, “are on the side of the cats of Rome. Anyone who touches them will be in trouble.”
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