Issue 293 hosts an article by Alain Brossat on the history and "ethics" of prisons; Brossat has recently published a book "Scarcerare la società" (Freeing Society from Prison). The issue also marks the publication of "Mille papaveri rossi", a CD of the music of Fabrizio De André performed by a myriad of artists, put together by Marco Pandin.
The issue begins with discussion by Carlo Oliva of the apparent chaos within the ranks of the government, with Berlusconi's shameful outbursts and much chest-beating by Bossi, leader of the Lega. Bossi may be delusional, but the bosses don't lose their grip: Gianfranco Careri asks who is defending the rights of the more vulnerable classes.
Maria Matteo changes the focus to 30 years ago, Chile, and that other 11 September, the day of Pinochet's coup and the assassination of Salvador Allende.
To the Middle East, and consideration by Francesco Codello of the polarisation of Israeli society, with hawks building walls and others who bravely struggle for a demilitarisation of Israeli society. Then comes a view through a wider angle lens, and consideration by Antonio Cardella of the United Nations, and US attempts, after denigrating this organisation, to use it to bail themselves out with its money and men.
Participatory Democracy is the theme of an article by Andrea Papi, with particular reference to the Brazilian experience.
The "Fatti & Misfatti" column this month has a contribution by Patrizia "Pralina" Diamante, who talks about her love for painting. Mauro Maccario reviews this year's Festival Ferré at San Benedetto del Tronto, in which Gino Paoli took part. Serena Tirani reviews another festival, that of African Cinema in Milan, held in March.
In "Rassegna Libertaria", Benjamin Atman reviews "L'innaffiatore del cervello di Passannante" by Ulderico Pesce, about the anarchist who attempted to assassinate Umberto I of Savoia in 1878, and also "American Nightmare" by Sbancor. Monica Ceruti Giorgi reviews and finds the links between three different books by women, "Il Dio delle donne" by Luisa Muraro, "Approfittare dell'assenza" by the 'Diotima' collective, and "A più voci" by Adriana Cavarero.
Architecture and urban planning is the subject of an article by Marvi Maggio of Swiss organisation International Network for Urban Research and Action (INURA), affirming that "another urban world is possible".
Alessio Lega's series on singer-songwriters, "Canzone d'autore", continues with a consideration of the work of Maurice Fanon.
In his article, Luigi Veronelli defends atheism while criticising anticlericalism.
Massimo Ortalli's "Ritratti in piedi" looks back on the famous work by Jaroslav Hasek, "The Good Soldier Svejk".
In "A nous la liberté", Felice Accame discusses a new literary genre, the "epistolary art" of letters sent by killers to the relatives of their victims. In turn, Felice Accame's book "La funzione ideologica delle teorie della conoscenza" is reviewed by Francesco Ranci. Omnipresent Felice also makes a contribution to the letters section, replying to a letter by Donato Romito asking for clarification to a point in Accame's article in issue 290 on Carlo Cafiero and the supposed opposition between communism and anarchism. Antonio Carnevale also writes in to ask for issues of "Il Pensiero Mazziniano", which he considers "shameful", not to be highlighted in future in the TamTam section of "A".

by Leslie Ray