
The Mobile User Objective System (MUOS) in Wahiawa, Hawaii — similar to the one under construction in Sicily. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class John W. Ciccarelli Jr.)
Less than two months after taking office, Sicily’s openly gay governor has temporarily stopped construction of a U.S. satellite antenna in Sicily, saying he wants assurances that the large dish antenna won’t have an adverse impact on public health and the environment.
The decision by Rosario Crocetta, 61, to invoke his authority as regional governor to halt construction of the antenna outside the town of Niscemi in south-central Sicily puts him at odds with the national Italian government, which agreed to allow the U.S. to build the facility.
The antenna facility is part of a worldwide U.S. military satellite communications system known as Mobile User Objective System (MUOS). Military officials say it is designed to employ state-of-the-art technology to allow troops on the ground to better communicate with support operations in the U.S. and throughout the world.
When completed, the system will consist of five satellites in earth orbit and four ground antenna stations, including stations in Norfolk, Va.; Washiawa, Hawaii; Geraldtown, Australia; and the one in Niscemi, Sicily.
“As a member of NATO and an important partner in international security and peace, Italy, as well as all other NATO allies, will benefit from having MUOS for support of NATO operations,” the U.S. Embassy in Rome said in a statement.
“We are not against the Americans and are not against the MOUS,” Crocetta said in a statement to the media. “But we want all the guarantees for the protection of public health.”

Rosario Crocetta (Photo by DEEEP Project via Wikimedia)
Crocetta announced his decision to stop construction on the antenna station shortly after protesters opposing the facility clashed with Italian police at the site of the facility. The Italian news agency ANSA reported that protestors blocked trucks and cranes from reaching the construction site.
Among other things, opponents object to the decision by Italian and U.S. military officials to place the facility close to if not within a nature preserve, where they say it could damage the fragile ecosystem.
Opponents also have expressed concern that electromagnetic waves associated with outgoing or incoming signals from the antenna could lead to a greater risk of cancer or leukemia.
Steven A. Davis, a spokesperson for the U.S. Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command in San Diego, Calif., told the Blade that the Navy has worked closely with Italian experts in the fields of signal “spectrum and radiofrequency” on two separate surveys to determine the possible effects of the ground antenna station in Sicily on the public.
“The findings from both surveys were consistent,” he said. “The MUOS ground site meets all U.S. and Italian health and safety regulations.” He said tests also showed that the MUOS antenna won’t interfere with local cell phone signals or nearby commercial or government radio, TV or other communication transmissions, including signals from a nearby commercial airport.
Italian media outlets have reported that Crocetta, a former mayor of the Sicilian city of Gela, has spoken with officials in the U.S. Embassy in Rome about the antenna controversy. It couldn’t immediately be determined whether Crocetta and U.S. Ambassador to Italy David Thorne discussed gay-related issues in addition to the dispute over the MUOS antenna.
In December 2010, Thorne, who speaks fluent Italian, took the unusual step of delivering a message in support of LGBT rights and an Italian LGBT helpline in a video broadcast over Italy’s version of MTV and YouTube.
“If you are a victim of discrimination or acts of bullying, talk to someone who is ready to listen,” he said in the video. “Call the helpline number listed on the screen. Your life is important. You are not alone. Things get better.”
obama le antenne mettiteli a casa tua e nn rompere I coglioni a noi che gia ne abbiamo le scatole pieni con le tue guerre di occupazioni, svegliatiii combatti la MASSONERIA dentro il tuo parlamento unisciti al popolo americano.
Vai a cagare.
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Popular mobilization against the "MUOS" has his reasons:
– in the antimilitarism and in the opposition to the military servitudes that make Sicily an enormous "aircraft carrier" functional to the (present and the future) ipertechnological wars;.
– in the defense of the territory and the environment from the devastation;.
– in the guardianship (of the health of the citizens) from the electromagnetic pollution;.
– in the expectations of a community whose development cannot be subordinate from the criminal war demands….
It's clear now?
NOTE: Crocetta is not gay (I write this only for respect to the truth).
Nice post, Io sono consapevole, but the bloke is openly gay, but again as stated by others totally irrelevant in the matter.
Nice post, Io sono consapevole, but the bloke is openly gay, but again as stated by others totally irrelevant in the matter.
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I confess that I didn't know that Crocetta was gay (I thought that it was a mistake because there is another gay Governor – Nichi Vendola, Apulia's Governor) so I record this fact today.
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* errata corrige (about previous message)*:
Crocetta is gay ( but "frankly I don't give a damn") ;)
Why did you write "Gay" governor? What's the journalistic necessity to specify? Would you agree if I write a topic whose title would be "U.S.A Government-Slave journalist writes an article on MUOS in Sicily"? Be Impartial Please.
le antenne americane costruitele in america, non nel giardino di casa mia. Crocetta = Gay as Obama = Nigga? shut up racist.
May I also add to previous comments, which I heartily endorse, that the choice of photograph posted in the article is malicious and in bad taste, if not utterly homophobic – is the pursed-lips pose meant to underline the governor's homosexuality? This is childish, c'mon, behave now.
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ahò, deciditi, o parli "inglish" o italiano :D
se leggete qualche notizia sul giornalista Lou Chibbaro vedrete che sostiene la comunità LGBT pertanto il sottolineare che Crocetta sia gay è, suppongo, motivo di orgoglio, e non scherno. ciao ciao
Marzia, non sono d'accordo, certo non hanno intenzione di essere omofobici visto che pare si tratti di una rivista gay. Ma un gay stesso puo essere complice nelll'alimentare la generale discriminazione se non sta attento a come usa le parole. Che senso ha sottolineare il fatto che sia gay cosi come fatto nel titolo? (salvo poi ad avere tutto il diritto di includere quell'informazione nel corpo del testo come un addendum). Secondo te avrebbe senso dire, 'Black President of USA…'
mah… magari per una rivista "black-friendly" sottolineare che Obama sia nero può essere solo motivo di orgoglio! è solo una questione di punti di vista. Questo articolo va contestualizzato e se la maggior parte dei lettori della rivista è omosessuale, allora ha un senso. Capisco perfettamente ciò che intendi tu e la questione "gay pride" mi fa riflettere ma l'orgoglio è orgoglio!! :-)
Ma andate a cagare americani guerrafondai di merda! Le antenne piantatevele
GO HOME! Le antenne fatevele a casa vostra!
AMERICAN’S AND ITALIAN’S GO IN THE HELL…… NO M.U.O.S. SICILY FREE NATION
http://donnemanagerdinapoli.com/2013/01/16/il-presidente-della-regione-sicilia-rosario-crocetta-blocca-i-lavori-del-muos/
U.S.A. Aren't the lord of world, Sicily is our home and our country, and here the sicilian people is sovereign. Your fucking antenna you MUST build at your home. Yankee Go Homeeeeeee!
Why didn't you say go home when we saved your ugly ass from the nazis or when we saved your ass when Gheddafi wanted to bomb you
YANKEE GO HOME! WE ARE VERY EXHAUSTED OF YOUR POLITIC STRATEGY IN THE WORLD. STOP THE WAR IN PALESTINE AND IN A LOT PLACE OF AFRICA MAKED TO TAKE EARTH RESOURCES. IF YOU NEED WAR YOU HAVE WAR WE ARE READY! FUCK YOU!
The governor is gay: so then? Go home, you homofobist blood bastards.
Frocione
a questo gli rode che ha vinto Obama
In Sicily they are against everything except mafia and misery.
The installation has NOTHING to do with NATO. It’s only for the US Military. The fact that NATO could make use of it doesn’t mean it’s being built for them. It’s also being built on a reserve and could affect nearby commercial airports.
Please, insert your antenna in your ass… We don't want to lose other healt for your game! Sicilian people want the indipendence from ITALY, EUROPE, and indipendence FROM BANK!
http://sicilialiberablog.wordpress.com/2013/01/17/a-niscemi-per-la-liberta/
Shove AN ANTENNA AS TOLD MY PATRIOT CIRO UP FOR THE ASS!
The gay governor would love a big American antenna up his ass..,
No, no,… Sicilians Want American Woman to satisfy in Sicily during Holidays…. ;) hauhauhauahuahuauha
I'm a guy but I'm not gay.i'm "Siciliano" and I agree with my president. The America has perhaps asked if we were okay? I do not want to blame politicians useless my beautiful island become an important military objective. we are a tourist island. Remember? "ITALY, SPAGHETTI, MANDOLIN"… The war have it delivered to your home and do not break our peace "SICILY FREE"!
And, don't forgot… Sicilian Blood is very expensive! Don't make a war aganist We… ;)
Your island sucks.
America has not an identity… Sicily IS the Story!!! Until 3000 Years!
Io non vi scrivo in inglese..non ne sono tenuto e come noi tutti siciliani non siamo tenuti a diventare vostri bersagli! Lo siamo stati forse in passato, ma la musica sta cambiando e presto la sicilia tornerà ad essere TERRA LIBERA ED INDIPENDENTE!
SCHIAVI DI NESSUNO!
Sicily is land of art and culture. No MUOS no military base!!!!!!!