Hello.

My name is Nichi Vendola, Govenor of the Apulia Region of Italy, and Leader of Italy’s nation-al political party Sinistra Ecolo-gia Libertà. In this brief presen-tation I would like to demonstrate the work I have done in my Region since being elected in 2005. Please take a few moments to read it. I have also included a more in-depth document entitled Nichi Ven-dola: Italy’s Next Generation. At your leisure, you may also consult the press review, and other documents included in this pre-sentation. For your convenience, digital versions have been inserted in a handy CD-Rom.

Thank you for your time.

MY VISION FOR THE ITALY OF TOMORROW

CLEANER WORLD Contrasting climate change by encouraging renewable and other clean forms of energy.

NATURAL RESOURCESDedicating special care to the quality of our air, water, and soil.

CIVIL RIGHTS Modernizing civil rights: freedom of research, equality amongst same-sex couples, equal rights to minority and migrant groups.

LEGALITYRestoring dignity to generations of communities devastated by the Mafia.

WELFARE Establishing a welfare state repre-sentative of our times. Prioritizing our investments in today’s youth.

KNOWLEDGE ECONOMYModernizing Italian culture while preserving our rich artistic and cultural past. Reforming the cur-rent education system.

AGRICULTURE Supporting local, zero-impact agriculture that is free of harmful substances. Preserving our unique “slow”-food culture.

MODERN WORKFORCECreating new synergies with com-panies that respect and enforce worker rights.

PEACE ON EARTH Using Italy as the crossroad for promoting peace amongst the na-tions within the Mediterranean.

ENVIRONMENT

Our Government has taken major steps in preserving the beauty of our land, improving air quality levels, and protecting our seas and coastline.

ENVIRONMENTALENERGY PLANWe were the first Region in Italy to enact the a

system of rules that favor the development of re-

newable energy resources and attracting invest-

ments from the rest of the nation and abroad.

COASTLINEPROTECTIONIn 2006, our Government passed an important

law concerning our 800km (500 miles) coastline.

The law protects the area from real estate specu-

lation, sets up measures to prevent the erosion of

our coasts, and helps mother nature restore its

beaches, and unique flora and fauna.

16 REGIONAL PARKScreated within the last 5 years.

8M euros (US $ 11.1M) invested in the creation of these

parks.

Surp

lus

of e

nerg

y produced in Apulia from traditional & renewable sources+80

%

13%of the national solar energy production

Primary produc-er of solar and wind energy in Italy.

24%of the national wind energy production

TARANTO

Taranto is Apulia’s second largest city. In 1961, construction efforts began for the construction of ILVA , Europe’s largest steal factory. The factory was supposed to be the pride and hope of an entire com-munity. Instead, it has become the main cause of this city’s ris-ing mortality rate. Taranto’s main factory contributes substantially to the nation’s emissions of air pollu-tion through the release of furans, dioxins, and other toxic gases.

Taranto’s children told us their stories and their pain in living with this enormous factory. Through their eyes we witnessed the poison-ous gasses that are released from the factory’s many chimney stacks. They told us about their fears and the horrors that they see day by day. Our decision to take action starts from them: from their letters, their drawings, their dreams, but also from their nightmares.

ANTIDIOXIN LAWIn December 2008, we decided to enact the first

law of its kind in Italy. It reduces the limit of

dioxins permitted to values equivalent to those

of the European Union’s 2004 Aarhus Proto-

col; approved by EU member states, but never

enforced by the Italian Government.

LEGAL LIMIT OF FURAN & DIOXINEMISSIONSas of December 31, 2010.

Italy

10nanograms

per m3

q q q Apulia

0.4nanograms

per m3

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WATER

Our administration approved a Bill stating that water is a public good, universally recognized and essen-tial to all mankind, and thus not susceptible to any form of priviti-zation. The Apulian Acqueduct is amongst one of the most impres-sive examples in water managment engineering in the world.

150.000.000 euros (US $ 208.5M) invested in improving and

modernizing the network.

40.000.000 cubic meters of water saved.

5.000.000 euros (US $ 7M) saved per year for internalizing

the water purification process.

250.000 water meters replaced by new and more efficient

machines.

3.000 sensors installed to monitor the water network.

71 water purification plants brought to norm.

MOBILITY

Within the first nine months of this year, passenger traffic at Apulian airports has shown a growth rate far beyond the national level.

Pass

enge

r tra

ffi c to

and from Apulian airports from 2005 to 2009+60

%

120M euros (US $ 167M)invested in the railway

and coach bus networks.

33M euros (US $ 45.9M) invested in opening new ports

and modernizing existing ones.

30M euros

(US $ 41.7M) in discounts to students

and workers who use public transportation

(reduced ticket fares).

TOURISM

Apulia has become one of the more attractive tourist destinations in Italy, and in Europe. While the world economic crisis slows down tourism in Italy, in Apulia the trend is the exact opposite.

+18% Growth rate from 2005 to 2008

+16% National tourists

+18% Int’l tourists

15M euros (US $ 21M) small business start-ups in the tour-

ism sector; mostly businesses set up by youth

and the previously non-employed.

INNOVATION

Investing in research enables prog-ress. Local investments, knowledge and labor, and a green economy guarantee a stable quality of life for our present and future generations.

Inve

stm

ents

in re

search, innovation and information systems760M

eurosUS $ 1BN

Inve

stm

ents in the creation of technology districts225Meuros

US $ 312M

YOUTH

We are investing in a knowledge-based economy through the pro-motion of ideas and creativity. Investing in our youth today not only guarantees future prospects but also helps regenerate today’s lingering economy.

Gov

ernment in

vestments in youth since 2005

200Meuros

US $ 312M

25.000 euros (US $ 34.800) granted to over 4.880 young

entrepreneurs for their first year of activity.

169 Urban LabsOld buildings restored and converted into public

spaces for the promotion of cultural activities.

13.300 Bursaries Apulian students study abroad. After completing

their studies, students commit to return home to

share their newly acquired knowledge.

CULTURE

We believe that a key solution in overcoming the world economic crisis is by investing in ideas.Apulia ranked last for investments in culture. Up until 2005, the Re-gional Government spent an aver-age of 50 euro cents (US $ 0.70) per citizen on culture. Today, funding is comparable to 4 euros (US $ 5.60) for every Apulian Citizen.

APULIA FILM COMMISSION created in 2007, and has attracted over 100 new film & TV produc-tions from around the world

BARI INT’L FILM & TV FESTIVALcelebrates its third year this year. It is a special occasion for the film industry to discover Apulia.

LOOSE CANONSa film produced in collaboration with the Apulia Film Commission, received a Special Jury Mention at the 2010 Tribeca Film Festival.

ORGANIZED CRIME

Our administration has made fight-ing organized crime a priority. Along with other non-profit organi-zations like Libera, we firmly sup-port the re-integration into society of goods confiscated from illegal activities. Goods such as land and real estate are sold to agricultural cooperatives and other ethically- sound organizations. We empower our citizens to decide along with local administrators how best to in-troduce these goods back into the community. With Free the Good, the Apulia Region intends to favor the creation of synergies amongst private and public administrators who support innovation and modernization, who promote a legal use of these goods, and who help develop new industries and work opportunities for its citizens. Culturally, this is a major step towards restoring harmony to populations devastated by generations of repression.

CINEPORTIIn 2010, two production hubs were inaugurated in Bari and Lecce.

PUGLIA SOUNDS created in 2010, to create synergies between musicians, producers, and distributers. This is the first project of its kind in Italy.

Investments in culture since 2005

US $ 151M

108Meuros

Inve

stments in Apulian cinema/audiovisual

US $ 7.3M

5.2Meuros

MOMArt: a cultural center in a suburb of the City of Bari, promotes up-and-coming Apulian artists. The MOMArt was born out of an ex-discotheque previously owned and operated by the mafia.

LEFT, ECOLOGY, LIBERTY

Sinistra Ecologia Libertà celebrated its founding convention in Florence, this past October. It is a left-wing party, led by Nichi Vendola. Its mission is based on peace and nonviolence, work and social justice, knowledge and a green economy. It is founded on the principles of solidarity, coop-eration, and direct participation amongst its members. It promotes the major forms of democracy and participation, starting with the use of primaries to elect the leader of a coalition.

7% Consensuspoll published by Ipsos Italia on 11/09/2010.

This rate is in constant growth.

Other political party standings: PDL (Berlusconi):

26,5%, PD: 23,4%, Lega Nord: 11,6%, IDV: 7,6%, UDC:

5,8%, FLI: 7,7% M5S: 4%, FDS: 2,5%, La Destra: 1,4%,

API:1,1%, MPA: 0,4%, Other: 2,5%.

41% ConfidencyNichi Vendola is considered the preferred leader

of the center-left coalition; positioning himself

ahead of the leader of the PD Partito Democrat-

ico (Democratic Party); today’s major opposition

party. He is perceived as the strongest candidate to

run against Silvio Berlusconi, Italy’s current Prime

Minister and leader of a right-wing coalition.

LA FABBRICA DI NICHI

In 2009, we launched a grass-roots movement called La fabbrica di nichi (Nichi’s factory). The factories are open to anyone who believes in what Mr. Vendola stands for. A horizontal organizational structure promotes active participa-tion from everyone who wants to get involved. Buone Azioni, or Good Deeds are our most popular form of participation. They are mini cam-paigns that anyone can do to give a concrete example of Mr. Vendola’s message.

SOCIAL MEDIAMr. Vendola is very popular amongst the younger generations. This is why we have focused our communication efforts online via www.nichivendola.it and on Facebook, Youtube, and Twit-ter. Today, La fabbrica di nichi is considered, by many, a revolu-tion in political communication.

+500 factorieshave opened in less than 1 year.

+315.000 fanson Facebook. 1st politician in Europe and

21st in the world in social media followers.

1st

1958

N

ichi

Ven

dola

was

bor

n in

the

City

of B

ari

1985

Fo

undi

ng m

embe

r of “

Arc

igay

” Ita

ly’s

fo

rem

ost N

atio

nal g

ay ri

ghts

org

aniz

atio

n

1986

G

radu

ates

in F

acul

ty o

f Lit

erat

ure

Uni

vers

ity o

f Bar

i

1987

Fo

undi

ng m

embe

r of “

Lila

” Ita

ly’s

mai

n

AID

S aw

aren

ess

orga

niza

tion

1990

Pa

rt o

f the

cen

tral

com

mitt

ee o

f the

Ital

ian

C

omm

unis

t Par

ty

1991

Fo

undi

ng m

embe

r of t

he “R

ifond

azio

ne

C

omun

ista

” Ref

orm

ed C

omm

unis

t Par

ty

1992

El

ecte

d M

embe

r of t

he It

alia

n N

atio

nal

Pa

rlia

men

t wit

h th

e R

efor

med

Com

mun

ist P

arty

1994

R

e-el

ecte

d in

the

Nat

iona

l Par

liam

ent

M

embe

r of t

he N

atio

nal C

omm

issi

on o

n

C

ultu

re, S

cien

ce, a

nd E

duca

tion

1996

R

e-el

ecte

d in

the

Nat

iona

l Par

liam

ent

M

embe

r of t

he N

atio

nal J

usti

ce C

omm

issi

on

Se

cret

ary

of th

e N

atio

nal A

ntim

afia

Com

mis

sion

2001

R

e-el

ecte

d in

the

Nat

iona

l Par

liam

ent

N

omin

ated

Vic

e Pr

esid

ent o

f Nat

iona

l Ant

imafi

a C

omm

issi

on

M

embe

r of t

he E

nviro

nmen

t, Te

rrito

ry a

nd P

ublic

Wor

ks C

omm

issi

ons

2005

W

ins

the

Prim

arie

s as

the

cand

idat

e fo

r the

cen

ter-

left

coa

litio

n

to ru

n fo

r the

pos

itio

n of

Gov

enor

of t

he A

pulia

Reg

ion

T

his

is th

e fir

st ti

me

in It

aly’

s hi

stor

y th

at th

e Pr

imar

y Sy

stem

is a

dopt

ed in

the

sele

ctio

n of

a p

oliti

cal c

andi

date

A

pril

4, w

ins

the

elec

tions

bec

omin

g G

oven

or o

f Apu

lia

2008

V

ice

Pres

iden

t Net

wor

k of

Eur

opea

n R

egio

ns U

sing

Spac

e Te

chno

logi

es (N

ERU

ST).

2010

Ja

nuar

y 24

, pri

mar

ies

are

agai

n he

ld to

sel

ect t

he le

ader

of t

he

ce

ntre

-left

coa

litio

n in

Apu

lia.

M

r. V

endo

la w

ins

the

Prim

ary

vote

with

a 7

0% m

ajor

ity.

M

arch

29,

is re

-ele

cted

Gov

enor

of A

pulia

C

oord

inat

or C

limat

e C

hang

e O

bser

vato

ry fo

r the

Eur

opea

n U

nion

's

C

omm

itte

of R

egio

ns.

O

ctob

er 2

4, fo

unds

and

is d

ecla

red

pres

iden

t of a

new

nat

iona

l

polit

ical

par

ty: “

Sini

stra

Eco

logi

a Li

bert

à” (L

eft,

Ecol

ogy,

Lib

erty

)

a le

ft-w

ing

ecol

ogis

t par

ty.

In

add

itio

n, N

ichi

Ven

dola

, wor

ked

for m

any

year

s as

a jo

urna

list f

or th

e pr

inte

d pr

ess;

and

has

also

wri

tten

a s

erie

s of

boo

ks: “

Prim

a de

lla b

atta

glia

,” “L

a D

ebol

ezza

,”

“S

ogge

tti S

mar

riti,

” “Il

Mon

do C

apov

olto

,” “L

amen

to in

Mor

te d

i Car

lo G

iulia

ni,”

“Dia

logo

sulla

Leg

alità

,” “L

a M

afia

Leva

ntin

a,” “

Dile

mm

i del

la S

pera

nza,

” and

“Ulti

mo

mar

e.”

M

r. V

endo

la h

eade

d nu

mer

ous

inte

rnat

iona

l pea

ce m

issi

ons,

nam

ely

in B

osni

a, C

olom

bia,

Gua

tem

ala,

and

Tag

ikis

tan.

1st