Venice celebrated Italian and international scientific excellence by awarding Italian American scientist Antonio Giordano with the prestigious Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement.

Giordano, president and founder of the Sbarro Health Research Organization at Temple University in the United States and full professor of Anatomy and Pathological Histology at the University of Siena, was recognized for his pioneering work in demonstrating the correlation between health and pollution, particularly in the area of Campania known as the Terra dei Fuochi.

The award is a tribute to Giordano's scientific research on cancer and his courage in shedding light on the links between illicit waste management, which is controlled by organized crime, and the incidence of cancer pathologies in the Campania region. This recognition takes on an even deeper meaning considering the recent context: just hours before the award was presented, the Cassation Court released the entire assets confiscated from members of the Pellini family, convicted of environmental crimes related to the Terra dei Fuochi disaster, a battle Giordano continues to fight relentlessly.

Anti-mafia magistrate Catello Maresca, chairman of the legality section of the Golden Lion award in Venice, supported the proposal to honor Giordano, highlighting his role in exposing the criminal activities that have poisoned Campania's lands. Maresca, with his investigations against the Casalesi clan, has helped bring to light the truth about this devastating phenomenon.

At a time when the fight against the Camorra is suffering trial delays and the work of years is being questioned, Giordano and Maresca emphasize the importance of keeping the focus on legality and justice high, including through education in schools to spread anti-mafia culture.

Giordano's study of the Terra dei Fuochi has been crucial in bringing environmental violations to light and has drawn the attention of the judiciary to many of Campania's realities outside the law. The Golden Lion award allows him to continue his work in pursuing the common good and drawing public attention to a deep-rooted problem that requires concrete action for a sustainable future.

The awards ceremony in Venice, chaired by Sileno Candelaresi, brought together an outstanding list of awardees, including Italian and international excellences in the fields of business, sports and culture. Guests of honor included knight Gianfranco Sciscione, starred celebrity chef Luigi Ciciriello and producer Yimei Heng, all of whom were awarded the prestigious Venice Institutional Plaque of the Lion of St. Mark.

The awarding of the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement to Antonio Giordano is a well-deserved tribute to his extraordinary dedication to science and his unwavering determination to fight environmental injustice, thus offering hope for a better future.