by Ada Guazzo | Apr 10, 2024 | 2024 Europe Day, Italy, News
“Europe will be united if competition will stimulate us, cooperation will strengthen us, solidarity will unite us.” (Jean Monnet)
Together to reawaken personal responsibility towards society
This is the theme of the Europe Day 2024 event in Rome. To deepen one’s commitment as a European citizen to the challenges of today’s society, the following programme has been planned:
- Greeting by Dr Carlo Corazza – Head of the European Parliament Rome Office
- “Citizens and communities protagonists of European democracy” – Claudio Sardo, journalist
- Good practices of social commitment
- Ecumenical prayer for Europe, prepared by representatives of different Churches
0 May 2024 – 6 p.m., the Hall in S. Maria in Campitelli – Piazza di Campitelli, 9
The Rome team of Together for Europe
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by Ada Guazzo | Sep 16, 2021 | Experiences, reflections and interviews, Italy, News
This is what the students of a Roman college had to say regarding the future of the Continent: active citizenship in Europe starts with education!
That’s quite true, and easily shown through facts! “Your elders shall have dreams, and your young people shall have visions” (Joel 3,1). When teachers offer stimuli, present ideals and reveal prospectives, young people are able to respond with enthusiasm, perspicacity and creativity. This is the case of the students of the Augusto College in Rome and their teacher Maria Paola Aloi (who supports Together for Europe).
While involved in a project regarding active citizenship in the European Union, they have identified and carefully analyzed several hot issues with the aim of putting forward solutions. Listening to a piece of classical music, the young people saw in it the metaphor of harmony in diversity in a European context, which is a shared symphony. Through a play about a girl on a boat moving toward the unknown, they censured the on-going terrible tragedies on our seas.
While delving into the myth of Europe, they recognized the roots of a culture that, in its DNA, has hospitality and the welcoming of those travelling or migrating. Using an imaginary videogame entitled ‘The Game’, they facilitated a reflection about the migrants moving along the Baltic Route. They have shown great clearness of mind when they wrote a fictitious letter to David M. Sassoli, the President of the European Parliament, in which they outlined a strategic plan regarding the ‘humanitarian corridor’ based on: Prevention, Rescue, and Welcome.
These initiatives were among those held in other colleges on May 10 to celebrate the Feast of Europe. Then they were shared on June 3 during a meeting on the platform Meet; taking part were members of the Italian network of Together for Europe (8 Italian cities; 6 Movements that adhere to Together for Europe). Irene Loffredo (Focolare), a young woman from Pozzuoli (Naples), spoke on behalf of a group that provides voluntary service at a local prison. The group is made up of members of diverse Movements and Churches. Their endeavour brought about enhanced humanization and changes. Aldo Bernabei (Followers of St Catherine) expounded the plans of the EU regarding the Erasmus project and the European Corps of Solidarity: the latter will see about 270,000 young people involved in activities of solidarity in the next few years.
We now hope to be able to propose this initiative to schools in other cities; we intend to contact teachers and to propose twinning of classes. Moreover, we will offer the help of those involved in this experience.
The European Offices in Milan and Rome were informed about this initiative. They jointly expressed their congratulations for the great commitment and care shown in the various projects that were carried out.
Dolores Librale and Ada Maria Guazzo
Photo: Pixabay
by Ada Guazzo | Jun 15, 2021 | 2021 Europe Day, Experiences, reflections and interviews, Italy, News
During a zoom conference to mark the 2021 Europe Day, Prof Luigino Bruni put forward a novel perspective regarding the relationship between ecology and economy.
Luigino Bruni is Professor of Political Economy at LUMSA, Rome, and also teaches at the University Institute Sophia in Loppiano (Florence). Moreover, he is the Scientific Director of The Economy of Francesco and President of the School of Civil Economy.
He analysed the European economy starting from its Christian roots. He then reflected upon several positive impulses that can be derived from the pandemic tragedy. He underlined the present involvement of young people which is providing new hope and a stimulus for personal commitment that combines the love of the Earth to that of Mankind.
Quite interesting was his interpretation of the quotation from Joel, 2, 28: “If the old people are still able to dream (to believe in a better world), then the young people will prophesize (they will undertake great projects)”.
Here is the transcript of the speech 09 05 2021 TfE Prof. L. Bruni – integral ecology, economy of solidarity
You can also see the video on youtube (in Italian). Click here>>
Photo: L. Bruni https://www.edc-online.org / nature: K. Brand
by Ada Guazzo | Apr 18, 2016 | News
“We shall attempt to draw, out of the historical experience of Europe, values and ideals that could enable us to surmount the present crisis and find a way forward into the future.”
This is the subject matter of a panel discussion on Thursday 21 April 2016, 5–7pm –
Ecumenical Centre Geneva (Switzerland).
A panel discussion, with audience participation, with:
- Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, general secretary of the World Council of Churches
- Mr Eric Ackermann, a member of the Jewish community in Geneva
- Ms Gaelle Courtens, a journalist associated with the Federation of Protestant Churches in Italy and the ‘nev-notizie evangeliche’ Press Agency
- Mr Pasquale Ferrara, a diplomat, and professor at the LUISS University, Rome, and the Sophia University Institute, Loppiano
- Mr Andreas Gross, a former Swiss parliamentarian, and a former member of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe
- In the chair: Ms Marguerite Contat, former head of delegations at the International Committee of the Red Cross, and joint president of the Genevan Constituent Assembly, 2008-12
The event will be live streamed: http://www.oikoumene.org/live
For more informations: https://www.oikoumene.org/en/press-centre/events/all-events?set_language=en
The meeting takes place in sight of the international Event in Munich, 30 June – 2 July 2016: “Together for Europe. Encounter. Reconciliation. Future”.
