Stories from around the globe show how a united world is already in motion. This platform highlights experiences, initiatives, and projects from people and communities working for unity and peace. Explore what’s happening and get inspired.
<p><em>Romano Prodi and Pasquale Ferrara give an interview at the convention for worldwide Focolare delegates, currently underway at Castel Gandolfo (Rome) from 14-27 September.</em></p> <p><strong></strong>“We can react to this situation through forms of reorganization, even if they are not perfect, but which bring together countries and people from various fields. Our problem in Europe is one of an imperfect unity, but we must keep going with it. And in the context of the migrant crisis we feel that unity is essential to our future,” states <strong>Roman Prodi</strong>, twice Prime Minister of Italy and former President of the European Commission. As an economist, academic and politician, he gave an interview during the meeting for Focolare regional delegates.</p>
<p><em>From 25 to 30 August, 40 Christian and Muslim university students and 8 professors of 15 countries participated in the initiative of Sophia University Institute (SUI) held in the Dolomite Mountains with the support of the Province of Trent. SUI professor, Roberto Catalano, summarised the event.</em></p> <p>The Summer School was held in Tonadico in the Dolomite Mountains, not only due to the marvelous scenario of the locality, but also for the bond that existed between Chiara Lubich and those mountain districts. It was there, in fact, that in 1949 with some of her young companions, Chiara lived that mystic experience that is central to the history of the Work she had started.</p>
<p><a href="index.php?option=com_docman&view=document&alias=94-appeal-uwp-2015&category_slug=english&Itemid=138&lang=en" target="_blank" class="doclink">download</a></p> <p></p> <p>To International and National Institutions.<br />To International and National Organisations</p> <h2 style="text-align: center;">APPEAL</h2> <h1 style="text-align: center;">#SIGNUPFORPEACE</h1> <p>We represent “Youth for a United World” and are part of the Focolare Movement, which began in 1943 arising out of the experience of Chiara Lubich. We are young people from all over the world who belong to different religions, cultures, beliefs and traditions. We identify with the principle of universal fraternity and are committed to living according to the “Golden Rule” which invites us to do to others what we would like done to us. At international level we work in collaboration with the NGO New Humanity.</p> <p>We are aware of the current global scene in which many conflicts cause migrations of peoples fleeing from violence, extreme poverty, hunger and social injustices, which they are victims of in their own countries. We are deeply affected by all this suffering and are personally committed to finding practical solutions. Our projects and actions for peace are called “seeds of fraternity” and are part of the overall United World Project (www.unitedworldproject.org).<br />Universal fraternity cannot be achieved only through individual good will. We believe direct action by politicians is needed to address the causes of conflicts and the factors that generate inequality.</p>
<p><em>We are in a Third World War, we must be aware. The waves of migrants are a result of the conflicts that must be known in their origin. The task that the policy can not avoid is to find a solution</em></p> <p>This morning while reading the newspapers and on the web I focus on the news about the countries of origin of migrants who knock Europe.</p> <p><strong>Afghanistan:</strong> the Taliban release 355 inmates from Ghazni prison.<br /> <strong>Pakistan:</strong> governative bombings in Waziristan, Taliban and civilian victimes.<br />
<p><em>Tsipras wins the elections as expected and will govern again with the right wings allies of Anel. The unknowns of the future</em></p> <p><span id="result_box" lang="en"><span title="E così Tsipras è di nuovo a capo della politica greca.">So <strong>Tsipras</strong> is again at the head of Greek politics. </span><span title="I mercati, la Ue, gli stessi greci non ne sono poi così scontenti, anche se la partecipazione al voto è stata bassa, poco più di un elettore su due si è infatti recato alle urne. ">The markets, the EU, the Greeks themselves are not all that unhappy, although the turnout was low, little more than one voter out of two fact went to the polls.</span></span></p>
<p><em>The campaign, Change for the planet – Care for the people, promots sustainable lifestyles in view of the upcoming Conference on the Climate in Paris, France. Bernd Nills, Secretary General of the CIDSE (a network of Catholic agencies for development) meets with Maria Voce, president of the Focolare. Working with institutions and mobilizing the base.</em></p> <p>Networked for the common good, in the aftermath of <a href="http://w2.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/encyclicals/documents/papa-francesco_20150524_enciclica-laudato-si.html" target="_blank"><em>Laudato Si’</em></a>, which asks for immediate concrete action, includes many others besides Bernd Nilles and Maria Voce, who all met at the International Centre of the Focolare in Rocca di Papa, Italy, on September 9, 2015, together with co-president Jésus Moran and several collaborators representing the youth and several agencies of the Focolare (<a href="http://www.afnonlus.org/" target="_blank">AFN</a>, <a href="http://www.new-humanity.org/it/" target="_blank">New Humanity</a>, <a href="http://www.amu-it.eu/?lang=it" target="_blank">AMU</a>, <a href="http://edc-online.org/" target="_blank">EoC</a>).<strong><br /> </strong></p>
<p><em>The current election campaign. The appeal of Aung San Suu Kyi and the hope for a real change after years of oppressive military dictatorship. The problem of extremist fringe of <em>theravada-Burmese</em> Buddhism<br /></em></p> <p>November 8 Myanmar will live a moment that we hope will be a turning point in the history of the country. Over 30 million citizens will go to the polls for elections that are supposed to represent a "real political and administrative change" in the words of Mrs. Aung San Suu Kyi, charismatic and historical leader of the opposition to the military power that controls the country for decades with an iron fist. Just Aung San Suu Kyi has launched the campaign with a social message asking, among other things, to the international community to ensure the elections to be conducted in a free and truly democratic way.</p>
<p><em>A daily influx of thousands of refugees crossing the Hungarian border and heading for Austria and Germany have created an emergency situation which is difficult to manage. Then, there are people whose sense of humanity often wins out.</em></p> <p><strong></strong>Viktoria Bakacsi and Laszlo Vizsolyi from the Focolare Movement in Hungary write: <strong>“Every day we encounter suffering under so many guises, right outside the doors of our homes. </strong>We listened to the words of Pope Francis and are now trying to put them into practice even more.”</p> <p><strong>“For months,” they write, “there has been a continual influx of refugees. </strong>Some two thousand people arrive in Hungary every day: families with children, exhausted. Despite the general chaos, many people are stepping out and giving a helping hand, people belonging to civic groups and church organisations.”</p>
<p><em>A village at the entrance of the forest where the ideal of brotherhood is translated into concrete decisions in favour of the common good: a house for guests, a rice bank, a health centre and child care. Gilbert’s story.</em></p> <p><strong></strong><strong>Seven kilometres into the forest, reachable on foot or by <em>baka </em>(van), </strong>which is the only thing capable of travelling over the mud and holes during the rainy season, lies the village of Glolé. It is one of eighteen Cantons in the region of Tonkpi, northwest of the Ivory Coast. There is no electricity, and therefore no television, internet or shops. Many of the people in that region have been touched by Chiara Lubich’s ideal of brotherhood. They live it in their daily lives beginning with putting into practice the Word of the Gospel; even the social and political structures have been gradually enriched and illuminated by the experience.
Economy & Work
Thirty-five years ago a dream was born: the Economy of Communion. In late May Argentina will host an extraordinary celebration where people of all ages will come together to breathe new life into this project and write the future for a different kind of economy.
Lorna Gold, Executive Director of Laudato Si’ Movement, reflects on ten years of the encyclical, analysing how integral ecology is an essential path to global unity and tackling the climate crisis.
Operation Mato Grosso is working on over 100 missions across Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, and Bolivia, all rooted in education, hard work, and solidarity. Jacopo Manara, who has been a volunteer for years, tells us their story.
An interview on communication with Michele Zanzucchi, journalist and writer, former director of Città Nuova, professor of communication at Sophia University Institute and at the Pontifical Gregorian University, and author of around forty books.
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