Ecomafie: Nord territorio conquista?

Moncalieri (Torino), 5 marzo 2010,  alle ore 21.00, presso le Fonderie Teatrali Limone (Via Pastrengo, 88), il Partito Democratico del Piemonte organizza il convegno pubblico “Ecomafie, il nord come territorio di conquista?”.  Intervengono: Noemi GALLO (Responsabile regionale Dipartimento Ambiente del Partito Democratico), Stella BIANCHI (Responsabile nazionale Ambiente Partito Democratico), Mimmo FONTANA (Legambiente Sicilia), Ernesto RAMOJNO (Presidente della Fondazione Anti Usura CRT-La scialuppa), Roberto FORTE (Direttore di FLARE – Freedom Legality and Rights in Europe), Andrea SARTORI (Associazione Terra del Fuoco).  Conclude Gianfranco MORGANDO (Segretario Regionale del Partito Democratico).  Modera Paolo GRISERI (giornalista La Repubblica).  Saranno presenti: Presidio Peppino Impastato Libera Torino Sud, Legambiente Piemonte.  Parteciperà: Roberta MEO, candidata Sindaco di Moncalieri.

Religious freedom for everyone

On Human Rights Day 2009, the Church and Society Commission of the Conference of European Churches (CEC) calls for everyone to join together to defend religious freedom and other fundamental human rights for everyone.The Swiss vote to ban the building of new minarets and recent decisions of the European Court of Human Rights, including the vote against the presence of crucifixes in Italian classrooms, demonstrate how important this is.Human Rights Day marks the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) on 10 December 1948. “Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance” states article 18 of the UDHR.  Yet 61 years after the UDHR’s adoption the struggle for religious freedom remains a daily concern for many individuals, CEC member churches, and other religious communities throughout Europe. The Conference of European Churches invites all people to commit themselves to human rights for all. CEC particularly calls on Christians to commit themselves to this struggle, remembering the words of St. Paul: “…’Love your neighbour as yourself.’ Love does no wrong to a neighbour; therefore, love is the fulfilling of the law” (Romans 13:8-10).

Mohsen has won the 2009 Freedom

London: Mohsen Makhmalbaf, the celebrated Iranian filmmaker and official overseas spokesman for 2009 Iranian presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi, has won the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize. The only prize of its kind, the Freedom to Create Prize celebrates the use of the arts to drive change and build the foundations of creativity in broken societies. Bianca Jagger, Founder and Chair of the Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation, presented Mr Makhmalbaf with his award at a high profile London ceremony at the Victoria & Albert Museum on 25 November 2009. Mohsen Makhmalbaf has dedicated his award to Iran’s Green Movement and its spiritual leader, Grand Ayatollah Hossein-Ali Montazeri. Commenting on his award, Makhmalbaf said, “People of my country (Iran) are killed, imprisoned, tortured and raped just for their votes. Every award I receive means an opportunity for me to echo their voices to the world, asking for democracy for Iran and peace for the world.” The second place prize winner is Burmese refugee women’s group, The Kumjing Storytellers, who use giant paper maché dolls to represent their stories of ethnic persecution in Burma and the plight of migrants and refugees from around the world. The third place prize winner is Afghan female artist Sheenkai Alam Stanikzai, who uses video performance, installation and photography to tackle the subjugation and violent persecution of women in Afghanistan and neighbouring countries. Prize founder and Chairman of Orient Global Richard F. Chandler said he was humbled by the bravery of this year’s winners adding their courage and stories epitomised the daily sacrifices made by artists on frontlines from around the world. Freedom to Create is an initiative that seeks to improve lives by addressing society’s ability to support and sustain creativity. The initiative focuses on those societies in greatest need.(Mohsen Makhmalbaf)

Roma Migration and Freedom of movement

Vienna (Austria) 9 November 2009 at 11h15 Hofburg Kongresszentrum, Heldenplatz, press conference. Speakers: Morten Kjaerum, Director, European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) Thomas Hammarberg, Commissioner for Human Rights, Council of Europe (CommHR) Janez Lenarcic, Director, OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) Knut Vollebaek, OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) (The press conference will be held in English. The European Union Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights (CommHR), the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE High Commissioner on National Minorities (HCNM) will convene at a joint conference in Vienna on 9 and 10 November, to discuss the issue of migration and freedom of movement of Roma and its implications for their human rights situation and security.

The confession of freedom: the acid test

The memory of the opening of the frontier in 1989 brings with it an obligation to support national and ethnic minorities — heightened nationalism is putting togetherness in Europe in question — the President and General Secretary of the CPCE at the ceremonies commemorating the 20th anniversary of the opening of the frontier.  “Support for the national and ethnic minorities: that is the acid test for the confession of freedom,” said Pastor Thomas Wipf (Berne) yesterday in Sopron, Hungary. The President of the Community of Protestant Churches in Europe (CPCE) was taking part in a public conversation with the then Hungarian Prime Minister Miklos Németh. “Even in a liberated Europe space for the weak is again being curtailed – an obligation of the events of 1989 is to support them”, Wipf continued.  “Today in particular, when the churches are withdrawing into themselves in uncertain times and people socially prefer to save the little for themselves rather than hoping for the salvation of all, this remembrance is healthy,” added Bishop Michael Bünker, General Secretary of the CPCE. Not all the expectations after the opening of the frontiers had been fulfilled. “However, freedom does not mean that everything is possible, but rather that there must be space for all men and women,” he continued. However, a “heightened nationalism” in reaction was putting “togetherness in Europe generally in question”. Here the Protestant churches of Europe were working together for reconciliation. They stood up for freedom, the rights of minorities and the transcending of frontiers. In doing this they were making “an irreplaceable contribution to the Europe of tomorrow”.  ‘Going to the frontiers – 20 years of an open frontier” is the slogan of the international festivities to commemorate the symbolic cutting open of the frontier fence by the Hungarian and Austrian foreign ministers on 27 June 1989. The festival between 3 and 5 July has been arranged by CPCE member churches from Germany, Austria and Hungary. It will conclude with a service on Sunday which will be broadcast live by Austrian television, Hungarian television and Bayerischer Rundfunk. http://www.leuenberg.eu.

National former prisoner of war recognition day

The White House. American prisoners of war exemplify the courage and  sacrifice that define our men and women in uniform. These  brave warriors have paid a massive share of the costs of freedom,  and our Nation will be forever in their debt. Today we honor all  prisoners of war by recognizing the tremendous sacrifices made  and the hardships endured by those who fight for our freedom.  American prisoners of war have experienced extreme  conditions across the world and many have made the ultimate  sacrifice. Sixty-seven years ago, in the midst of World War II,  nearly 12,000 Americans and 76,000 Filipinos were captured while  defending positions on the Bataan Peninsula in the Philippines.  As prisoners of war, they endured the Bataan Death March,  suffering starvation, torture, and unspeakable conditions.  Thousands were randomly executed and many perished on this  journey. During the Korean War, more than 1,600 Americans died  under grave conditions at the Pyok Tong camp. In Vietnam’s  Hoa Lo Prison — the infamous Hanoi Hilton — Americans endured  torture and other forms of inhumane treatment.  There are countless tales of the bravery of American  prisoners of war — of the burdens borne, of the acts of  heroism. These individuals have made great sacrifices and  have demonstrated an enduring faith in themselves and in the  United States. Their commitment calls out to all Americans to  live up to our Nation’s highest ideals and to serve our fellow  citizens with equal selflessness and honor. We will never forget  their sacrifices. Their spirit of service will inspire the  American people for generations to come. (Barack Obama)