“Together with personalities from the world of politics and culture, we were 9000, glued to our seats-the Gen Verde write to us at the conclusion of the event-in front of the images of the holocaust in the concentration camps. On the 26th January, at Florence, at the Nelson Mandela Forum, from a bare stage, testimonies were given by persons who survived the Shoah.” They were open wounds, like those that are today still victims of genocide, violence, and discrimination.

Thus, with the title of the meeting “We, sons and daughters of Eichmann?” the organisers sought to make us ask ourselves “could this happen again?” This was the fifth edition, and this initiative was aimed at the students of the superior institutes of all the Tuscan provinces, and was held on the eve of the day of Remembrance, the 27th January, a date that is remembered contemporaneously in many European countries.

Recently, even the city of Florence was the scene of episodes of ethnic intolerance, and for this reason the President of the region, stressed and asked those present to commit themselves, by beginning for example, to banish from our common language expressions that are offensive towards cultures and peoples that are different from us.

The Gen Verde, in collaboration with a multi-ethnic orchestra from Arezzo, was entrusted with the conclusion of the event with songs and choreographies to bear witness that the dimension of reciprocity and exchange of diverse cultures is possible. And the attention of the youths who in silence and with respect received every intervention makes us hope that we can say with force “never again.”

In Spring, new horizons await the Gen Verde: the first is Spain, where the group will be on a tour from the end of March up to the middle May, touching down on, amongst others, the cities of Jerez, Granada and Jaen- while other stops are being confirmed- with the show “Maria”. For information: www.genverde.it

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