19 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato
On 20 November 1959 the UN General Assembly adopted the Declaration of the Rights of the Child and approved in 1989, the International Convention on the rights of infants and adolescents. Based on the harmonization of different cultural and juridical experiences, the Convention enunciated for the first time, and in a coherent way, the fundamental rights to be recognized and guaranteed for all the children of the world. The document stated the four key issues: the lack of denunciation, greater interest, life and survival and development, and lastly, listening in all the decision-making processes. The Convention also provides for a control mechanism on the work of the States that have to present a periodic report on its implementation in their territories. According to UNICEF, every year millions of children continue to be victims of violence, abuse, abandonment, exploitation, wars and discrimination. A lot has been done, but still more must be done to achieve a concrete application of these principles.
17 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato
Igino Giordani during a visit to Loppiano
16 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato
The World Day of the Poor will be celebrated on Sunday, 18 November. It was established by Pope Francis in 2016, at the end of the Jubilee of Mercy with the title “This poor man cried and the Lord heard him” (Ps 34.7). In his message for that occasion the Pope wrote: “This Psalm allows us today, to immerse ourselves in many forms of poverty, and understand who are the real poor towards whom we should direct our gaze. […] What does the poor man’s cry express if not his suffering and solitude, disappointment and hope? We may wonder: how come this cry, that rises up to God’s presence, is unable to reach our ears and leaves us indifferent and passive? On a Day like this, we are asked to seriously examine our conscience to understand if we are really capable of listening to the poor.” On the occasion of the 2nd World Day of the Poor, we are again invited to open our own homes, and share our meals in a simple and fraternal way, as a sign of solidarity and comfort to the many forms of poverty we can all see with our own eyes.
16 Nov 2018 | Focolare Worldwide
On October 20, just a few days before the date of Chiara Luce Badano’s feast day, which has now been set as October 29, there were 300 children and teens who lined the streets of Acatzingo, in the Mexican state of Puebla. They were there early in the morning to honor Chiara Luce, who they call “blessed for our times.” The celebration began with music and dance marked by joy and more than a few decibels, organized by the Focolare community and including five local school groups. In 2012 a chapel had been dedicated to the young Badano at “El Diamante”, the Focolare’s little town that is the beating heart of the community there. Since then there has been a contagious call to a full and joyful following of the will of God – “a splendid design that, little by little, reveals itself,” according to Chiara Luce’s words. It is a call that reaches many young people each year, engaging “heads, hearts, hands.” Inspired by the words of Pope Francis, who during the recent synod held up many young people as models of holiness, these children displayed thoughts and moments from Chiara Badano’s life in an atmosphere of friendship and celebration. 
Just a few miles from El Diamante in the city of Acatzingo, which has suffered a wave of violence in past months, those watching were invited to roll the Cube of Love. Like in many countries of the world, this highly symbolic act is an invitation to individuals and society to take on initiatives of peace. The celebrations then continued at El Diamante, with dance, music, theatre, the sharing of experiences and games, with more than 500 attending. It had been put together by the young people from the school of formation there. “Chiara Luce is for us a beacon that urges us to live for a great ideal.” Other schools and colleges in Acatzingo have already signed up for future celebrations. Mariapoli El Diamante, 20 ottobre 2018
15 Nov 2018 | Non categorizzato
Every year, since 2002, a World Day has been dedicated to philosophy. By proclaiming the Day, UNESCO has underscored the value of philosophy for the development of human thought. Ex-General Director Irina Bokova, went on to say: “Philosophical reflection is a calling back to humility, to reflection and reasonable dialogue, to build solutions together to the challenges that are beyond our control. […] The more the difficulties are large, the more philosophy is useful for giving sense to the questions of peace and sustainable development.” On this Day, all UNESCO partners – national governments, public organisations and institutions, NGOs, universities, schools, along with citizens and associations – are called to a free, collective, reasonable and informed reflection on the challenges of our times. “Philosophy’s genuine value,” said Moufida Goucha, ex-director of the ‘Human Safety, Democracy and Philosophy,’ Section, “is to establish a dialogue that should never interrupt over the essential,” along with the task of restoring, “a large portion of human dignity, whatever our conditions.”
