May 20, 2021 | Non categorizzato
“A Vaccine for All”, a worldwide campaign for global access to vaccines against Covid-19, kicked off today at 13.00 Italian time, along with a symbolic action to provide medical care and vaccinations to people living in the Brazilian Amazon Region. The campaign is being promoted by an international network of more than 40 organisations from different countries with different cultures and religions. “The possibility to be vaccinated should not be limited to a privileged few; it is every person’s right. So we are working both at political and community level to guarantee this right to every person.” Conleth Burns, a 23-year-old law graduate from Northern Ireland declared this during a press conference, which marked the opening of this campaign. Klara Piedade, a young law graduate from the State of Parà in Brazil stated that the date for the official launching of this campaign has not been chosen at random: it was planned to be on the eve of the G-20 World Summit. Piedade was representing the Youth for a United World, young people of the Focolare Movement, who started promoting this campaign during this year’s edition of United World Week, an event that focused mainly on the concept and practice of “care” in all spheres: political, environmental, social and economical. “As a Brazilian I can say that the pandemic situation, that hit indigenous and riverine populations, is much worse than official figures show. The people who live in these areas are forgotten by society; they live far from urban and care centres, and today they are hit not only by a health crisis, but they also by social, economical and environmental problems. Through this campaign, we are proposing an online donation to support and show care to the inhabitants of this region, who live on the banks of the Amazon and have no access to social and health care”. Mario Bruno, an Italian, who is the international president of the Political Movement for Unity, a promoter of the campaign together with the Focolare Youth for a United World, clarified that this campaign started precisely on the eve of the day when the international community would make known its orientation towards a solution: would it be suspension of patents or would it be sharing of them, with a sort of ‘patent pool’ through which pharmaceutical companies decide to share licences for their productions in poorer countries. “We ask for agreements to be reached with pharmaceutical companies whereby affordable prices are established for the poorest countries. We appeal to governments to be urged by the desire of universal brotherhood and not by new forms of colonialism, and to be ready to provide the vaccine funds needed for the poorest countries as well”. Alongside this global mobilisation, a health campaign is also being launched in the Amazon region of Pará (Brazil) to support the “Pope Francis Hospital Boat” project. Operating since 2019, this project seeks to provide the care needed by the “ribeirinhos”, the populations who live along the River Amazon, far away from any healthcare centres. Edson Galego, a Brazilian nurse who lives at Obidos in the lower Amazon and works directly on the project said: “Since September 2019, the Pope Francis Hospital Boat has reached more 700,000 inhabitants in the Amazon region, thanks to the commitment of many volunteers and economic aid, and this is still not enough. At the moment vaccines are urgently needed, but the state is seeing mainly to those who live in urban centres. The situation has now become worse: it is the heavy rain season; the water level rises and because of floods the communities cannot go fishing or sail to cities where they can buy food, medicines and other basic needs. We believe that only a worldwide network can sustain us in our goal of universal brotherhood and embrace together this part of humanity, that suffers and is excluded”. Sr. Alessandra Smerilli (Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development and coordinator of the Economic Task Force of the Vatican Covid-19 Commission) highlighted the aspect of justice. She said: “This is not a matter of being charitable and giving crumbs to those who are worse off than us. It is a question of being indebited and just towards the poorer ones. As Pope Francis has reminded us, we will be saved only if we are all together, which means that we will not be saved until all of us, especially the most vulnerable, the poor and the forgotten, are taken care of. I think that the temporary suspension of patents and the lowering of prices show that this project is moving in the right direction. Then, there is also the question of distribution of technologies: we should be able to study all vaccines, included those that are not produced in the western world. This is quite difficult for some populations. Let’s strive for vaccines that can be easily produced and transported everywhere”. Yassine Lafram, President of the Union of Islamic Communities in Italy (UCOII), emphasised the indispensable element of co-responsibility on the part of individuals and States with regards to the current worldwide pandemic and its consequences: “We are convinced that we will all be able to start afresh if responsibility is shared. We are all connected and we will be at risk if whole populations are vaccinated, while only one per cent of the poor populations will be able to get the vaccine. We hope that other vaccination campaigns, especially for the poorest populations, will be launched”. Gianfranco Cattai, coordinator of Retinopera, broadened the horizon when he spoke about the need of offering more just healthcare solutions to poverty-stricken populations. “This is a very concrete campaign and I hope it will trigger off further developments: I am referring to the possibility of locally produced essential medicines in poor countries”. Noteworthy were the words of Vinu Aram, director of the Shanti Ashram (India), who argued that in the idea of a vaccine for all there is a very important ethical element. “It is not enough to take care of oneself. Both Pope Francis and Mahatma Gandhi invite us to practise solidarity. It is the first time in the world when scientists have collaborated to produce vaccines. I support this vaccine-for-all campaign, and we make this appeal not only for Indians, Americans or Italians, but for everyone, so that the global family can dream and live true solidarity.” Stefano Comazzi, president of the NGO Action for a United World (AMU) spoke about the project “Prevention, vaccine and care for “ribeirinhos” – Pope Francis Hospital Boat”. This project will be managed by AMU together with the Associação Lar São Francisco de Assis na Providencia de Deus. When sharing details about the health, social and economic support to be given, Comazzi said: “Medical care will take place within the existing framework of the healthcare programme for hospital boats, providing triage, diagnostics and specialised care when necessary. For prevention and preventive treatment against disease we intend to work with the local leaders to provide guidance and raise awareness on hygiene, to establish social distancing and to distribute protection and hygiene packs. The estimated cost of each pack is €15. The aid programme for the most vulnerable families includes the distribution of food packages and personal hygiene and disinfection items. The average cost of each unit is estimated to be €17”. At the end he highlighted an element that underlines the uniqueness of this project: reciprocity. He explained: “We, as AMU, attach great importance to this element, so that no one feels like a passive beneficiary, but bonds of fraternity are created between the communities who donate and those who receive. In fact, the communities visited by the “Pope Francis Hospital Boat” are used to providing voluntary services to support and contribute to these missions”.
Stefania Tanesini
See press conference on www.avaccineforall.org
May 19, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Alex’s account of working in the health, safety and environmental department of a road-cleaning company. while striving to care for the planet and every living creature. 
Alex works in a road-cleaning company, which uses 5,000 gallon (c.19,000 litre) capacity tanks. They draw their water from salt-water pools to wash down the roads serving a large mining area in the north of Peru. The company embraces values such as: life before everything else, act in the right way, grow and evolve together, give value to all who work in the company, take care of the planet and every living species. “I’m the health, safety and environmental supervisor,” says Alex. “I’m always attentive to the health of our personnel, aiming for ‘zero accidents’. We’re careful too about the impact our work has on the enviornment. We try to protect our flora and fauna. We’re the ones invading their territory so we should respect their habitat without damaging it. Unfortunately, quite often animals mistake our salt-water pools for fresh water and sometimes die in it. Goats, cows and foxes approach the steep sides and slip down into the water,. One day we found a small fox struggling in the water and there was no way it could save itself from drowning. Now there’s an “Emergency Rescue” phoneline run by a different subcontractor, but no-one answered so I decided to take direct action to save the creature. Equipped with a suction tube and rope, I set to work. I threw the rope into the pool for the little fox to claw onto, but it was too weak. So I dropped down into the pool, helped by two colleagues who held onto the rope. And we managed to carry it out. It was frozen, so I covered it with my own sweater and we brought it to the Rescue Office.” Alex’s account calls to mind Pope Francis’ encyclical letter Laudato Sì, when he speaks of Saint Francis entering into communication with the whole of creation, even preaching to the flowers, inviting them to praise the Lord. Because for him every creature was a sister or brother to him, united to him with ties of real affection. So he felt called to care for everything that exists. Alex continues, “When the other workers got back and saw the fox, they angrily told me to shift the animal because it was soaking the furniture where I’d settled it. I replied that my clothes were wet through too and I was using my sweater to warm the creature up. Then they started to change their tune, and one of them fetched an exhaust pipe off a truck to help warm the fox. I later discovered that one of the team leaders put in a complaint about me for having gone too far. But I didn’t let that discourage me. The little fox never once tried to bite me but seemed to trust me. It recovered well and after just a short while we were able to set the animal free.”
Gustavo E. Clariá
May 18, 2021 | Non categorizzato
The campaign promoting access for all to Covid-19 vaccines will be launched on 20th May along with a symbolic action to bring healthcare to the native populations of the Amazon. It is sponsored by an international network of organizations from different cultures and religions. A global problem can only be overcome by a global common good: vaccination against Covid-19 should be accessible to all, giving priority to the most vulnerable and needy in the world, regardless of their individual and national income. A decision by the international community is urgently needed: the suspension of patents for pharmaceutical companies or contracts with more generous quantities and lower prices for poor or emerging countries. While calling for fair and urgent solutions, we are mobilising for a health campaign in the Amazonian region of Pará (Brazil) with the “Barco Hospital Papa Francisco” project for river-dweller populations of the Amazon, who cannot reach health centres and thus have the right to social and health care. This is the essence of the Manifesto that explains the commitment of the worldwide campaign “A vaccine for all” which will be launched on 20th May, on the eve of the G20 Global Health Summit, under Italian presidency. It is promoted by an international and transversal partnership of movements, organisations and research centres that is currently being expanded. Internationalizing vaccines – The Covid-19 pandemic is confirming yet again how interconnected the peoples of the earth are and how every local choice also has global repercussions. The “A Vaccine for all” campaign promotes proactive action on behalf of nations left out of various forms of treatment; it encourages governments to practice vaccine internationalism, which is the exact opposite of closed nationalism that can never defeat the virus. The goal is for every person on the planet to have access to vaccines in a universal, fair, free and fast way. The Manifesto states: “We want the development of the capacity to produce and distribute vaccines also in the poor countries of the world.” Prevention, vaccine and treatment for the river-dweller populations of the Amazon – The “Barco Hospital Papa Francisco” – The Covid-19 pandemic has made communities and populations, that were already excluded from public health care and living in isolated areas, even more vulnerable. In the city of Óbidos, (in the Amazonian region of Pará – Brazil), the “Barco Hospital Papa Francisco” has been operating since August 2019, serving more than 1,000 communities along the Amazon River. The hospital ship provides health care to around 700,000 people who do not have access to other forms of treatment and cannot reach hospitals. Only a worldwide campaign for donations can enable the “Barco Hospital Papa Francisco” to reach the most isolated communities bringing vaccines, Covid kits for hygiene and virus prevention, products for protection and treatment during and after illness, and basic food aid. Promoters of the campaign: the Focolare Movement; AMU (Action for a United World Onlus); Associação Lar São Francisco de Assis in Providencia de Deus (Brazil); New Humanity International NGO; the Economy of Francesco; UCOII (Union of Islamic Communities of Italy); Retinopera (Italy); Programa Latinoamericano de Tierras, hacia una fraternidad posible – Red Latinoamericana y Caribeña de Tierras; Cátedra “Sociedad, Política, Fraternidad” – Universidad Nacional de La Plata (Argentina); New Horizons (Italy); Focsiv (Italy); ASCES-UNITA University Centre Tabosa de Almeida-Caruarú Pernambuco (Brazil); RUEF (University Network for the Study of Fraternity) – Promoción Integral de la Persona para una Sociedad Fraterna (Mexico); #FareRete Grottaferrata (Italy); ASD Sunrise 1 (Italy); the “G. Lazzati Centre for Development Education” (Italy); CLAdeES-Centro Latinoamericano de Evangelización Social (Argentina) – Action for New Families onlus (Italy) – Fundacion Igino Giordani (Spain) – ACLF – Aljucer (Spain) – Asociación Humanidad Nueva – España – Asociación por una Economía de Comunión – España; Gen Verde-International performing arts group; Community of Sant’Egidio (Italy); FOCSIV (Italy); Academy Kronos (Italia); Asociación “Unidad y Fraternidad” Caravaca de la Cruz (Spain); Asociación “Levántate y Anda” (Spain); Religion for peace – Italy; Acciones de Familias Nuevas (Spain); Ciudades por la Fraternidad (Spain); CONSULUS (Global Innovation Consultancy); Sophia University Institute (Italy); Association Città per la Fraternità (Italy); Suore Missionarie di San Carlo Borromeo – Scalabriniane “Provincia Europea” (Italy); Association Vivamazzonia O.D.V. (Italy); Gen Rosso-International performing arts group (Italy); SHANTI ASHRAM – Gandhian center for development, learning and collaboration – International Center for Child and Public Health – Coimbatore (Tamil Nadu – India); Sermig – Fraternità della speranza (Italy); Consorzio Il Picchio (Italy). (more support is coming in all the time) PRESS CONFERENCE Online press conference for the launch, Thursday 20 May 2021, at 13.00. Speakers: Alessandra Smerilli – Undersecretary of the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development, who coordinates the Economics task force of the Vatican COVID-19 Commission; Yassine Lafram – President of the Union of Islamic Communities of Italy (UCOII); Mario Bruno (Italy) – President of the Politics for Unity Movement; Conleth Burns (Ireland) and Klara Piedade (Brazil) – Youth for a United World of the Focolare Movement; Gianfranco Cattai – Coordinator, Retinopera (Italy); Stefano Comazzi – President of the Action for a United World NGO (Italy); Edson Galego from Brazil, healthcare worker in the Barco Hospital Papa Francisco. Moderator: Lourdes Hèrcules (Guatemala). To follow the live stream: https://www.youtube.com/c/FocolareMovement_official IT – Conferenza Stampa: Vaccino per Tutti – https://youtu.be/Ts13kYFpqfw EN – Press Conference: A Vaccine for All – https://youtu.be/rZzHFqJHhvY ES – Rueda de Prensa: Vacuna para Todos – https://youtu.be/tpSzwt6hVtU PT – Conferência de Imprensa: Vacina para Todos – https://youtu.be/LLfCHVFl0Ow FR – Conférence de Presse: Vaccin pour Tous – https://youtu.be/4FlvJlYTJeQ
May 17, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Chiara Lubich speaks of the present moment: by living each moment well, we can develop very good habits. Our charity, mutual love and union with God grow, and our soul is filled with calmness, peace and joy all day long. We have all been living the present moment, applying it in various ways according to the password. … Furthermore, we’ve noticed that one of the results of living in this way, if we do so faithfully and diligently, is that we acquire very good habits that we didn’t have before. For example, we frequently offer Jesus our actions, saying “for You”, which transforms our day into an uninterrupted prayer, because by living the present moment, we have actual grace which reminds us to say “for You” before every action. Another example is that by living in this way, we feel able to defend ourselves against temptations more quickly than before. … We also give the actions we must carry out their rightful place, without bringing them forward because we like them or postponing them because they are burdensome, because this is what often happens. Furthermore, words of encouragement, esteem and praise spontaneously flow from our heart towards the people we live with, or those we meet or are in contact with by phone, for example, or by writing to them, preparing talks or lessons for them and so on. We see Jesus in them ever more frequently, so that while our charity grows and gradually becomes more refined, our union with God grows deeper. We don’t forget to greet and adore Jesus living in the tabernacle, each time we pass by, or when we are reminded of him by a cross or an image. … We realize that it is easier for us to maintain mutual love throughout the day, which for us Christians, is very important. In fact, Scripture says that living out the new commandment makes us perfect: “If we love one another,” St John says, “God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 Jn 4:12). Before this – we must admit – even with great good will, reciprocal charity had its ups and downs. Of course we always started over again, but there were breaks. Having become more perfect in little things, we are better equipped to deal also with bigger ones and all day long our soul is filled with calmness, peace and joy. These are some of the habits acquired which build up virtues in our soul. It is a truly wonderful gathering of virtues. Now, if we can notice all this and more in ourselves when we live the present moment consistently, we must conclude that we are on the right track. …
Chiara Lubich
(Taken from a telephone conference call, Castel Gandolfo 23rd October 2003)
May 16, 2021 | Non categorizzato
Running from 16 to 25 May 2021 more than 1 billion people worldwide will participate in the event to show how it is still possible to do something for the planet. 
On 9 May, the last day of United World Week, the Focolare’s Youth for a United World launched a new campaign for the coming year 2021-2022: #daretocare for people and planet, which proposes “ecological conversion” through initiatives that involve associations, organizations, institutions but also through our simple everyday actions, to break the cycle of violence, exploitation and selfishness so typical of the culture of waste. The Focolare Movement is a partner of the Global Catholic Climate Movement and collaborates with associations, organizations, institutions, movements of different Churches and various religions and cultures for the care of the planet. A global network of people who are passionate about caring for the planet. Last year on the 5th anniversary of the encyclical on the environment Pope Francis launched Laudato Si’ Week. At the end of the week, Francis proclaimed a Special Year Laudato Si’ to develop the encyclical on ecology, and declaring the next “Laudato Si’ Week” from 16 to 25 May 2021 which coincides with the sixth anniversary (24 May) of the encyclical. The event is organised by the Dicastery for Promoting Integral Human Development together with Renova, CIDSE, Caritas Internationalis, Jesuits – Society of Jesus, International Union of Superiors General, GPIC – General Curia of Franciscans OFM, the Union of Superiors General (USG) and facilitated by the Global Catholic Climate Movement in collaboration with about 150 Catholic organisations including the Focolare. The aim is to bring about ecological conversion through dialogue and an event is being planned which will present testimonies from religious leaders from countries around the world, including those devastated by the COVID-19 pandemic, such as India, the United States and the Philippines. Laudato Si’ Week will also serve as a platform to plan further action for the next decade, ahead of the UN Conference on Biodiversity (COP15), the 26th UN Climate Change Conference (COP26). “Laudato Si’ Week” will have a rich programme of actions, webinars and testimonies to encourage dialogue, the exchange of views and to propose concrete actions for the planet. The theme is “for we know that things can change” (Laudato Si’ 13) to shine light on the hope around the world that something can still be done to turn things around. The Week will also showcase the transformative impact of ‘Laudato Si’ on global education and will include the ‘Songs for Creation’ festival, the global day of action and the launch of the ‘Laudato Si’ Platform of Initiatives. Every global event will be simultaneously translated into English, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, Polish and French. Leaders of various religions from around the world, world-renowned speakers and authors, and more than a billion people will come together to celebrate the conclusion of the Special Year Laudato Si’ at the end of this month. “At a time when the cry of the earth and the cry of the poor are becoming increasingly intense, ‘Laudato Si’ Week’ offers the perfect opportunity to take care of our common home,” says Tomás Insua, Executive Director of the Global Catholic Climate Movement. “The clock is ticking. Everyone is invited and enthusiastic about participating in celebration and action, through local activities, online events and much more”.
Lorenzo Russo
May 14, 2021 | Non categorizzato
For Oscar, whose passion is singing and music, it was hard to accept the news that he might become deaf. But with the help of Focolare young people in Bolivia, a new adventure began that helped him overcome his challenges. In 2014 I went through a difficult time, to the point of thinking about suicide. It all started one morning when I woke up with a strong buzzing in my head. As the days went by, the buzzing became unbearable. Was I going crazy? One day when I couldn’t stand the noise anymore, and I went to the emergency room. The doctor explained that the buzzing would remain forever – in fact, that I would become deaf. This was very hard for me to take! I tried to deal with the situation decisively, but, at times, my despair seemed to win out. I asked the Focolare community for help, and I believe it was their prayers that saved me. One afternoon, I was able to accept this situation and found the strength to move forward. Continuing to fight for my wife Carminia and our six children became a worthy goal. I began to get used to the buzzing, and as I thought of the forsaken Jesus, I saw myself as similar to him, close to him. Every morning I would greet him with a “Hi, Jesus.” It was a beautiful time. It may sound strange, but it was precisely in that pain that I felt God’s presence closest! After many medical consultations and medications, my condition stabilized. The buzzing continues, however. One evening I thought, the time will come when I will no longer be able to sing or play music. It was difficult to accept, but I said another “yes” to God. I did put some conditions on it though: “I accept that I will no longer sing on this earth, but I ask to be part of your choir in heaven.” We were living in El Alto, in La Paz, the capital of Bolivia, at an altitude of 4,150 meters. The doctors advised me to move to a city that wasn’t as high. In 2015, we moved to Cochabamba (2,500 meters). The local Focolare community welcomed us with open arms. It was an opportunity to get to know the Gen – the young people in the Focolare – better. With them, a musical adventure began that I never imagined. Despite already having given up my dream of continuing to sing, I found myself amid the energy and life of the Gen, and it became music. One young man suggested that I organize a music group. I was happy, but worried about my hearing, which by then was not working as well as before. But the energy of Gen, my experience with youth music groups, as well as the instruments we had in our family (four of our children are musicians) convinced me. One day we got a drum set as a gift, and it was a big party. The young people had a lot of talent. Some sang well, others played instruments with passion, and some were computer and sound geniuses. So we played at six events organized by the Focolare. How wonderful to see the young people so happy, and the adults catching their liveliness! God, in the end, did not let himself be outdone in goodness, because I was able to keep singing. I continue to do so.
Óscar Condori, Bolivia
