Milan, October 2008

http://www.humanistforum.eu/

The European Humanist Forum will take place in October 2008 in Milan, the peoples of Europe will meet to work in the construction of a Europe that is; open, different, welcoming, nonviolent and with solidarity, capable of opening new horizons and new paths that the human being needs to travel and to give its support to the birth of the Universal Human Nation.

European governments say that they want to “promote peace, their values and the wellbeing of their peoples”, but then they participate in vicious wars instigated by the United States and do not oppose the new, crazy nuclear arms race; a clash of cultures is promoted while dialogue and cooperation deteriorate, and while fanaticism and racism grow stronger; greed and blind selfishness of the strong are destroying the natural resources and the future of the younger generation. The dreams of progress, equality and security have become a business for few leaving the majority in debt. Authoritarianism, manipulation of public opinion and exclusion of citizens from decisions are the daily norm in the execution of power.

Those who govern our continent cannot imagine a different future from the one that market forces allow and to which they are tied. They no longer represent the people of Europe, those who are starting to demonstrate a new sensibility.

There is a social movement dawning that is starting to become aware of itself. This movement rejects violence, guided by a strong moral impulse.

This rejection does not only imply opposition to all forms of violence that produce pain and suffering in Europe and across the world, but also to choose nonviolence as the methodology of action.

In the global crisis that engulfs humanity, nonviolence is not only a possible alternative, it is a necessity. There is no other way out to guarantee the survival and development of humanity and to achieve a world without violence.

The path towards nonviolence is an intentional path, towards a profound personal change, personal and interpersonal reconciliation, learning to treat others how one would like to be treated. At a social level, it implies the search for new and creative means to resolve conflicts, with the aim of completely overcoming violence in all its forms of expression.

In this context, it is necessary to create ambits of convergence, interchange and discussion for those who aspire to set in motion a new development model that has Active Nonviolence as its basic ethic and methodology of action. These ambits of interchange will be opened to social, political, and economic forces, to intellectuals and to any other person who wants to, coordinate actions, to define projects and to reinforce the enormous potential of nonviolent action.

In the European Humanist Forum that will take place in October 2008 in Milan, the peoples of Europe will meet to work in the construction of a Europe that is; open, different, welcoming, nonviolent and with solidarity, capable of opening new horizons and new paths that the human being needs to travel and to give its support to the birth of the Universal Human Nation, the new planetary civilisation, free of violence.

The programme, that is not yet defined, foresees working groups on:

• Alternative economy
• Anti-discrimination
• Human rights
• Cultures, migrations and international cooperation
• Art and popular expressions
• Ecology and Environment
• Peace and Disarmament
• Health
• Education
• Mass media
• Student movements
• Religiosity and spirituality
• Digital technology
• Political parties
• New generations
• Information

In addition, seminars, conferences, workshops, debates about current issues, exhibitions, book and film presentations, artistic events and all other contributions that organisations or individuals would like to bring.----
with the participation of:

• Luisa Morgantini Italy - Vice-president of the European Parliament
• Ottavia Piccolo Italy - Actress
• Maria Cuffaro Italy - Journalist
• Giulietto Chiesa Italy - Member of the European Parliament
• Giorgio Schultze Italy - Spokesperson for New Humanism in Europe
• Jan Tamas Czech Republic - Spokesperson for the "No to the Bases" movement in the Czech Republic
• Pol D'Huyvetter Belgium - International Office, Mayors for Peace 2020 Vision Campaign
• Hans Kristensen USA - Director, Nuclear Information Project, Federation of American Scientists (video message)
• Angelo Baracca Italy - Professor of physics at Florence University
• Rita Borsellino Italy - Progetto L'altra Storia
• Pina Grassi Italy - ADDIO PIZZO e Libero Futuro, Associazione antiracket Libero Grassi
• Giovanni Impastato Italy - Associazione Peppino Impastato-Casa Memoria di Cinisi
• Claudio Fragasso Italy - Director
• Noam Livne Israel - "Refusnik" and anti-militarism activist
• Giorgio Forti Italy - Network of Jews Against Occupation
• Monica Czyza Spain - Centre of Cultures of Barcelona
• Mohammed Bakri Palestine - Director and actor
• Angelica Romano Italy - Peace, Disarmament and Demilitarization Committee, Naples
• Lindis Percy United Kingdom - Coordinator Campaign for the accountability of American bases - CAAB
• Massimo Zucchetti Italy - Professor of Nuclear Installation at Turin University
• Emilio Molinari Italy - President Italian Committee World Water Contract
• Marco Deriu Italy - Sociologist
• Roberto Burlando Italy - Economist at the Universities of Turin and Exeter
• Guido Morisco Italy - President National Council Bahá’í of Italy and member of Inter religious Council of Rome municipality
• Giuseppe Robiati Italy - Co-founder of EBBF - European Bahà'ì Business Forum
• Marco Romoli Italy - President A temple for peace, Florence
• Gabriele Mandel Italy - General Vicar for Italy of the Confraternity Sufi Jerrahy Halveti
• Vittorio Bellavite Italy - National Coordinator “Noi Siamo Chiesa”, member of "International Movement We Are Church" (IMWAC)
• Manuela Sadun Paggi Italy - Jewish Community Florence
• Dijana Pavlovic Italy - artist and writer of the Rom community
• Mouelhi Mohsen - Sufi representative
• Carlo Giudicepietro Italy - Spokeserson Center of Cultures
• Manuela Dviri Vitali Norsa Israel - Journalist, writer and member of the Israeli peace movement
• Giuseppe Santagada Italy - Italian Association Relatives and Road Victims
• Deborah Lambillotte Belgium - International Lesbian and Gay Association (ILGA)
• Peter Tatchell United Kingdom - Outrage and the Green Party
• Andrea Barberini Italy - Emmanuele Group, Catholic Gay Association, Padova
• Marianella Kloka Greece - Editor of the LGBT newspaper City Uncovered
• Grigoris Vallianatos Greece - LGBT activist, lawyer and member of PASOK
• Luca Poma Italy - National spokesperson of "Hands off children"
• Antonio M.C. Monopoli Italy - expert in Roboethics

http://www.humanistforum.eu/