They promised and they did it: the Youth for Peace took to the streets in Rome to ask for peace. Moreover, they will continue to do so in the coming days in Barcelona, Milan, Antwerp, and other European cities. The young generations do not want war. "No to war, no to weapons, conflicts can always be resolved through dialogue". These are the words of the young people of the Community of Sant'Egidio who took to the streets of the Pantheon for a flash mob against the war in Ukraine. While they were using symbolic songs such as "They don't care about us" by Michael Jackson and "Sunday Bloody Sunday" by U2, they stood behind a large banner in which there was written "No War".
The ghost of war comes back again to Europe. It is unacceptable that in our continent, which was already devastated during the twentieth century by two world wars, we can still use the military instrument to solve problems and disputes. However, it is equally unacceptable that civil society remains indifferent to this threat. The president of the Community of Sant'Egidio, Marco Impagliazzo, said that it has been too long since people took to the streets for peace, leaving it to be decided only in the palaces. He also announced a large demonstration that is addressed to civil society, parties, and trade unions. It will be held in Piazza SS. Apostoli Thursday, February 17 at 17.30.
YOUTH’S APPEAL FOR PEACE
Ni viyni, net voyne! Ukrainian and Russian, two languages, two phrases, one meaning: "Yes to peace. No to war!" It is the phrase we want to repeat today together: "No War! No War! War never again. Yes to peace."
Many times, we see only what divides us instead of seeking what unites us. Many times, we also let ourselves be taken by a hatred that never stops burning or by indifference and what happens to our neighbors.
We celebrated a few days ago the Day of Remembrance, which was established to remember what terrible things happened in the past. We study it in the school books, we listen to it in the testimonies of survivors, we relive it in the stories of our grandparents; we do not want to repeat it.
We are the generation that did not know about the deaths of the Second World War, the families who were divided and never reunited, and the prison and concentration camps. We have lived in peace since we were born; we have received a gift, peace, we do not want to give it up! War for us must remain a thing of the past because it is outdated, we do not need it!
Nevertheless, today, the specter of war is once again frightening Europe. We, young people, want to have our say on this. We ask you to listen to us!
- No more warlike words in politics.
- Enough with old geopolitical schemes that serve no purpose except to divide people and create enemies where there are none.
- Please, no more militarization of hearts, minds, and media.
- Enough of the hate speech that runs unchecked on our social networks
Living in peace IS POSSIBLE, because we, the new generations, the Z-generation or the Millenials, as we are called, are the living proof: we have learned to feel at home wherever we go because we are united by virtual friendships, we are linked by the simple language of social networks, we are happy to be able to communicate easily, and we are confident in the tomorrow.
Do you want us to enter a time of war after the pandemic?
Do not joke with war, because war is like a virus, which is uncontrollable by nature. With the pandemic we thought we had finally understood: we are all in the same boat! And now we are back to dividing and clashing?
We implore you: Let's not be foolish! It is impossible for us not to pay for the consequences of war, even if it seems distant to us, but in reality, it closely affects us.
Therefore, here, today, we want to say, "NO to war, NO to hatred, YES to peace!" We appeal to the rulers, to those who have the power to decide, together with the Youth for Peace of Europe: let's demilitarize our lands, let's demilitarize our hearts, let's look for what unites more than what divides us. Only in this way we can dream of a world truly free of walls, curfews, and barbed wires.
