Mediterranean Hope – Newsletter October 2017
Movable Borders Seen from Palermo, by Marco Magnano, Riforma.it
Migration phenomena do not allow quick and easy answers since they pose complex questions. This statement which is evident but not obvious marks one of the leading topics of the international conference Vivere e testimoniare la frontiera (Living and witnessing the border). The event was held in Palermo from September 30 to October 2 with the support of the Mediterranean Hope project, promoted by the FCEI that for years has been committed on the frontiers and the policies affected by the migratory phenomenon. «Our programme about refugees and migrants has a longer history, but the actual planning, this one of MH, was not launched in Rome, but rather in Sicily, in Lampedusa. In 2014, we opened an observatory on migration intended to bring this emergency to the attention of the sister churches. » Luca Maria Negro, President of the FCEI said. Read more…
Lampedusa, the day after, Paolo Naso, MH coordinator and Alberto Mallardo, MH operator- Lampedusa
Every year, Lampedusa must deal with 10/3, the Day of The Victims of Migration. However, this year commemorations have been the first after the agreements that the Italian government undertook with some Libyan institutions to halt migration flows toward Italy. Then, it is natural that following ceremonies, visits and various meetings taking place in Lampedusa, one should wonder whether and to what extent this strategy worked.
Some answers have been given by the international conference “Vivere e testimoniare la frontiera” (Living and witnessing the border) – promoted by the FCEI under the Mediterranean Hope (MH) – Refugee and Migrant Project, held in Palermo and Lampedusa from September 30 to October 3, 2017. Read more…
The European churches should join forces to face the challenge of migration, Paolo Naso, MH coordinator, NEV Agency
Lampedusa (NEV), October 3, 2017 –At the end of a busy day of interventions held yesterday at the prestigious municipal headquarters of Villa Niscemi in Palermo, Paolo Naso, coordinator of the Mediterranean Hope Project –Refugee and Migrant Project of the FCEI , appealed to the participants attending the conference “Vivere e testimoniare la frontiera – Migrations, Borders and Reception” from September30 in the Sicilian chief town to explore the size of the frontier: «Churches in Europe have a role to play, but they should face this challenge unitedly.» Then, addressing the European policies that have not been able to govern the migration flows nor stopping them or integrating, Mr. Naso said: «We must confess our sin too, since the actual European failure is also a moral failure, and it is our failure, too. » Read more…
We crossed the borders, NEV Agency
“We crossed the borders”. So, began the story of Adel and Bandiougou who recounted their first-hand experiences of two very different journeys during the first evening of the conference organised by MH/FCEI on migration, borders and reception.
Adel is a Syrian from Homs. He arrived in Italy from Lebanon with the humanitarian corridors together with his family on an Alitalia flight. Bandiougou is Malayan and belongs to the group of so-called “unaccompanied children.” He landed in Pozzallo in 2015 with only the clothes on his back. Read more…
Lampedusa Ecumenical Statement, NEV Agency
Lampedusa (NEV), 3 october 2017 – We are Christians of different traditions from Europe and the United States meeting in Palermo from 30 September 2 October 2017 to reaffirm our commitment to welcoming migrants and asylum seekers. Catholics, Orthodox and Protestants, we have ecumenically carried out reception activities, taking into account the concerns and proposals made by experts and civil society representatives who have contributed to our debate. Read more…