We share 'Now is the time for care', a reflection by Flavio Lotti on the occasion of Care Day, March 1st.
There are two things: indifference or care. Everything else is lies or hypocrisy. Or you don't care, you shrug, you turn away, you pretend not to hear, you just mind your own business. Or you take care of yourself and of others, of your life but also of that of others, of those who love you but also of those who need help, of your home but also of the common home, of people but also of all others living beings. Let's ask ourselves: but me, which side am I on? Among the indifferent or among those who care?
“Now is the time to heal”, the poetess Mariangela Gualtieri tells us.
"Now" because this is the time in which the signs of lack of care have become more evident and pressing: from the climate, to peace, from health to people's well-being, from democracy to institutions...
"Now" because this is the time when everyone makes a difference: either you stay focused only on yourself or you start taking care of others too.
"Now" because this is the time in which a "we" is reconstructed with which to face the enormous problems that loom, otherwise we will be overwhelmed.
“Now” care is not just a beautiful thing: it has become indispensable. For this we must rediscover it, preserve it, promote it and support it. We know that, after the decades of neglect that have accompanied the globalization of individualism and indifference, it is not easy. But this is the way, the way to go if we want to have the strength to resist the waves of hatred, violence and war, loneliness and pain, distrust and resignation that are multiplying.
The care it is the way of peace because it makes us all protagonists, builders of peace. Because it costs effort but immediately gives us happiness back. Because, contrary to many speeches, it changes things, transforms pain and loneliness into happiness. We need care like happiness. And, as covid 19 has taught us, it's not just a personal matter but a political one.
Care also requires a certain organization and the organization of care is political: our institutions must take care of this. Treatment is a universal right: the women and children killed before our eyes in the Calabrian sea had the right, as did the many who still today do not have access to basic public health services in our country. And, as Joan C. Tronto said, “the care deficit and the democratic deficit are two sides of the same coin”.
Care is essential to defend the dignity of all and implement our Constitution, the European and the universal one of 1948. For this reason, after six years of research-educational action, following the solicitations of Pope Francis and David Sassoli but also the extraordinary testimonials from Marina Baretta and Monia Andreani, we promoted the Day for the Care of People's Life and the Planet.
March 1st, on the occasion ofEqual Care Day, tens of thousands of young students will leave their schools (133) to go from city to city (113 in 19 regions) to get to know and thank the people who take care of us and of others. It will be a first, great, beautiful opportunity to rediscover the beneficial value of care and illuminate many stories, experiences and care activities that are usually ignored and devalued.
I invite everyone to contribute to the dissemination of the culture and policy of care with the creativity and tools at their disposal. We give the right public value to all jobs and care activities.
We call for more public resources to care for people and the planet.
We promote an equal sharing between men and women of care for life, home and family.
We value the words that heal.
We promote serious education in care and value the experiences that are being made in our schools. We build cities of care.
Flavio Lotti, Coordinator of the PerugiAssisi March http://www.perlapace.it/
Cover image inspired by the logo of Cures International
Organizer of the Perugi-Assisi March of peace and fraternity and of numerous other initiatives for peace, he coordinates the Tavola della Pace and is director of the National Coordination of Local Authorities for peace and human rights and of the National Network of Schools of Peace. He directs the sites: lamiascuolaperlapace.it-cittaperlapace.it-perlapace.it-perugiassisi.org.