The Sabir Festival starting tomorrow in Prato, the ceasefire is on the agenda

Many events, many on the topic of labor exploitation of foreigners, with Prato as a model of positive experiences

ROME – Launch the appeal for the immediate ceasefire for Gaza, Ukraine and all wars, stopping rearmament and militarism, and bringing attention to the issue of exploitation of foreign workers, taking the history of Prato as a model: these are the objectives of conferences, round tables, workshops, exhibitions and film screenings that will characterize the tenth edition of the Sabir Festival, an event spread across the city of the Florentine metropolitan area from tomorrow to Saturday 20 April, organized by Arci together with Caritas Italiana, Acli and CGIL. The first part of a double appointment that will continue in Rome from 10 to 12 October.

To the Dire agency the national president of Arci, Walter Massadeclares: “We feel it is our duty to avoid the humanitarian catastrophe in the Strip, as also demonstrated by our participation in the Italian delegation that went to the Rafah crossing in March“. To talk about it “we will have many experts, including Scott Anderson, deputy director of UNRWA, via video link from Rafah”.

Read also: PHOTO | VIDEO | Gaza, oxygen cylinders or chocolate also stopped at the Rafah crossing

Keeping in mind the equation according to which conflicts are among the causes of migration, Massa highlights how “even more than last year“, where the story of the Russian-Ukrainian war found great space, “we are witnessing growing conflicts, such as the one in Palestine, or in Sudan or South Sudan“.

PRATO, UNIQUE CASE IN ITALY, LABORATORY OF INCLUSION AND SYNERGIES

The Festival will also focus on work and social inclusion starting from the experience of a unique city in Italy, which not only welcomes the largest share of foreign citizens – 25% of the population, equal to 58 thousand people out of 200 thousand – but also the largest Chinese community: 31 thousand people. Many businesses, but also stories of abuse at work.

It is therefore fundamental for Massa “to talk about the fight against exploitation, together with the critical issues of the amnesties and flow decrees on work and regular residence”, to be examined together with the “positive stories of entrepreneurship“. According to the president, “the city has transformed in recent decades thanks to the dynamism of civil society and public administration”. Energy and synergies that can represent for Massa alternatives to “current migration policies, who close borders and build walls.” According to the president, “from 2014 onwards, the year of the first edition of Sabir in Lampedusa, these policies have only worsened”.

Among the events, also designed for attract younger people, space then for the Italy-Albania agreement promoted by “one of the worst governments in our republican history, where those who dissent are treated as enemies”, and for the European Pact on immigration and asylum, both recently approved agreements. According to Massa, “they are a surrender to xenophobia and racism”, to which Sabir contrasts “a Europe that allows you to move legally and safely, because human rights are non-negotiable“.