“A collective space that belongs to all inhabitants, who have the right to find the necessary conditions to satisfy their aspirations from a political, social and environmental point of view, assuming, at the same time, their duties of solidarity”. This is what a city should represent – according to article 1 of the European Charter of Human Rights in the City – and which stimulated the initiative of the Catania interprofessional association ProfessionsXequityaimed at creating a manifesto for a new social contract.
Catania: the ideal city it wants to be a «proposal for a method of democratic participation that starts from the bottom, involving different segments of the population who dialogue with the Administration, through the intermediation of professions – explains the president of the Association and member of the Equal Opportunities and Inclusion Commission of the National Council Notary Maristella Portelli – for the occasion we wanted to “theatricalize” everything through a social game, creating ideas and proposals in graphics, in which four different groups of society were involved: the young people from the Cavour school, those more advanced in years from the University of Third Age, the women who deal with women victims of violence from the Thamaia association and the users/operators of the Astalli Center, which deals with immigration.”
Drawing inspiration from the book by the professor at the University of Bologna Daniela Pianafor Architects the “ideal city” «is built by living and anchoring the planning of the future to values and the arts – comments the president of the Order of the Etna category Veronica Leone – a wedding invitation for us, who contribute to the construction and development of smart cities, in which technologies improve the quality of life of citizens, transferring value to environmental sustainability and human capital, through the active participation of the population in the governance of the city”.
An urban center where everyone plays their part and where professional orders are dedicated to social issues, as underlined by the president of the Order of Accountants and Accounting Experts of Catania Salvatore Virgillito: «The only means for an increasingly beautiful Catania is to work in synergy, contributing to change and making our city model concrete».
Mayor Enrico Trantino together with some students present at the event
The one held at Castello Ursino in Catania represents the embryonic phase of the project, from which the promoters expect positive results. Among these the model of HealthyCity advanced by the president of the Etna Order of Doctors and Dental Surgeons Alfio Saggio.
«In an ideal city one cannot ignore putting into practice the mechanisms that guarantee health in the private, public and workplace sectors, livability, green spaces and high standards of prevention for all citizens – declares Saggio – In this optically, shortly, with the Department of Social Services, we will implement a project for the protection of minors”.
From healthcare to safety, up to the human value of respect. «The concept of the ideal city, understood as a place where the rights and needs of citizens are respected, dates back to Renaissance times – declares the president of the Court of Catania Francesco Mannino – On these principles I believe it is important to carry forward this ideal.”
Reflections that go hand in hand with those of the prefect Maria Carmela Librizzi, which abandons the idea of the city as an agglomeration of inhabitants or monuments, instead promoting that of «a group of citizens who make a difference and leave their mark on the city. Do we want it to be welcoming and a place where the rules are respected? We all have to make our contribution.”
Key points to «overcome the critical issues of Catania and bring out its potential, thinking about what we can do for others and not what we would like to be done for us», states the president of the lawyers Ninni Di Stefano. A thought also shared by the president of the Surveyors Agatino Spotowhich left room for the two scheduled round tables.
During “The city of the future, today” – moderated by Assia La Rosa – what emerged were the elements linked to safety, the redevelopment of the suburbs, attention to the weakest groups, the importance of financial culture and implementation of public transport system. Elements focused by Marisa Scavo (former deputy prosecutor of the Court of Catania), Gennaro Gigante (director of the Bank of Italy of Catania) e Salvatore Fiore (general director of Ferrovia Circumetnea of Catania) and which have opened up to a broader reflection on Daniela Pianastimulating the «search for a method that will last over time, which puts the dialogue between the parties at the center and places the emphasis on how to do it and not on what to do».
A moment from the round table
From a social point of view, for the expert sociologist from the University of Catania Carlo Colloca, «particular attention must be paid to the marginal, to the new generations and to the new people of Catania, those who have chosen Catania as a place to live. The path undertaken – he continues – sees on the one hand the different urban populations and, on the other, the Administration, which must act as an attentive listener, to acknowledge requests and fears. A slow process, so that a relationship is established between the parties which avoids framing the design only as an opportunity to redo your makeup».
In the future, there is no lack of attention to young university students, around 40 thousand in the University of Catania. «This must push us to see Catania as a true university city – says the rector Francesco Priolo – and to think of it as an attractive pole, avoiding brain drain. New stimuli and new opportunities, where it will be fundamental to think about services, university accommodation and transport.”
During “Catania meets Catania”, space will be given to the results of social games, illustrated by the teams followed by Anna Agosta (Thamaia Onlus association), Francesca Di Giorgio (Centro Astalli Catania), Angela Arena (Cavour Comprehensive Institute of Catania) e Giuseppe Barone (Unitre university), in addition to the Professions for Equity project. «Let’s imagine professionals close to society – he explains Maristella Portelli, with the Equal Opportunities Accountants representative Simonetta Murolo – with a project that sees thematic stands in the square, in which our skills can be made available to citizens in a voluntary way. A traveling event twice a month, to embrace all the neighborhoods of the city.”
Both roundtables had the mayor’s attention Enrico Trantino: «It would be stupid not to be open to the contributions that come from the living city that wishes to participate in development projects – he comments – A method that would allow us to have a 360 degree vision and project ourselves towards the Catania of 2030, so as not to make the mistake of look at the short term.”
