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| 2007 - Europe |
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WORLD DAY OF REMEMBRANCE FOR ROAD TRAFFIC VICTIMS 18 November 2007 Press release sent by AIFVS to the Italian offices of international institutions The Associazione Italiana Familiari e Vittime della Strada, present all over Italy with 98 local centres, and member of FEVR (NGO recognized by the Economic and Social Council of the United Nations and participating to their work on road safety; also member of the "Road Safety Collaboration Forum”, founded in 2004 by WHO), announces that on the next 18 November, UN World Day of Remembrance for Road Traffic Victims, their efforts will be directed to giving importance to the serious social problem of road carnage, for the solution of which we can and must do more. First of all, the victims will be remembered in Holy Masses of the Catholic Church throughout the Country, thanks to an agreement with the Italian Bishops’ Conference, with a prayer for the victims inserted in the Sunday’s liturgical leaflet; at the exit of many churches, some AIFVS documents will be distributed, and in particular a booklet to reflect on the conditions of road crash victims. This year, with the assistance of local institutions and citizenship, two monuments will be dedicated to the victims of the road: one in Boretto (Reggio Emilia), the other in Cinisello Balsamo (Milan). In Travagliato (near Brescia) and in Verona, the “Crosses demonstration” will take place: a silent protest that simulates the cemetery in a square - to shake our consciences and urge a civil commitment to put an end to human sacrifices on the roads. In Conselve and Abano Terme (Padua), there will be events involving associations and schools, and a distribution of documents and gadgets about road safety, and finally a concert. In Maglie (Lecce) crashed cars will be placed in the main square. Furthermore, we asked the Mayor of Rome, Walter Veltroni, for the illumination of the Coliseum, to symbolically light a very serious social problem from which the spotlight can’t be turned off until we find a solution. Even though the lighting of the Coliseum wasn’t possible due to technical reasons, our request was welcomed with great enthusiasm by Rome’s Municipality, which granted that the Capitol (Town Hall) will be illuminated, in particular three powerful light beams will be put in front, to testify that turning this light on is a duty for the institutions; pointing to the sky, those lights will remind of the need for global solidarity and create an ideal bridge with the rest of the world. The positive response to our request convinced us to extend the initiative to all Italy: so we wrote to the President of the ANCI (National Association of Italian Municipalities) to illuminate a monument in every city. Many towns responded to our idea, among them the city of Ferrara, whose most famous monument – the Este’s Castle – will be lit, and probably the city of Venice. We also explained our project at the last FEVR General Assembly, held in Amsterdam on 3 and 4 November, with the view of a possible extension of this initiative to other European cities in the future. On that occasion, we also had the chance to share in a global World Day initiative with other Countries, and organized a video conference link, on November 18, with France and Mexico for a “transfer of light” from one continent to another during that day. In Rome, there will also be a procession at the Verano cemetery, to lay a flower at the tombs and participate at the Mass. In addition, there will be a great event of considerable involvement and social awareness: in via Villa Patrizi, games on road safety for children, an exhibition of drawings and photography award, and the launch of a competition for short films. On November 19 at 9 pm, the play "A night of a Saturday evening” will take place in the Teatro Tendastrisce (via Perlasca 69). The show is publicized in Rome with posters and distribution of 2000 balloons advertising in the center of Rome (the video is viewable on http://it.youtube.com/, typing in search box "a night of a Saturday evening”). Finally, again this year we asked the highest political authorities and His Holiness Benedict XVI for a message for the World Day of Remembrance. The documents related to our initiatives are available on our website www.vittimestrada.org. Dr. Giuseppa Cassaniti Mastrojeni President AIFVS 090.710707; 340.8273214
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