«This evening we are preparing to celebrate the arrival of the new year, in the usual hope that positive and reassuring days will open up. But we cannot take our minds off what is happening around us . In our Italy, in the world."

The President of the Republic Sergio Mattarella said this in his end-of-year message to unified networks .

«We know we are in a season that presents many reasons for alarm . And, together, new opportunities. We feel anguish due to the violence we often witness: between States, in society, in the streets, in the scenes of daily life", continued the Head of State, recalling "the devastation we see in Ukraine, invaded by Russia , for subjugate and annex it" and "the horrible terrorist ferocity of Hamas on 7 October against hundreds of defenseless children, women, men and elderly people of Israel . Ignoble beyond all words, in its inhumanity." And, with it, "the reaction of the Israeli government, with a military action that also causes thousands of civilian victims and forces multitudes of people in Gaza to abandon their homes, rejected by everyone."

«War - every war - generates hatred. And the hatred will last, multiplied, for a long time after the end of the conflicts."

But, added the Head of State, «to achieve peace it is not enough to silence the weapons. Building it means, first of all, educating for peace. Cultivate its culture in the feelings of the new generations. In the gestures of everyday life. In the language that is used. It also depends on each of us. Peace, in the sense of living well together. Respecting each other, recognizing each other's reasons. Aware that the freedom of others completes our freedom."

«It is essential to make room for the culture of peace . To the mentality of peace. Talking about peace today is not abstract do-goodism. On the contrary, it is the most urgent and concrete exercise in realism, if we want to find a way out of a crisis that can be devastating for the future of humanity."

After the war, Mattarella touched on the topic of violence against women. «I would like to address the younger ones. Dear guys, I'll tell you in simple words: love is not selfishness, possession, domination, misunderstood pride . Love - real love - is much more than respect: it is gift, gratuitousness, sensitivity", stated the president.

To young people, but not only, the Head of State then reminded: «We are living in an epochal transition. We can all give something to our Italy. Something important. With our values. With the solidarity of which we are capable. With active participation in civil life. Starting from the exercise of the right to vote. To define the path to follow, it is the free vote that decides. Don't answer a survey, or be on social media ."

Then Mattarella listed the problems to be solved for the good of Italian citizens, such as «the difficulties encountered in the right to healthcare for all . With waiting lists for visits and tests, which take an unacceptably long time." And then " the work that is missing , even in the presence of a significant increase in employment. The underpaid one. That, often, is not in line with one's expectations and with the studies followed. The work has unfair conditions and poor safety. With so many, inadmissible, victims."

And, again, " the increasingly threatening environmental crisis " with the international community "incapable of uniting in the name of global development"; tax evasion «which reduces, to a large extent, the resources for the common social security. And it delays the removal of public debt; which hinders our development."

«Solidarity, freedom, equality, justice, peace are the values that the Constitution places at the basis of our coexistence . And which belong to the very identity of Italy. I have seen these values demonstrated by many of our fellow citizens during the year that is ending", concluded the president, recalling, in wishing a happy new year, that "united we are stronger".

(Unioneonline/lf)

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