At the presentation, last April 17, the president of the city council, Marco Benucci, who is part of the Democratic Party, was also present with the military. Not only that. The posters indicate the patronage of the Cagliari administration, where the Democrats are part of the majority, together with the M5s, the party of regional councilor Armando Bartolazzi who takes to the streets against rearmament. But the press conference was hosted in his offices. Now the same parties are lashing out against the ""charity, social inclusion and sports" initiatives" linked to the Joint Stars 2025 military exercise, the most important of the year for the Ministry of Defense , which will take place in Sardinia in the coming days.

In the last few hours, controversy has flared up: free screenings are planned on board the ship Trieste for 160 children from the fourth grades of the elementary schools of Cagliari (with circulars distributed to the institutes), in addition to various initiatives (foot races and musical performances) launched to raise funds to be used to purchase equipment for the future pediatric resuscitation of Brotzu. Partners in the program? Among others, also Leonardo, the state-owned company that produces weapons. All under the name of "Joint Stars for Charity".

Over 60 associations have signed a document that talks about war propaganda, the issue of the "charity" with the stars has become a thorny issue. Thus the PD and the M5S (with Avs Alleanza Verdi di Sinistra, Progressisti and Sinistra Futura) try to explain their position, which seems different from the one taken in recent days: «We believe it is absolutely necessary, especially in this delicate historical moment , to promote initiatives that are authentically aimed at peace, health and the well-being of citizens, avoiding any mixing with military initiatives», they write in a joint note, «The “Joint Stars 2025” would also include a series of initiatives including “free health screenings for children, the purchase of two beds for the pediatric intensive care unit of the Brotz in Cagliari as well as sports initiatives”. All of this would appear to be financed not only by the Ministry of Defense, but also by companies normally dedicated to the production of weapons, unfortunately used in the conflicts currently underway on our planet». Their logos were there from the very beginning.

We believe, the council groups of the Municipality of Cagliari continue, «that the “free health screenings for children, the purchase of two beds for the pediatric intensive care unit of the Brotzu of Cagliari, as well as the sports initiatives” , are laudable initiatives that however should be implemented directly by the school, by the national health system, by the sports promotion organizations, allocating necessary and adequate funding to these sectors; the same funding that today risks being cut to pursue an arms race that we do not share».

Although institutional sponsorships can be traced back to the specific initiatives mentioned, "we reiterate our commitment to building alternative initiatives that promote peace and therefore dissociate ourselves from occasions that risk masking warmongering propaganda."

Enrico Fresu

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