Sabir Maydan 2014
SABIRMAYDAN: DIALOGUES AROUND THE MEDITERRANEAN CITIZENSHIP
SABIRMaydan, the first forum on Mediterranean Citizenship organised by COSPE and Mesogea, which took place on Sunday the 28th of September 2014 in Messina, Italy, has been an important meeting for all political and cultural activists from the Mediterranean area. Thirty-five guests from twelve different countries had the rare opportunity to meet each other and discuss about their experiences through nine dialogues that addressed some of the major current issues linked to the idea of a new Mediterranean Citizenship: equity and social justice, the role of the women in the region, art and culture as a driver of social change, the overall independence of media and of social networks, religion and fundamentalism, political activism and urban spaces, toolsfor the citizens cooperation.
Sabir maydan born infact as a “square” open to public debate about democracy, citizenship and the future of Mediterranean. “Maydan” means “square” in Arabic: and in the last years squares have become place and symbol of political-social demands and request for more civil rights and freedom by Mediterranean area new generations, from both North and South. From “Arab Spring” in Egypt and Tunisia to sit-in by Indignados in Spain, from anti-austerity revolts in Greece to social-network mobilization in Turkey, Mediterranean squares have become the place where young Egyptians, Turkish and Tunisians, Italians, Spanish and Greeks have shared rage and protest, but also proposals and claims. Despite of this extraordinary mobilitazion and its force, nowadays there is a raising frustration about the response from traditional democratic institutions to claims and demands for more democracy and freedom; as a matter of fact institutionshave often repressed requests of this new Mediterranean Spring with propaganda and violence.
SABIRMaydan, since its first edition in 2014 but with the desire to become a regular event, wants to give an answer to questions and issues coming from Mediterranean youth: it wannabe a window on Mediterranean citizenship, a space of expression and debate for the different souls of this area, an intense day of debate and meeting among political activits, journalists, writers, bloggers from the countries reached by the winds of change and revolutions. However to give birth to Maydan we need your help: it is necessary a contribute to cover travel expenses to Messina for young representatives of Arab Springs and European movements of these last years. A concrete contribution from everyone, in the essence of sharing that is one of the characterizing feature of a Mediterranean future common citizenship.
Sabir Maydan held in Messina was the first stop of a long travel that we would like to carry on. Our aim is to make the forum to become an usual date together with different partners, various locations and several guests. The goal is to reach a sinergy that will allow us to build up a mediterranean citizenship.
