19 May 2016
‘Freedom and Dignity‘ is the theme that will inspire the Social Forum of Rototom Sunsplash 2016. These values will be at the center of the debates that we are preparing because we believe that they are of the utmost importance at times like these.
It is difficult conceive freedom without peace, as it is with to think of it without justice or without dignity. There is the dignity of refugees fleeing war, the dignity of prisoners, the dignity of the poor, the dignity of peoples, even the dignity of our daily actions. It is what defines us as humanity, as people, it is human dignity.
There is the dignity of the citizens of the EU who find themselves obliged to accept decisions that are often very detrimental to them. There is a material dignity that allows us to access our basic needs. And there is an intangible dignity, immaterial, that has a lot more to do with ethics and respect, recognition of the other and our will to identify with the people around us. There is also the dignity of animals, nature, culture and religions.
We do not want anyone or anything to have their dignity compromised because we are convinced that it will make us all freer and more respected.