Edgar Morin, philosopher and sociologist from France and honorary member of the MCAF, was interviewed by Radiofrance on 26th June to present his new book “Encore un moment”. A fascinating collection of personal, literary, historical and philosophical texts, it brings together his immense knowledge, accumulated over a century of life, to question the complexity of reality and reflect on the future of our human society. At his 102 years, Edgar Morin’s curiosity about the world and humanity remains incomparably lively and contagious.

In the same interview, he not only spoke of his new publication and what it means to him. He also invited us to reflect on the meaning of life and death, giving his specific and concrete vision based on his biographical journey, in an enthusiastic and very cheerful spirit. Now, he continous being a sign of impetus and fascination for the pleasures of the world, human feelings and the little and great things that life has to offer us.

Living means thinking?
Edgar Morin: “Among other things, to be alive is to feel, to love, to be moved, to be sad…. Living is a mixture of factors, affectivity and permanent brain activity”.

Recalling aspects of his life – in the interview for the French media – he recounted the difficult and challenging moments he had to overcome in order to survive in many situations, such as, for example, during his years of resistance during the Second World War:

At that time he was never afraid to die. He and his colleagues in the resistance movement were so determined to defeat Nazism that death or life did not matter, he says in his book.

“I took huge precautions to avoid being tracked, to keep my house hidden. I knew my life was at risk. Despite this, I felt good about myself and happy to do my duty. I lived in a fraternity of hope. Those were days in which fear was only a secondary element that was constantly being overcomed”.

With the events of this nature that he experienced from his youth and even before, a large part of his life as a philosopher was devoted to questioning and reflecting about the meaning of life. From a humanist perspective, he understands that this meaning is unique and global for the human race:

“Although I felt French, European, I also felt linked to the world, to the destiny of all humanity in an increasingly incredible, improbable and uncertain adventure. My mission is to try to understand what can happen, to show the risks we run. Strangely enough, at 102 years old, I feel more motivated than ever because we are living through particularly terrible circumstances”.

Full interview on Radiofrance: Radiofrance interview with Edgar Morin

Even though scientific and musical divulgation events have existed since the origin of the intellectual history of human beings, in the current context, the internationalist philosophy of the Mediterranean Congress “Music and Science” is the justification for its unique nature. Beyond the thematic purpose of the Congress stands the unifying purpose, by which the Congress tries to respect the linguistic, cultural and sociological plurality and achieves in each edition a shared reflection about international problems, related to music, science, and their social implications, in addition to the academic reflection.

However, the international character of the Congress has a place of focus, and this is the Mediterranean, as a nucleus of civilisations and as a place to which the two cities from this event was born belong: Sarajevo and Valencia. As a consequence, the theme “Music and Science”, discussed during the three years of life of this activity, acquires the adjective “Mediterranean”, and thus the idea of the Mediterranean Congress “Music and Science” is established.

Having delimited the international geography, and having defined the general theme, the work of the Mediterranean Congress “Music and Science” consists of establishing a particular topic of discussion for each edition, being the one of this third edition: “The distribution of resources. The science of materials in technological and musical development”, performed in September 2022.

The Congress is organised by the MCA Foundation and Muestra Viva del Mediterráneo. It has the support of the Valencian Institute of Culture and Generalitat Valenciana, and with the collaboration of:

– Valencia City Council

– Berklee Valencia Campus (participating students)

– CIHAR, Intercultural Hispano-Arabic Circle

– Department of Physics of the University of Sarajevo

– University of Valencia

– Federation of Musical Societies of the Valencian Community

– Fondation Charles Léopold Mayer pour le Progrès du Homme (FPH)

– Atellier Memorial Alija Kucukalic Foundation (FMAAK-Sarajevo)

– Public figures from the following institutions: University of Valencia, Patronage of Alhambra and Generalife; Conservatory of Valencia Joaquín Rodrigo; the Cypriot NGO Commedia; ASTICUDE; the National Museum of Bardo; or scientific centres such as the European Theoretical Spectroscopy Facility based in France; the Institute of Materials Sciences of the University of Valencia; The Institute of Nanoscience and Materials of Aragon, and with special gender strategy, the World Network and Forum of Women in Science Without Borders (WISWB).

– The MCA Foundation circles of: Algiers, Cyprus, Morocco, Sarajevo and Valencia.

– López Piñero Inter-University Institute

Congress Report: Report III Mediterranean Congress of Music and Science (SPA/VAL)

“Every man is an inhabitant of the Earth, as much as of his homeland” (Arendt, 1983).

“The old is dying, the new fails to see the daylight, in this chiaroscuro monsters
arise”(Gramsci).

We thought we had gotten rid of Daech, we thought we had gotten rid of the Coronavirus, of which we were trying to measure the effects on the reconfiguration of our lifestyles. But crises are followed by the kind of tragedies that men in their folly know how to provoke. The Mediterranean and its citizens are being drawn into a reconfiguration of the world that goes far beyond their geographical limits.

The Advisory Council is deeply concerned about the backdrop of the turbulence taking place
across the planet, beyond the Mediterranean perimeter: conflicts between old and new major powers; the war in Ukraine, where old Europe, even in its modern political version of the EU, is revealing its weaknesses to the giants.

The Advisory Council observes the ever‐widening gap between the richest and the poorest, in all the countries of the Mediterranean area, both North and South. Poverty is spreading. Inequalities between North and South, and within each country, are increasing.

The Advisory Council is extremely concerned about the ensuing socio‐political crisis. A crisis of representative democracy in Europe, reflected in people’s disinterest in elections, the loss of credibility of public institutions and scientific discourse, and the rise of the extreme right associated with xenophobia, racism, and violence against the weakest. A growing number of the weakest and poorest, whose distress is driving them to migrate via the Mediterranean to northern “El Dorado”, that are reluctant to welcome them.

The energy challenge is becoming increasingly crucial, creating new geopolitical conflicts and inequalities, which must be addressed in terms of access to a common public good.

WHERE TO FIND A WINDOW OF OPTIMISM?

The Advisory Council is observing the gradual reshaping of new social groupsthat are taking their place alongside old configurations such as political parties, trade unions … These new networks, born of a burgeoning culture of mobility and glocal virtual exchanges (from global to local), are reshuffling the cards of the identity paradigm. They may well be the seeds of future thinking, as well as sources of resistance.

At the heart of these networks have emerged innovative and popular initiatives driven by civil society. They are organized around benevolence, solidarity and creativity, particularly in the search for solutions for the survival in the context of climate change, which is forcing us to rethink our ways of life, on a social, political, and economic level.

THE MCAF

The functioning as a network of the Mediterranean Citizens’ Assembly Foundation (MCAF) is an experimental model and, in this case, a premonitory form of these “expression and pressure groups” of the future. The Advisory Council congratulates the remarkable actions of the Citizen’s Circles, which are the core of the network.

The Advisory Council welcomes the increase in the number of circles, with the formation of the Alicante circle (Spain) and the Catania one (Italy). And the upcoming creation of the Ammán circle (Jordan).

The Advisory Council salutes the continuity of the Foundation’s network and emphasizes that, thanks to its commitment over more than twelve years, the MCAF is now a key player when it comes to civic action in the Mediterranean.

The Advisory Council congratulates the Fondation pour le Progrès de l’Homme (FPH) on its constant support from the very beginning, and looks forward to its continued support in the
years to come.

Given the turbulent geopolitical context of the peoples of the Mediterranean, the close collaboration between the FPH and the MCAF is essential to keep the flame of the civil society alive and to advance the idea of a community of the peoples of the Mediterranean.

PROPOSALS

The MCAF Advisory Council:

‐ expresses its opposition to the dismantling of public services, which will further weaken the poorest by putting health care, education, and culture on the brink of collapse,

‐ reiterates its commitment to the fight against climate change,

‐ affirms its commitment to movements fighting all forms of violence, including violence against women, discrimination, and racism,

‐ expresses its concern at the continuing threats to human rights and individual freedoms in
the Mediterranean, which are often sacrificed in favor of the security approach, particularly in the management of migration issues,

-underlines its concern regarding the attacks by the Israeli occupation and its settlers against Palestinian civilians, notably in Gaza and the West Bank, and reaffirms that the solution to the Palestinian issue is linked to international law guaranteeing the inalienable rights of the Palestinian people, including the creation of their state with East Jerusalem as its capital,

‐ expressesits disquiet at the authoritarian drift and lack of respect for human rightsin Algeria and Egypt, as well as at the evolution of the political situation in Tunisia, which is moving further and further away from the democratic process, leaving little room for pluralist participation, excluding opponents through politically‐motivated arrests, and seriously threatening the rule of law,

‐ supports freedom of expression and organization, peaceful and diplomatic conflict resolution, democratic processes, communication, and dialogue, while respecting cultural diversity and universal civilizational values that are both Mediterranean and European,

‐ notes the absence of appropriate economic, social, and environmental policies and measures to promote sustainable development and the rational use and preservation of natural resources in the Mediterranean,

Particularly in the context of climate change, we face increasingly serious problems relating
to water, air, land, food, and renewable energy sources.

‐ stressesthe importance of cooperation with local and regional public entities, as well as with the parliaments of Mediterranean countries, the European Parliament, the African Union, the network of cities, and several civil society organizations.

The International conference ” Les enjeux de la Culture et du Tourisme à l’ère du numérique: Illustration de l’intelligence culturelle ” took place on May 14 and 15, organised by the Faculty of Architecture and Civil Engineering of the Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran Mohamed-Boudiaf (USTO-MB), from a cross-disciplinary perspective treating subjects like the importance of cultural tourism nowadays, and the need to reorganise its conception, in order to adapt to the new digital era and the claims of sustainable economic development, within the framework of the 2030 Agenda.

The event was a great success in terms of participation and discussion, with the participation of more than fifteen experts on the subject, each of them referring to one of their fields of study, such as Dr. Nadir Benmatti, whose presentation we have already mentioned on our Facebook page. From the FACM, we understand that the promotion of intelligent tourism, related to the issues and communities of the Euro-Mediterranean region is essential to continue approaching the different Mediterranean peoples, while at the same time fostering greater cultural diversity, as well as the respect and interest of each community towards the rest of peoples that constitute this historical Mediterranean unity.

The changes that characterise the current global context are the result of the globalisation, which has transformed the rules of international trading, leading to a reconfiguration of geopolitical and economic spaces, particularly through the widespread use of new information technologies. In this new reality of easier access to information, the promotion of culture, and consequently of cultural tourism, is particularly relevant, which explains the importance and success of this international conference.

The FACM would like to thank the Université des Sciences et de la Technologie d’Oran Mohamed-Boudiaf (USTO-MB) – organiser of the event-, and the Université de Constantine 3, the Circles of Algiers and Nice, CREI.corp, the Institut Français d’Algerie, Tosyali Algerie and E2ID, for working in partnership with us to bring this valuable conference to a successful conclusion.

To consult the findings of the International Conference: PDF Recommendations International Conference ” Les enjeux de la Culture et du Tourisme à l’ère du numérique: Illustration de l’intelligence culturelle “.

The MCAF presents the “Guide: a proposal for the inclusion of migrants
and refugees: childhood and youth”

The MCA Foundation has prepared the “Guide: a proposal for the inclusion of
migrants and refugees: childhood and youth” which is a proactive project, with
the participation of migrants and refugees, focused on children and youth in
contexts of migration and forced displacement, as a priority element, within the so-
called “migration crisis” or humanitarian tragedy that affects the Euro-
Mediterranean region. In this “guide” those who have the leading role and the floor
are those who usually never have it: migrants and refugees.

It is a publication that gathers good inclusion practices from the perspective
of the refugees themselves who have participated in the project, and which may
be used by public administrations, civil organizations and institutions, among
others. The initiative has had the support of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,
European Union and Cooperation, the ReFAL (Spanish Network of the Anna Lindh
Foundation), with the collaboration of institutions such as the Valencia City Council
and the University of Valencia, as well as the participation of organizations and
associations that are involved in the care of migrants or refugees.

Based on the orientation of entities that are dedicated to the care of these people,
the MCA Foundation was forming a team of 14 refugees following criteria such as
parity, geographical diversity and situations in order to achieve representativeness
of cases. Subsequently, through interviews and debate meetings, the group was
able to reach the conclusions contained in this guide. The collaboration of
migration experts, as well as representatives of the main organizations that work
directly or are involved in the care of refugees who have provided their guidance
and knowledge has been fundamental. Everyone, refugees and a group of experts
have selflessly cooperated in this Project with great collective energy.

We thank all the entities that participated in the preparation of this guide: United
Nations Agency for Refugees(UNHCR), Casal dels Infants del Raval, Refugee
Reception Center (CAR) of Mislata, MCA Circle of Alicante, MCA Circle of
Nador, Spanish Comittee for Refugee Assistance (CEAR), Red Cross,
Socialmed Festival, Diagrama Foundation, SOM LLAR Foundation, Horizon For
Syrians, Human Rights Institute of the University of Valencia, Movement for
Peace (MPLP), Save the Children, Orientation Service of the Generalitat
Valenciana, UNICEF, University of Valencia.

This Guide was presented in Valencia, within the framework of the Mediterranean
Human Rights Festival, SOCIALMED 2023 on April 21 with a debate and the presence
of Vicent Garcés, president of MCAF, Esther Mamadou, Head of the Asylum Program
of the Movement for Peace, Angela Nzambi, CEAR Volunteering and Advocacy
Technician, Andrés Perelló, General Director of Casa Mediterráneo, Manolo Rodríguez,
director of the Expert Diploma in Mediterranean Societies: citizenship and
sociopolitical changes in the Mediterranean of the University of Valencia, and Samuel
Sebastián, director of the SocialMed Festival.

The Project has been developed between the months of January and April 2023 and
will follow the principles and values included in the 2030 Agenda, providing reflections
and responses to the challenges posed in the sustainable development goals, such as
facing the challenge associated with strengthening the social cohesion and creating
more inclusive strategies in Spain, but also learning from other host countries in the
Euro-Mediterranean space.

Guide in PDF: MCAF Guide online

Video presentation of the project: https://youtu.be/ExwnFnA-LRg

Dans un contexte de guerre où les crises continuent à se multiplier et où les droits
et libertés acquis ont été réduits, la FACM réaffirme les principes contenus dans sa
Charte fondatrice et appelle à une participation croissante et effective de son réseau et des citoyens méditerranéens. Elle appelle également à une plus grande coopération entre les niveaux parlementaire, municipal et la société civile dans les pays où elle est présente, et à la construction urgente d’alliances donnant la priorité à la paix, à la protection de l’environnement, à la démocratie, au respect et à la consolidation des droits humains.

MEMOIRE FACM 2022