Stories and News

Stories and News No. 1142 Once upon a time a movie’s writing process. Imagine the scene like a film too. As if we were properly all in a movie. The room is the classic one of a film producer, with the desk covered with paperwork, the posters on the walls and some prizes on the shelf. Nothing too elegant and glittering, we are not talking about an announced box office breach. But not even a more or less witty B-movie, despite the scarce money. Imagine a medium-quality work, which should be good for the average people, in order to give them what they want and need. Well, this is the trailer’s message for the kind of movie where promotion is everything. Nonetheless, the writer is trying to convince the money lender about the script. For the record, we are half of the latter. Oops, I forgot the title: Migrants . "So let's recap," says the producer, "the protagonist finally managed to get elected as government leaders, right?" "Right." ...

Stories and News No. 1130 The Nation is in danger , shouts the commander in chief. And when the Nation is in danger, it must be defended at the cost of death. Of the enemy himself. Even before he becomes such. Even before he proves that. The Nation is in danger , warns the democratic dictator. Message received, answers the man in charge of internal security, which must be guaranteed at any price, even if it was the enemy ’s life. Although he is not yet so. Despite not yet proven to be, an enemy . Send immediately eight hundred men to the border , it’s the order . Nineteenth valiant servants of the Nation. Eight times a hundred kids dressed as warriors, so nobody will see innocence under the armor. Because the enemy is listening, therefore, keep quiet. Otherwise, he could take advantage of it and discover that there are creatures obliged to advance towards the border also on the other side of the latter. Nonetheless, the Nation is in danger because the enemy is n...

Stories and News No. 931 One hundred people are probably drowned, following the sinking of a boat off the coast of Libya, bringing the death toll to three hundred and forty in the Mediterranean this week. Doctors Without Borders says that only twenty-seven have survived. Twenty-seven stories, twenty-seven lives. Like a boat capsizing for twenty-seven times, but the journey continues... One , the boat capsizes and everyone is still on board, because the wife’s magic glue worked. Two , the boat capsizes, but also the world did, and then we are all safe, bar none. Three , the boat capsizes and I wake up, we did not sail at all, because we never needed to do so. Four , the boat capsizes and nets are full. We were just trying a new way of fishing, what did you think? Five , the boat capsizes, then I am hiding and you start counting to ten, twenty, indeed, twenty-seven, but did not find me, please, because it means that this time I really won. Six , the boat capsizes and I...

Stories and News No. 926 Fatim Jawara , the young goalkeeper of the women's national football team of the Gambia, who dies in the Mediterranean trying to reach Italy, had told her family she wanted to "follow her destiny" and play for a big European club "whatever the risks". The stadium is full, tonight. It always happens, in the valuable games. But today it is a wonderful exception. Because we usually count less than less. However, we are many, now. Because these particular viewers are made of the same volatile substance of the players. Negligible for most and all that is, for those who have never had otherwise. So, enough with the waves, of living bodies rather than insensible oceans. Listen and watch, the team that goes into the sea. Number one, her. The lady goalkeeper. Fatim with ambitious and generous hands at the same time. Protecting the only door that connects us, here. The one of the left behind house. The girl with the blind dete...

Stories and News No. 882 According to United Nations, more than 2,500 refugees and migrants have died trying to cross the Mediterranean to Europe so far this year. This is a dream, thought the man . It should be, he hoped more than anything else. She was there, along with the her new friend at the foot of his bed, like an old fairy tale. Allow me to confide, she said. Her new friend was silent. The man did not answer. He could not speak even if he had really wanted to. Even if he were awake. I'm tired, she declared. I'm so tired, she repeated. Why you're not? This is my first question . How can you not want to run out of all this? How do you still pronounce these words? And you have said them, don't deny it, oh if you said them. Without going too far, once you said that, at the end of the day, they deserved hell for what they did to our Lord, because they adored money, living only among themselves, not integrating . You said also that, after all,...

Stories and News No. 852 “EU and Turkish leaders have today sunk to a new low, effectively horse trading away the rights and dignity of some of the world’s most vulnerable people. The idea of bartering refugees for refugees is not only dangerously dehumanizing, but also offers no sustainable long term solution to the ongoing humanitarian crisis,” said Iverna McGowan, Head of Amnesty International’s European Institutions Office. Imagine a table. A round table, like the one of the knights with a honest and fearless king. Let it be told. Let it be told and remembered that they are brave and righteous , until proven otherwise. Now, let’s release some fantasy. Namely, let the gallop be heard. To remember that on this page, there will be always room for those who did not come in the photo on the desk at the entrance, the one that everyone looks. Like steeds who have struggled, suffered and often destroyed back and hooves for others' glory, as the horses of Zorro and D'Art...

Stories and News No. 823 I read that in 2015 the victims at sea among migrants have been, so far, 3200 , at least double the previous year’s number. 700 children died in the many shipwrecks... I know. I know that my name is Ahmed. I am the new one. Or the possible - that I like the most, 701°. It depends on the deaf wheel dancing around itself. Donating and slicing present and future. But it is not the only accountable. Because I know. I know everything. I already know what you might think. Maybe you will blame the unwary parents who drag their innocent offspring in a one-way trip towards the bottom of the sea. I know. You could also say that all governments are responsible for this. Ours , yours . The middle ones. Leaders who allowed this annoying invasion only able to create unjust guilt to people of good will, until proven otherwise. I also know that you would recall your children. Your people. Your country. I know perfectly that on the free plate of the...

Stories and News No. 806 Germany, the man who had kidnapped Mohamed , the four years old Bosnian child refugee, has confessed. He killed also Elias , a six years old boy, who died in July in the city of Potsdam . My name is Mohamed and I am four years old. This is my future . The coming dawn, regardless. And the following sunset, in spite of anything. That is reminiscent of my past . There, where everything is still possible. Drawing the path leading to the top. The name of the peak does not matter. Which piece of world it overhangs does not too. What really counts is that once standing, with flag waving in hand taking a breath and satisfaction, I will not be alone. The days behind are a few, if you look at them from above. Anything but sparkling with joy and lightness. But it was a start. Somewhere we have to start. Leave. All the scenery at the shot of the starter does not count. If you are sure to have no chance to finish first does not matter. What is worth the...

Stories and News No. 799 After decided to cross the Eurotunnel and reach the UK, four men climbed onto a truck in Calais, France, and found a polar bear in a cage. One of them escaped, while the three remaining were then arrested. The animal, named Nissan, arrived later at its destination, a Yorkshire park, to join two other bears, Victor and Pixel. This is the story that Nissan told them… Once upon a time there were three migrants. The three migrants were actually four. In fact, to be honest, I have no idea if they were migrants . Or in any other way humans love calling each other. Distinguishing. At worst, estranging. Four of them have got on board. And only three are left. Too bad, I thought. Who knows what the fourth could have said. Well, as you know, we bulky souls, who travel from pole to pole of the planet only reluctantly, we are always there with our mind. On the empty chair in the classroom and the blank place in the crowd. On the lacking horizon. Any...