A LETTER BY A GOOD FRIEND

I have discovered that our city holds a record, I believe European, pertaining to the number of scientists that visit, study and live here: 35 scientists for every 1000 inhabitants! We have Prof. Hack, Triestine by adoption, a scientist that the world envies us; we have the Center for Theoretical Physics, and the Synchrotron, which attracts scientists from all over the world. Prof. Rubbia is constantly in contact with Trieste and likewise many other Nobel Prize winners. After this brief introduction of the scientific scene in Trieste, let me detour to Duino.

This little village, where I have lived for decades, is the site since 1984 of the United World College of the Adriatic. This college, the only one in Italy and the third in Europe, is one of 10 institutions of the worldwide movement of the United World Colleges. This year it has a student body which represents 84 different countries. These young people study in Duino for two years and after strict examinations, are awarded the International Baccalaureate diploma; a diploma which opens the doors to all the universities in the world. Their arrival in Duino, towards the end of the summer, is almost like the arrival of swallows in the spring. They fill the streets with their presence; happy and lightheartedly noisy. And we, the inhabitants of Duino, are happy about this renewed presence.

And here is my idea: Considering that the world seems to be precipitating into an unimaginable abyss – due to the ills that we ourselves inflict on each other, such as pollution, deforestation, disregard for the environment, and the natural disasters which, unfortunately, are not really inevitable, and then there are the wars, terrorism and the hate which is fomented and which increases day by day – I would like to use this letter to appeal to the administrators of the college. To invite the young students to write an open letter to explain how it is possible for hundreds of young boys and girls from 84 different nations to live peaceably together, even when some of their countries are actually waging war on one another.

To attend this college the students are selected, not on the basis of their social status, but on the basis of their intelligence. Therefore, an appeal signed by them would be authoritative; an appeal to these madmen who, driven by hate and unfortunately big economical interests, are destroying what little good is left in the world. Greed, interests, power, hate, badly interpreted religious principals and fanaticism are distributed widely and repay us widely with bereavement, desperation and poverty. Creating fear and bombs, they destroy the economy which increases exponentially the number of destitute people in the world – and there are billions – fertile terrain where terrorism cultivates and then reaps its dirty fruits.

I appeal to Prof. Budinich so that, with his good will, his international prestige and enormous charisma, he can bring to the attention of the numerous scientists who work here in Trieste this petition; so that they too can endorse it with their prestigious signatures. From the College of Duino, a sure source of future intelligence, and from the wonderful local scientific “reservoir” which is in constant evolution, I am confident that a strong sign can be sent to those "“evil brains” who are poisoning the life, already so difficult, of our world.

Giovanni CARPANI 

OPEN LETTER

We, the students of the United World College of the Adriatic, located in Duino, a charming and hospitable village on coast of Trieste which for over twenty years now has warmly offered hospitality to different generations of students, would like to speak out for a moment. We want everybody to listen to us carefully, not because we are seeking praise or compliments, but in order to prove through our daily life here at the College that the whole of mankind, that all peoples of the world can live together in peace and solidarity. This is no longer just a wish or a hope, it is reality. And the 200 students coming from 84 countries of the world share this reality every day, in the name of mutual understanding and respect. By living together with people so different from ourselves, we realise that differences do exist, but that we have something more important in common: we are human beings.

United Word Colleges have one major idea in common, that is equality between all human beings, irrespective of where they were born, their culture or of physical differences. We must bear in mind that anybody is a human being, first and foremost, and that, as such, he or she deserves respect. Hence the idea of creating a group of Colleges, located all over the world, where these ideals can be put into practice, starting from what should be the common base of today's youth: culture and knowledge, which are basic, universal values of young citizens of today's world. These ideals are all the more significant in our College, where they are part of everyday life. We share the rooms, the canteen and all College premises; we study in the same classrooms and take part in the same activities, we live together and get to know each other.

Mutual respect is the basis of our life, but as soon as we arrive here we realise that we are different from one another. These differences may be represented by language, personality race, religions political ideas, economic background or sex, and it is extremely fascinating to be able to share our lives with people who are so different from us: this is not a reason for hatred or disputes, but rather an enriching factor in our education. We have understood that different people can live together in peace: our differences are superseded by our common commitment towards the main objective of United World Colleges, i.e. "through international education, shared experienee and community service, to enable young people to become responsible citizens, committed to the ideals of peace, justice, understanding and cooperation, and to the implementation of these ideals through action and personal example".

But this is not the mission of the "lucky few", it must not be an isolated voice. Anybody can choose to live their life following these principles, sharing our own hopes: one does not need to have been selected to do so. This is the message which we hope to be able to give when we return to our home countries. And we also hope that our appeal reaches those who, more than anybody else can turn it into reality: our leaders, and we trust the common sense of these powerful people who represent whole populations: We make an appeal for them to show tolerance respect and solidarity, which are all preconditions for peaceful and prosperous living.

The students of the United World College of the Adriatic Duino, Trieste May 2004