Aung San Suu Kyi, the leader of the nonviolent democratic movement in Myanmar, turns 63. She is confined to house arrest in an isolated residence. Her mail has not always reached her in the last few years and she has no access to a telephone.
To this Great Woman all the support of Roberto Baggio and all the women and men who believe in Peace and Democracy.
Here in Italy, I receive more and more fragmented information about what is happening in Burma. Unfortunately, even the news from the mass media is dwindling whereas the current situation in Burma should draw our outmost support and attention.
Recent assessments report over 100.000 deaths without considering the epidemic diseases spreading in the affected area. Despite that, the military junta continues to delay humanitarian aid and dispatches.
Cyclone Nargis hit Burma almost three weeks ago. Rescuers still need to negotiate with the MFA and local authorities to enter the country because the military junta imposes severe restrictions on all humanitarian foreign agencies. We have to treat this cause seriously. As a parent, it is particularly disturbing for me to learn that there are over 30.000 kids starving without any help.
If the international community does not act promptly, we will all be responsible for not having done enough to avoid this umpteenth disaster.
I am sitting at home, deeply moved by the plight of the Burmese people. I wonder what could be done from here to help them. It is difficult from so far way, but I would like to extend my encouragement and solidarity to those unfortunate people. I am close to you all during these moments of suffering.
Who could remain untouched by a tragedy that involves these innocent people, children, survivors of the rage of the cyclone that are now starving, dying and consumed by dysentery and the never-ending rain and cold.
We have to commit ourselves to do whatever we can to leave no stone unturned.
While survivors threatened by diseases wait for help, health operator teams ready to intervene are prevented from helping by the regime. Despite the international mobilization and the efforts of the people based in the area, it is extremely difficult to overcome the crisis.
Our support is a well-deserved reward for their perseverance and outstanding courage.
Survivors, most of whom wounded, need immediate basic assistance i.e. clean water, shelters and food. It is a fact that the cyclone has reduced to the extreme a country already on its knees from so many years of military dictatorship.
I know that the Burmese are courageous people who are now fighting against woe and adversity with strength and dignity that has deeply moved the entire world. My heart is truly with them. I am sure that in these moments of sorrow they have found the strength to carry on. We should not abandon them. They deserve our support. In this way we can make them feel that we are by their side.
I urge the Burmese military junta to let the international humanitarian agencies and the United Nations enter the country to carry on a fast and steady humanitarian intervention in order to save innocent lives and to avoid any further suffering for them.
I also urge the Burmese military junta to release Peace Noble Laureate and democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi who has been kept prisoner for most of the last 18 years.
Roberto Baggio and Vittorio Petrone
Inter Milan is new Italian Champion. Compliments from Roberto to president Mr. Massimo Moratti, captain (and friend) Javier Zanetti e to all Inter's fan.
Roberto great friend's Josep Guardiola is the new coach of Barcelona FC. Congratulations Pep!
Happy birthday Roby!
Heres photos of the Roma's Peace Award that Robert will hand it over to Aung San Suu Kyi personally. Among others Giorgio Napolitano, President of the Italian Republic, Walter Veltroni, Mayor of Roma, and Sein Win, Chairman of National Coalition Government of the Union of Burma.
Aung San Suu Kyi born 19 June 1945 in Yangon (Rangoon), is a pro-democracy activist and leader of the National League for Democracy in Myanmar (Burma), and a noted prisoner of conscience and advocate of nonviolent resistance. Aung San Suu Kyi was the third child in her family. Her name "Aung San" derives from her father, "Kyi" from her mother and "Suu" from her grandmother. A Buddhist, Suu Kyi won the Rafto Prize and the Sakharov Prize for Freedom of Thought in 1990 and the Nobel Peace Prize in 1991. In 1992 she was awarded the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru peace prize by the Government of India for her peaceful and non-violent struggle under a military dictatorship. She is currently under detention, with the Myanmar government repeatedly extending her detention. According to the results of the 1990 general election, Suu Kyi earned the right to be Prime Minister, as leader of the winning National League for Democracy party, but her detention by the military junta prevented her from assuming that role.
One of her most famous speeches is the "Freedom From Fear" speech, which begins:
“ It is not power that corrupts but fear. Fear of losing power corrupts those who wield it and fear of the scourge of power corrupts those who are subject to it.”
(Source: Wikipedia)
On next December 17th will take place the presentation of the 2007 FAIR-PLAYER Awards, acknowledgments which the No Fair - No Play Onlus Ethics Committee (President: Luciano Capponi – Honorary Members: Nevio Scala, Gianfranco Zola) bestows each year to “Every Day Champions”, men who know how to bring style and passion on the field, professionals from various sectors, devoted to whatever endeavours they undertake. Who play to win but also know how to lose.
In lightness, with sportsman spirit, respect, honour, friendship.
For the 2007 edition, the award has been granted to Roberto Baggio.
Hello, everyone.
First of all, I wish to thank all those who worked with passion and enthusiasm on this project. I am sincerely honoured to receive the 2007 “Fair Play”, because it is a solid engagement in favour of youngsters.
As FAO Ambassador, but firstly as a man and a parent, I am always profoundly saddened by the suffering which in many parts of the World afflict the lives of children and youths.
We must remember that they are in fact our future, to protect their growth and to firmly engage ourselves in their favour must become the challenge of this century and all together we must succeed.
To observe a group of soccer players who go head-to-head with loyalty, running after the ball, just like that, even without any rules as we used to do as youngsters, is truly an image which moves a person. And it will always move someone, who like me, loved and loves this game: let’s make sure that such a sensation always remains alive.
To think of sports, to think of soccer, which for me still represents a huge and endless passion, encourages exchange, friendship, solidarity: values which represent a necessity for the creation of a better world, made up of better men. This future is in the hands of the children and youths of today, let’s help them.
From the bottom of my heart, my warmest thanks.
Roberto Baggio
NO FAIR – NO PLAY ONLUS
A little “thought” from Luciano Capponi, conceiver of the No Fair-No Play project and President of the Ethics Committee
The good Lord saw that the children were entering the soccer fields, on Sunday, hand in hand with the soccer players and said: “It is a good thing...”
Then He saw many children entering for free, always at the stadium, and could not help Himself but whisper: “It is a good thing…”
He looked a little closer and noticed that those children, beyond the vague smiles and shouts, had sad eyes and thought: “Hmmm..,”, and looked a little closer.
“It looks like publicity…”, He reflected and it turned out that during the week, the adults were no longer holding their children by the hand.
So He then went lurking in soccer schools, to re-discover that smile which He, with full hands, had once endowed to mankind, and heard a phrase from an instructor: “Break his legs!”
“Oh, my God… (and smiled, obviously, because He was referring to Himself) … the publicity is hiding something.”
For awhile, He stopped observing and noticed that an enormous paradox was devouring the world.
A peace soldier died on mission… “A peace soldier? – He told Himself – Would that not be the same as using a knife to make tea?”
He whispered: “There’s something not right.”
And even in His divine mercy, He swirled His hands a tad nervously.
He glanced here and there, no longer superficially.
And saw children killed by parents…
Adults blinded by ardent pedophile urges…
The third sex and … the fourth, the fifth… and whatever else.
The disasters of Saturday night.
The showgirls.
And saw the wars in the stadiums…
“The war in the stadiums”.
In the hearts.
Hence, the good Lord had nothing else to say.
Alone, for a little while, He thought: “Hmmm…”
“Why do they not think of the children? – He said to a few angels while they flitted blissfully – There’s the need for a long-term program… there’s a lot of work to be done and… no time to waste!”
He then lit the television and heard only awful news and saw atrocious scenes.
“Why don’t they do newscasts about good things?”, was said by the good Lord.
“Because You are a do-gooder and simple-minded” – replied a keen angel. “Furthermore – continued the angel – there is the right to news, the empire of the medias and…”
“Enough”, thundered the good Lord.
But no one heard His voice because “equal time” came into effect and… someone else took the stand.
Guess who.
Luciano Capponi
www.nofairnoplay.it
On the 16th of October of every year, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations celebrates the World Food Day to commemorate the anniversary of its foundation, which came about on October 16th, 1945. The theme for World Food Day 2007 is “The Right to Food”.
Roberto Baggio, FAO Ambassador, presided at the international assembly which took place today in Rome, with an opening address from the Director-General of the FAO, Jacques Diouf, who reminded that “in the world today, there are 854 million women, men and children who suffer from hunger, even if the planet produces food in quantity and quality sufficient for everyone”.
The following is Roberto’s address.
Your Excellencies,
Mr. President Köhler,
Mr. President Kikwete,
Mr. Director-General,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I am very glad and honoured to have been invited here, today, at the FAO, where in October 2002 I was nominated Ambassador of Goodwill of this organization. I thank you once again, Mr. Director-General, for that prestigious nomination.
I continue to remain proud of the recognition the FAO wished to honour me with, as every one voice can contribute to heighten the sensitivity regarding a problem that affects not just others but all of us and every one of us: the fight against hunger throughout the world.
It is a moral, personal and professional obligation to be alongside you, in the name of all those who find themselves, to this day, in a state of disadvantage, poverty and suffering.
It is in this spirit that I headed to Laos, in September of this year, only a few weeks ago, to visit the FAO projects in development in that splendid, small country. I was able to personally meet rural communities, disadvantaged groups, persons in distress. Touching an undeniable reality with my own hands, I realized and was proud of the fact that my visit may have represented, if nothing else, a further impulse, an added opportunity to allow us to revitalize and strengthen our commitments to free the world of the plights of hunger and poverty.
An eminent statesman, Willy Brandt, had expressed, in the now distant 1971, a dream: that before the end of the century, the day would come where humanity would no longer see a child going to bed hungry, no family having to worry what to feed on the following day and no human being having to see his future and possibilities altered due to malnutrition.
Although the century has now come and gone, it is not too late to share this dream and contribute all of my best efforts to turn it into reality. I am here for this.
I thank you.
Roberto Baggio
