Solidarity gifts against war and poverty: sustainability is a gift

There’s no more sustainable idea than giving concrete help this Christmas and this year staying true to your green soul, even doing good, will be easier than expected. Emergency, since 1994, has been committed to guaranteeing access to treatment and breaking down the barriers that hinder the right to health, also enshrined in article 32 of the Italian Constitution. Since its foundation, the humanitarian association claims to have contributed to the care of over 12 million people, in contexts of war, affected by landmines, victims of poverty. Basically one person every minute. Much has been done, but obviously much more can and must be done.

According to one of the latest reports by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Bank, about half of the population has no access to treatment and over 100 million people are pushed into poverty due to the costs incurred for their health . Choosing among the gift ideas designed by the Gino Strada association, which can be purchased in shops throughout Italy and online, means taking a step towards those in need. All the proceeds will go to support the work carried out every day by Emergency and made possible thanks to the contribution of private citizens, companies, foundations, international bodies and the governments of the countries in which the association operates and which decide to support its intervention.

Over 70 purchase proposals with the Emergency logo that can be purchased in one of the association’s shops until 24 December (Aosta, Bari, Bologna, Brescia, Cagliari, Catania, Catanzaro, Ferrara, Florence, Genoa, Macerata, Milan, Naples , Padua, Perugia, Pisa, Rome, Teramo, Turin and Venice). To these are added the products from the countries in which the NGO operates (in particular from Afghanistan) and from other solidarity realities that operate in conditions that respect the environment and workers’ rights and make their products with recycled or recovery.

Environment

“Even at Christmas you can buy without harming the planet”

by Cristina Nadotti

December 17, 2022

From handmade sweets to “Stop War” t-shirts

Some examples? The panettone Three Maries for 20 euros. THE artisan sweets by Cotti in Fragranza, made by the boys of the Malaspina juvenile prison in Palermo. The box sets of solid and biodegradable detergents of Officina Naturae, zero waste and plastic-free. There cup for coffee Cicara (25 euros), a cup made of compostable bioplastic and food steel, designed by Up-Code to reduce the environmental impact of disposable cups. The leather accessories of Cartiera, an ethical fashion laboratory that makes bags and fanny packs using high quality leather and fabrics, creating job opportunities for young immigrants and former asylum seekers. And again: the recovery bagsor purse (for 15 euros) made by Parallelo, an inclusive and sustainable social laboratory in which foreign artisans and artists in conditions of social marginalization create products with materials such as old banners and old Emergency t-shirts or a calendar (12 euros) with illustrations from Testi Manifesti, a project by Marco Petrucci, to remind us every day why war must be repudiated. Like every year, there is no shortage t-shirt (from 15 to 25 euros) e sweatshirts: from the classic red ones with the Emergency logo to those with anti-war illustrations, to openly declare your no to hatred and violence.

Aid in countries at war

To support war victims and help people and families who have difficulty accessing treatment, just sign up for help at this link, thus contributing to the work of the association in Italy and around the world: to guarantee a life jacket for Life Support of Emergency 30 euros will be enough, 150 euros for a shopping bag for a Ukrainian family, a pediatric visit to Sudan that can really change a child’s life costs just 23 euros. Even in Italy, there are people who are unable to get treatment for economic, bureaucratic or organizational reasons. The services of the Emergency mobile clinics are aimed at them: by subscribing to this option it will be possible to donate an outpatient visit on the Politruck in Milan to those who do not have access to health care.