Public initiative conceived and promoted by Associazione Progetto Mediterranea for the creation of a flag for the Mediterranean subcontinent. Deadline: June 15, 2020

Meaning and values

The Mediterranean looks like a map of fractures, today more than ever. Yet: “(…) although the Mediterranean is disorder, it is primarily synonymous with life. Even with all its cracks, here every morning life prevails and triumphs”[Tahar Ben Jelloun].

This is not all. An army of men and women who represent economic, political, religious and cultural interests work every day on the disintegration of the Mediterranean. Yet “every morning life prevails and triumphs”. Quite the opposite of the European Union, where every day hundreds of thousands of “health workers” support, treat, revitalize the “beautiful European girl” who has been chronically ill since birth.

 

And whoever does not fall inevitably applies to proceed and grow. For this reason, in an unprecedented way, today we must work for the Mediterranean. Because it deserves it and because we need it. Because against every obstacle, it resists. Its peoples resist, its cultures resist. And indeed, just as the world inexorably drifts towards barbarism and madness, the decay of values and environmental devastation, the Mediterranean takes back its role of beacon and guide that it had in ancient times. Its philosophical, existential enzymes, its long history of errors and attempts today more than ever make it the most truthful laboratory for a possible alternative.

 

Nowhere in the world, as in the Mediterranean, is there such a coexistence of diversity, such a wealth of perspectives, such a history of failures and successes. The game of hope is played here, on this operating table, on this sports field, in this study centre, on this altar.

 

Therefore, Associazione Progetto Mediterranea launches the project “A flag for the Mediterranean”. Because when everything seems lost, hoisting a flag has the flavour of recovery. Because when a flag is missing one has no sense of belonging. Because a flag is identity, a flag aggregates, gathers, unites. A flag is worth seeing it waving.

 

We are strongly and well aware: only the Mediterranean, which has already experienced tragedies due to an improper use of flags, can invent the first flag that does not separate, that does not oppose, that does not fuel hostilities. Hence, what is needed is not a flag that is not there, but a flag that has never been there before. The Mediterranean must hoist and flutter the first representative and comprehensive flag. A flag which is worth living for, not dying for. A flag that encourages hospitality, integration and peace rather than borders, secession and war.

It will be the flag of the future “United States of the Mediterranean”, stretching from the Black Sea to the Portuguese Atlantic, from the Gulf of Aqaba to the Ligurian Sea, from the Sea of Marmara to the Gulf of Sirte.

TERMS of PARTICIPATION

 

WHO: Everyone can apply. There is no age limit.

 

HOW: Draw a colour flag, accompany it with a text (max 10 lines) to explain your choices of colour and design related to the values they express, save everything in a PDF file and send it to this e-mail address: info@progettomediterranea.com

 

WHEN: From 2 May to 15 June 2020.

 

The applications will be evaluated by a commission of citizens of the Mediterranean who will vote the 4 most convincing proposals. These will be published online and subject to a public vote on social networks and the media. The author of the most voted flag will be invited on board the boat Mediterranea to attend the flag hoisting ceremony