Three themes – For reflection and understanding

The event as described above is not only intended as an exchange of events and acquaintances through these same events. In fact it is the opposite; as the “Teramo, town open to the world” event aims to enact a whole series of opportunities for reflection and understanding, there being three major themes of particular social and cultural interest to be developed and promoted to enhance the sensitivity of public opinion. These themes being: solidarity and immigration as well as emigration and the protection of the artistic and historic heritage.

As regards the first issue, negotiations are currently underway with African community associations in Rome for the development and research into issues relating to immigration and Third World problems.

The second theme will probably consider the issues relating to the emigration of Italians abroad, a matter of particular relevance in our area, as demonstrated by the hundreds of Abruzzo related associations abroad.

It is therefore no wonder that one of the guest cities to Teramo is New York, the crossroads of all the emigration flows to the States, and the museum at Ellis Island, which wonderfully illustrates the first emigration steps taken by thousands of Italians from Abruzzo and Teramo.

These issues could all be taken as a starting point for two interesting conventions.

As regards the theme of the protection of the historic and artistic heritage, contacts have been made with the World Monument Watch of New York (International Monument Foundation) which is involved in the protection and enhancement of degraded sites of historic, artistic and archaeological interest, in order to examine the possibility for the setting up of a convention and exhibition in Teramo to highlight the aims of the foundation and the results of the initial studies undertaken in a worldwide context, and which have until now demonstrated the degraded state of 100 sites.