catholic minister, active in the fight against mafia

I had the chance to discover  Osoppo’s Rototom Sunsplash and for what I have experienced, I can say that it is a positive moment of social gathering, music and culture.

I have seen many young people taking active part in the meetings, bringing up interesting issues and wondering about the present and future.

I am therefore dismayed as I learn that the festival’s president is being investigated by authorities for the charge of “facilitating the use of drugs”, a use that is naturally connected to any context of social gathering of youngsters and in this case limited mainly to soft drugs. Experience, realism and common sense tell us that this use cannot be discouraged through laws. It can only be discouraged  by taking strong educational initiatives aimed at guiding  the young through their personal growth avoiding shortcuts. I suggest that we let them discover the value of a sensible freedom, in order to become full and aware beholders of democracy.

We should not forget that drug users are often victims of a criminal plot that earns great profit in illegal drug trade and which should be the target of repression.

I truly hope that common sense will prevail and that this whole issue will be reconsidered. Rototom is a precious event. Banning it would impoverish us all culturally.