Civil partecipation

The world has not recovered yet from the financial disaster caused by sub prime mortgages that Goldman Sachs, one of the largest and well established investment banks in the world, is put under investigation for speculation. The Greek government bonds were downgraded to junk, almost an objection of the Argentine crisis some years ago. Our currency, the euro could collapse under the weight of other countries at risk, such as Portugal, Spain, Ireland. The European Union is preparing an aid plan but now the public purse could no longer be able to plug the leaks of global finance. Politics - despite the bill we are paying heavy - seems incapable of "thinking". The relationship between common good and private interests is totally unbalanced. Finance and Economy real road trip totally different, capital is no longer the work of the people. At the expense and will increasingly, civil servants, medium and small businesses, services ... And increase poverty and growing social inequality. But in Italy, the Third Sector - that universe of varied charities, associations, Organizations not governative, Foundations and Cooperatives - is still able to respond to the needs of common citizens. Non profit organizations that can not deploy the operating profit and grant benefits to volunteering, are the ultimate expression of its territory and for years, driven not only the economy but also the activities of municipal, provincial and regional. Organize cultural activities, social and humanitarian, will replace the public, unable to provide services such as listening centers, care for the sick and elderly, education and training achievements, funding for research on rare diseases. For this reason, in recent decades, the state has passed some legislation - the framework law on volunteering, the discipline of social promotion associations and social cooperatives, the reorganization of local governments - who helped to get out of the marginality the Third Sector. Today, social organizations must be recognized as authoritative interlocutors in providing services, the means of intervention to create markets for intermediate work, in providing employment opportunities socially useful. But there is disbelief in the voluntary and third sector, disappointment and concern on various tightening occurred recently, which seem to limit the potential of this phenomenon: the inability of voluntary non-profit organization to use as a financial support system advertising, or otherwise reduce the loss of postal facilities, proposals, fortunately not go into port, to scale the 5 per thousand. It seems that politics and government do not realize that their phases of economic recession, the Third Sector and the social economy and association constitute the only possible way to maintain the necessary services to the community. An indicator invisible to PIL, but substantial for the economy and, especially, for the welfare of the country.

Translated by Martina Delser