Views on Responsibility

Interviews of persons from different socioprofessional sectors.

10 December 2005
Interview of an Environmental Activist in Greece by Yolanda ZIAKA

Following is the report of an interview with a Greek man, 57, married, father of two, architect, employed in the sector. Since his youth, this man has been active in social and political movements, but he has never sought a position o leadership in the groups to which he belongs. He is fairly often called upon by the local media - local radio and television - to comment on the current news and to present the positions, either of the architects’ union or of the local environmental group. He (...)

10 December 2005
Circulation of the Charter in Italy: Interview of a Health Professional by Jean-Paul BRAUX

Following is an interview by Francesco Tabacco of Mrs. Irene Mariella, in Florence, Italy. Mrs. Mariella is 51 and works as an obstetrician for the Italian national health service in Florence. She lives in the center of Florence with her partner, who has a girl, 18. She supports a child in India, which she adopted "at distance." The discussion revolved around the questions in the questionnaire that was designed by the members of European Charter coordination team. We began to think together (...)

Circulation of the Charter in France: Interview of an Elected Official of a Township in Auvergne - 10 December 2005, by Jean-Paul BRAUX

The interview of an elected official of a township in Auvergne starts with an immediate reaction to the idea of human responsibility: "For me it is the feeling of belonging to a group, the feeling that my attitude, my actions can act upon the way the current group and the future human group function. For me, what is done today has repercussions on our world but also on tomorrow’s world, and is of importance for others and for me. Human responsibility makes me think of solidarity, freedom, (...)

Social Learning as a Source of Responsibility: An Austrian Trainer’s View - 10 December 2005, by Betty NGUYEN

Following is the report of an interview with Thomas Mann, 36, sociologist and trainer involved in trans-European citizen networks. When I met Thomas, I explained to him the general approach for the facilitation of the Charter process, but due to lack of time, he completed the questionnaire through electronic channels. The interview was based on the questionnaire written by the Charter’s European Facilitation Committee but was also deliberately focused on the European Union’s specific (...)

Education as a Way to Responsibility - 10 December 2005, by Nacéra AKNAK KHAN

What is responsibility? For Thérèse, responsibility is expressed through a personal commitment to not to cut oneself off from the environment, the planet, and one’s immediate surroundings. Being responsible requires active participation as a citizen. It is also to be aware of all others. It is indeed difficult to build your own happiness without thinking of others’. Everyone is connected. For Thérèse, there are not different levels of responsibility. She is just as responsible in her work as (...)