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CONFERENCE IN ITALY:
MARE NOSTRUM – SEA OF PEACE
Rome, July 8, 2024, Chamber of Deputies
The conference “MARE NOSTRUM – a Sea of Peace, Socio-environmental Aspects of the MEDITERRANEAN” was held on July 8, 2024, at the Chamber of Deputies, Theodoli Palace – Matteotti Hall.
It was promoted and organized by Dr. Franco Torchia, President of AISTA (Italian Association for Sport, Tourism, and the Environment), with which the PROYTEC GROUP has been in partnership for a long time.
The Conference proceedings were opened by Eng. Adriano Santeusanio, President of the Acqua Foundation, followed by Dr. Franco Torchia with the official presentation of the initiative.
Hon. Nazzareno Neri, President of the XII Council Commission of the Lazio Region, and Andrea Catarci, Councilor of Rome Capital, brought greetings from the two institutions.
After a brief intervention by Antonietta Pignatelli Palladino of Ecoitaliasolidale, Prof. Marco Marcelli, Head of the Coastal Oceanography Laboratory at the University of Tuscia, spoke about the “health status of the Mediterranean”; Prof. Luigi Campanella, former President of the Italian Chemical Society and former Dean of the SMFN Faculty at Sapienza, addressed the “plastic problem in the marine ecosystem”; Prof. Ferdinando Boero, President of the Dohrn Foundation and Vice President of Marevivo Foundation, on “knowledge-based management of the marine environment”; Dr. Marco Ricceri, Secretary-General of EURISPES, on “Geopolitical aspects of the Mediterranean basin”; Prof. Nicola Paravati, Head of International Affairs at UNINETTUNO (International Telematic University), on “climate change.”
Environmental Eng. Alessandra Aielli of Marevivo Fundation then announced the winners of the 2024 “Nethuns” International Award.
The committee composed of AISTA, Ecoitaliasolidale, Fondazione Aqua e Marevivo, recognized the following as deserving of the 2024 award:
for the INTERNATIONAL SECTION
- the Ukrainian Municipality of Odessa,
- the Barcelona Convention Center Presidency (an international protection body that includes all the countries of the Mediterranean Basin and beyond),
- Hon. Mitja Bricelj, (Secretary of State of Greece for his policy of river decontamination that ultimately brings harmful pollutants to the sea)
for the ITALIAN SECTION
- the Anton Dohrn Zoological Station of Naples (the world’s first marine zoological station, for its in-depth studies on the Mediterranean ecosystem, as well as its “clinics” born to save injured sea turtles and cetaceans),
- the Experimental Oceanology and Marine Ecology Laboratory of the University of Tuscia (for the constant study and control of all forms of life in the Mediterranean, as well as for the study and other initiatives to protect the last corals of our sea),
- the Tethys Institute of Milan (for the study and careful control of the Pelagos protected marine area, better known as the “Cetacean Sanctuary”),
- the Coast Guard (for its continuous and courageous activity at sea aimed at rescue for those in difficulty and for having saved hundreds and hundreds of migrants ended up at sea due to the crumbling boats provided by criminal smugglers, as well as to prevent poachers from profaning stretches of protected sea of the Marine Protected Areas),
- Don Bruno Bignami (director of the national office for social problems of the CEI, for his admirable support towards all those people in social difficulties and integration into society),
- Prof. Livio De Santoli (Pro-rector of Sapienza and national coordinator of renewable sources for his concrete vision of drawing non-impactful energy from the sea, but alternative to fossil),
- Licia Colò (for her continuous appeal for sensitivity and responsibility of us all towards the natural environment, which she effectively expresses through her TV show “Eden”).
The proceedings then continued with the interventions of Dr. Silvia Sartori from the General Directorate for Natural Heritage and Sea of the Ministry of Environment and Energy Security on “Italy’s commitment in the Mediterranean: strengthening the regional level to achieve global goals”, Lawyer Cristiano Carocci, Culture Ambassador for OTM (Mediterranean Sea Protection Observatory) on “places of Roman heritage for cultural meetings aimed at peace”; Dr. Giordano Giorgi, Director of the ISPRA (Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research) on the “MER project in the context of the Mediterranean”, Prof. Aldo Berlinguer – President of the Insularity and Inner Areas Observatory of EURISPES, Dr. Corrado Sommariva, Founder and CEO of SWPC (Sustainable Water and Power Consultants), on “sustainability of desalination and Zero Liquid Discharge programs.”
The event allowed environmental professionals and experts to illustrate and discuss the problems that have been afflicting our MARE NOSTRUM for years and was concluded by the intervention of Lawyer Fabio Tota from the Ministry for Civil Protection and Sea Policies.
During the conference, a survey on the state of the marine ecosystem was presented, revealing that the Mediterranean is the sea that is warming more than any other semi-enclosed sea in the world, with inevitable repercussions.
Interesting insights were provided on the invasion of life forms from warmer seas of the planet, new meteorological risks with the appearance of particular Mediterranean hurricanes (“medicanes”), coastal erosion, plastic damaging marine flora and fauna, damages to offshore fishing and local mussel farming.
On this day, attendees were given the publication “Mare Nostrum”.
Dr. Riccardo Quacquarelli attended the Conference as a representative of PROYTEC PANAMA CORP., a company of the PROYTEC GROUP that has been dedicated to the development of ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) projects globally for over a decade, with a particular emphasis on environmental protection and social progress.
The PROYTEC Manager, who has also been working as a web reporter for years (QR GROUP), offered to create a video to spread awareness about the importance of quality of life in coastal communities and the environment in general, promoting sustainable fishing practices and projects for the protection of marine biodiversity.
The sea is a source of life and sustenance for millions of people and the guardian of immense biodiversity.
The commitment of the conference organizers aims to promote widespread awareness for a balance between economic development and the protection of the marine ecosystem, ensuring that Mare Nostrum remains a sea of peace and prosperity for future generations.
The video made by the PROYTEC Manager, which will be distributed through various digital channels, demonstrates how innovation and social responsibility can go hand in hand in building a more sustainable future.
With this availability, the PROYTEC GROUP once again manifests its commitment to conscious intervention, where necessary and requested, in support of projects to safeguard natural resources, the ecosystem, and the environment.
