On the first weekend of February, the 2nd international meeting for entrepreneurs, students and EoC board members of Southeast Europe will take place at Mariapolis Faro (Croatia).

The EoC and the great zone of Eastern Europe toward 2031

4-5 February 2012
Mariapolis Center Faro
Franje Rackoga 32
48260 Križevci (Croatia)

80 participants are expected to come from about 10 countries (Czech Republic, Slovakia, Serbia, Bulgaria, Macedonia, Hungary, Romania, Croatia, Slovenia, and Austria) at the Second EoC Congress of Southeastern Europe, with 10 spoken languages! This is an important moment for all those who, in this part of the world, take part in the reality of the EoC. Will be an opportunity to share the life lived, the experiences, difficulties and questions. Luigino Bruni will be present and with him, they will try to focus on the step to be taken after all that has emerged from the EoC Assembly in Brazil. The momentum and enthusiasm in building together a bigger EoC is even more fascinating, it is great. It contributes to that EoC towards 2031 which was clearly expressed at the International Assembly. In Croatia they are confident that all the EoC in the world will accompany this moment. 

Data on the allocation of profits, the census of the companies in the world, the culture of communion, and a survey on the identity of the EoC

A whole year of the Economy of Communion: data and information provided on the EoC Report range from September 2010 to September 2011. The report is divided into three parts: businesses, culture of communion, the poor; calling this the “3 thirds” of the allocation of profits, the foundation of the EoC project. Numerical data and colorful graphics are easy to understand as it accompanies the history of the project’s twentieth year from the protagonists themselves.

Note: the attachment containing the survey on the EoC’s “Identity and Future” was done by Simona Di Ciaccio during the International Assembly last May 2011 in Brazil.

The report is available online, we invite you to download and browse it. Happy reading! 

 Download the report here

Support Genfest 2012 Let’s Bridge with your company!

Young people and the EoC are two realities that refer to each other. For this we present to the EoC companies and to our friends and supporters Genfest 2012, an event of the young people of the Focolare Movemen (www.genfest.org).

Part of a wider project, “A united Europe for a united world – young ideas change Europe”, Let’s Bridge (this is the title of the Genfest) will reunite 12,500 young people of various countries, of different ethnic groups, cultures and religions in Budapest from August 31 to September 2, 2012.

Let’s Bridge has a precise objective: to mobilize young people to become builders and together with others, to be bridges of fraternity among persons, peoples, and nations. Not only will it be an opportunity for exchange and discussion on topics such as economics, intercultural dialogue, the great social and environmental challenges of our time, but a meeting place for sharing and networking activities and initiatives, contributing to the emergence of a culture of unity among peoples, in which the urgency is felt in all latitudes.

February 3, 2012 Side Event on the EoC in the Commission for Social Development of the United Nations’ Economic and Social Council

New York: The Economy of Communion at the UN Conference on Poverty Eradication

February 3, 2012, 12:15 p.m.
UN North Lawn Building
New York

"Poverty Eradication: Developments in the Economy of Communion in Freedom", the side event organized by New Humanity, the non-governmental organization that represents the Focolare Movement with General Consultative Status in the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC). The event is part of the 50th Session of the Commission for Social Development, which will be held February 1-10, 2012 at the United Nations.

Interview with Stefano Bartolini, Leonardo Becchetti and Stefano Zamagni

by Antonella Ferrucci

Professor Bartolini, in the long editorial in yesterday's Washington Post, "The Italian Job" said the world economy depends on Italy: after having praised the measures taken by the Monti government, the WP however, argues that Italy must start growing again. In your book "The Manifesto for happiness," you argue that the deterioration of relationships, the main source of increasing unhappiness, paradoxically generates growth. If it is so, is there really need to grow? How do we reconcile these two aspects, the "need for growth" and the pursuit of happiness? And is there a growth that is compatible with happiness?

Yes there exists a growth compatible with happiness: it depends on the "social quality" of growth and the social economic model undertaken. If economic growth is associated with a deterioration of relations between people, in this case, happiness decreases.