"I'm Marco, and I'm in the port of Cagliari. I'm part of the Global Sumud Flotilla. We'll set sail for Tunis and meet up with the Tunisian and Spanish fleets to join the oppressed Palestinian people, against genocide, against war."
Words spoken two days ago (and echoed by Aldo Matzeu) on the dock by Marco Loi, from Villaputzu, before setting sail to take part in the humanitarian mission aimed at breaking the naval blockade in favor of the people of Gaza massacred under Israeli bombs.
A volunteer, like many others from 44 countries, whom the Tel Aviv government has announced it wants to treat as a terrorist.
An extremist view diametrically opposed to that of Sandro Porcu, mayor of Villaputzu: "I learned that a part of our country is on its way to Gaza, at the heart of a peace mission. Marco Loi, our fellow citizen, will be part of the Global Sumud Flotilla," Porcu explains, "a civilian flotilla uniting volunteers from 44 different countries, with a single goal: to break the naval blockade on Gaza and bring hope, solidarity, and humanitarian aid to the besieged Palestinian people. We are deeply proud of you, Marco," the mayor says, addressing his fellow citizen. "Your courage, silent and determined, speaks for an entire community that still believes in the possibility of a more just world. Fair winds, sailor of peace."
Loi emphasized that he was inspired by the figure of "Vik," Vittorio Arrigoni, a human rights activist and reporter killed in Gaza in 2011: "An example for all of us."
(Unioneonline/E.Fr.)