Nearing Click day” “

 “The minimum target of one million signatures was reached last week: we collected over one million and fifty thousand, but our commitment goes on. We can’t stop now. Our next targets are: collecting many more than one million signatures and making sure that all 28 European countries reach a minimum number of endorsements”. Italian MEP Carlo Casini, President of Italy’s ‘One of Us’ Committee, one of the European “souls” of the pro-life initiative, thus summarized the commitment for the protection of the human embryo promoted by the European-scale petition of ‘One of Us’, currently under way. The role of the public opinion. The campaign was largely discussed in Italy during the Italian Catholics’ Social Week, held in Turin September 12-15 with over 1200 participants representing the clergy, the religious and the laity, dioceses, associations and Catholic movements. Participants in the Catholic meeting and Turin citizens visiting the open-air exhibition area affixed their signatures in a stall purposely set up in the Teatro Regio square. It thus emerged that although it has been ongoing for several months, the signature-collection campaign is not well known by the public at large. The reason, for Casini, is that “not all social communication media met the appeal to spreadi awareness on the signature collection for the defence of life and the protection of the human embryo from manipulation and destruction. Moreover, it is the media’s responsibility to support the campaign, as it is a free, democratic initiative of European citizens, with the participation of all those who have at heart human life from the moment of conception”. What “One of Us” is asking for. ‘One of Us’ is inviting the European Commission to propose legislation for the protection of the human embryo and scientific research in favour of life, public health and development. “This should be done – states Casini – without sacrificing human embryos, thus strengthening their protection, for they already are ‘one of us’, as stated in the title of our campaign”. The president of the Italian Committee recalled: “The European Court of Justice describes the human embryo as the beginning of human development. This recognition ought to be followed by appropriate protection, especially when faced by exploitation of the embryo for economic of scientific purposes”. Another aspect underlying the European campaign is that once the value of the human embryo is recognised, its legal protection at various levels will follow suit, along with national legislation adopted within the framework of European law shared at the level of Community bodies. How to sign by October 31st. The most significant figures of the last few days on the petition ongoing in EU States regard Germany, which finally crossed its minimum threshold with as many as 83 thousand signatures. Romania continues its positive trend (over 69 thousand signatures, 278% more than the requested minimum threshold). Italy collected as many as 370 thousand signatures, ranking first in Europe, followed by Poland with almost 165 thousand. The deadline of October 31st draws near, while a set of initiatives are being launched in EU countries, ranging from meetings promoted by associations and movements, ecclesial encounters, pilgrimages and an event that will bring together all nations: the “European Click Day” of Sunday 22nd, during which will be promoted a special online signature collection (www.oneofus.eu.) This appears to be the simplest easy way to fill out a form with basic information, including personal identification requirements, so as to add your vote to One of Us. The various national committees of the campaign, whose coordinators have met on Tuesday 17 in Brussels to draw a balance on the initiative, point out that signatures can still be collected on paper, a procedure which in fact allows direct contact with the promoters, thus spreading greater awareness on the decision to sign, owing to personal, direct involvement.