Earthquake in Emilia Romagna. Beyond the rubble, the determination to start over

After the first tremors of May 20th, it seems the earth doesn’t want to stop shaking in Emilia Romagna.

This tragedy touches us all: you inevitably imagine what those men and women who have lost their homes, their jobs, perhaps even their loved ones are going through. A sudden emergency like this throws people into panic, blows away the security of everyday life, habitual actions, the moment-by-moment construction of our existence.

Now there are discussions, and rightly so, about prevention, public aid and inadequate policies, but the only issue that really matters is how to help the area to deal with the situation right now.

Watching developments in the press and on the internet in the past few days, I have seen something beyond the rubble that has really struck me: the energy, the anger, the drive of these people to get back on their feet as soon as possible, to look forward and not resign themselves to events. This image of an Italy that looks to the future, today, makes me proud to be a part of this nation.