1979

UNICEF, in its inaugural report for the International Year of the Child, announces the complete failure of cooperation policies with the Third and Fourth worlds. The Organization estimates that 40 million human beings, 40% of them children, will die within the year. (NR NO. 2/84 P.15)

FEBRUARY - Italy: Rome - Dying of Hunger

Marco PANNELLA launches an appeal calling on Italy to immediately commit to saving at least a percentage of the victims of hunger. Italy, like many other countries, allocates an even lower percentage of its GNP than the 0.7% indicated by the UN - to development aid.

Panella asks all the countries in question to adjust to the UN figure, and Italy in particular to allocate another 5,000 billion lira. (NR NO. 2/84 p.15 and LS 155)

Celebrities from the world of culture and politics, and from the Church, support the appeal. The "Comitato per la Vita, Pace e Disarmo" (Committee for Life, Peace and Disarmament) is formed. NR no. 2/84 p.15)

6 MARCH - Italy: Rome - Dying of Hunger. Nonviolence

Marco PANNELLA begins a hunger strike that last more than 40 days, to achieve the aims of the appeal and to save five million human beings immediately.

25 MARCH - Italy - Media, Dying of Hunger

"3,000 children are dying while I’m talking to you." Quote from an interview with Marco PANNELLA by Scalfari. (4737 AP)

11 APRIL - Italy: Rome (St. Peter’s) - Dying of Hunger

First Easter March, for life, peace and disarmament. Ten thousand people take part. Italian President Sandro PERTINI cites the appeal: "Empty the arsenals, fill the granaries." (LS)

JULY/AUGUST - Europe - Antimilitarism

Fourth International Antimilitarist March. Marathon walk for disarmament from Brussels to Warsaw, followed by antimilitarist marches between France and Italy, and between Liguria and Tuscany, in Italy.

AUGUST - Hunger

A Radical delegation, led by MEP Emma BONINO, participates in the World Food Council, putting forward the theory that the fight against hunger is a question of political will, first, and then technical and operational remedies.

17 SEPTEMBER - Italy - Hunger

The Italian Senate and Chamber of Deputies, convened for an extraordinary session, approved a resolution for an "extraordinary mobilization to save human beings from dying of hunger." (NR no.2/84 p.6)

SEPTEMBER - Canada. Ottawa - Dying of Hunger

Pannella delivers a speech at the World Food Council.

SEPTEMBER - EP: Strasbourg - Hunger

European Parliament presents a draft resolution on campaign against death by hunger. (NR no. 2/84 p.19)

4 OCTOBER - Italy: Rome - Antiprohibitionism

Angiolo BANDINELLI, Rome city councillor and Radical, is arrested for smoking a joint during a Council meeting; Jean FABRE, RP Secretary, is arrested the next day for doing the same thing at a press conference.

OCTOBER - France - Antimilitarism

Radical Party Secretary Jean FABRE is arrested in France for insoumission (insubordinance), after contesting the French law that prevents him from doing civilian service and, more particularly, from contributing to the fight against hunger.

NOVEMBER - Italy: Genoa - XXII RP CONGRESS

Excerpts from the motion: "organizing a month of Radical antimilitarist mobilization throughout Europe to protest the trial of Jean FABRE, which will be held on 27 November.

...the whole of Europe is exposed to and threatened by the possibility of a military build-up, starting with the installation of Pershing and Cruise missiles. The militarization of Europe as a whole, and the individual countries that comprise it, reaches more terrifying proportions daily..."

Preparations begin for: a European political and juridical conference on military courts in Paris; demonstrations in France and Italy during Fabre’s trial; radio broadcasts in France, and Paris in particular.

A week of national mourning is announced because "nothing has been done to save the 50 million human beings condemned to starve to death in 1979"...

Jean FABRE is elected President of the Radical Party while being held in Fresnes Prison.

Motion approved

NOVEMBER - EP - Dying of Hunger

Following another hunger strike by Pannella and other MEPs, the European Parliament approves a document in which it limits itself to calling upon governments to respect the 0.7% established by the UN.

The EP also sets up a working group, which Marco PANNELLA is asked to join. (NR NO. 2/84 P. 19)

NOVEMBER - Strasbourg - Dying of Hunger

A Radical initiative, Action contre la faim, is launched, with the support of Jacques ATTALI, Bernard Henry LEVY, and Nobel Laureate Alfred KASTLER. (NR no. 2/84 p. 19)

27 NOVEMBER -France: Paris - Antimilitarism

Jean FABRE receives a light sentence - which the RP considers a political victory.

DECEMBER - Italy: Rome - Disarmament, LDU (League for Unilateral Disarmament)

A group of young Radicals, together with CASSOLA’s campaigners for disarmament, found the LDU (Lega per il disarmo unilaterale - League for Unilateral Disarmament). The League was to succeed in closing the notorious military camp in Gaeta, by using various nonviolent strategies, including the walk-around (uninterrupted walk in which activists substitute each other, as in a relay race).