Project for schools: a book to combat the phenomenon of bullying.
Can a book combat the phenomenon of bullying? In our opinion, yes. We wrote “Sotto il segno della bilancia news” for precisely this reason: to curb discrimination, prevent bullying, and help people experiencing a physical problem to emerge from a state of misunderstanding, immobility and loneliness. We have collected the stories, recommendations and demands of those affected by obesity and eating disorders precisely with the aim of combating weight-based prejudice and social stigma. The numerous awards we have received not only encourage us to continue the fight we have undertaken against violence and ignorance, but also drive us to extend it tenaciously and widely in schools. In fact, we are convinced that the best strategy to combat bullying is prevention, which is based on the promotion of a cultural, social and emotional climate capable of discouraging bullying and bullying behaviour from the outset. School is the first place of social relations for children and young people and, by virtue of its educational role, it has the responsibility to be the voice of those founding values of a good society that are the profound and radical antidote to discrimination: mutual knowledge, self-esteem, openness to diversity, and unconditional respect for others. It is precisely the awareness of the very high educational value of schools today that prompts us to request the dissemination of our text in primary and secondary schools, accompanied by appropriate in-depth studies and debates, with particular reference to and dissemination of the highly prestigious professional testimonies collected in it, such as those of Giuseppe Mele (President of SIMP – Italian Society of Paediatricians – and President of PAIDÓSS, National Observatory on Childhood and Adolescent Health), Vito Leonardo Miniello (lecturer in Paediatrics, Nutrition and Dietetics at the Aldo Moro University of Bari) and Angela Ferracci (President of C.I.D.O – Italian Committee for the Rights of People with Obesity and Eating Disorders). We are sure that you will want to help us in this important awareness-raising project of ours, encouraging a narrative journey that began five years ago, where anyone who has supported it still continues to put their heart and hope into it today.
Yours sincerely,
Fabio De Nunzio and Vittorio Graziosi
Awards: “Amici del Corinaldesi”, “Città di Filottrano”, “Metoxè” Association, “Città di
S.Marina”, “Città di Carovigno”, “Palinuro” Award, title of Cavaliere della Pace to Fabio De Nunzio, “Progetti di Armonie” Literary Award, Pegasus Literary Award – Special Critics’ Award – “Città di Cattolica”, Equilibri National Literary Award.