ABSTRACT: This was the slogan which launched the movement of enthusiasm and generosity involving over ten thousand men and women, all over the world, concerned about the Radical Party and its decision to terminate its activity. To protest against the subversive influence of the media which had distorted the image and the identity of the Radical Party, Nobel Prizewinners, ministers, parliamentarians, priests, writers, intellectuals and ex-terrorists responded by taking out party membership in 1987 for the first time in their lives. In these pages: who they are and what they said.

("Single issue" booklet for the XXXV Congress of The Radical Party - Budapest 22-26 april 1989)

In the beginning no-one thought it would be possible to launch a movement of such enthusiasm, generosity, intelligence and commitment to the Radical Party involving so many people who had appreciated the initiatives of such an unconventional and diversified political grouping. So many had joined in individual battles without actually joining the party. So many at the receiving end had benefited from political reforms due to these initiatives. During the Congress in November 1985 the Party had formally observed that information and communications media had established themselves as subversive power-structures undermining democracy; that the press and television now deprive citizens - both in Rome and in New York - of their primary and constitutional right to know the truth in order to make judgements, and thus to exercise their sovereign democratic rights; that such a situation meant that the values and ideals of the Party were swept aside and beaten from the start. Those were the very values and ideals w

hich in the past had gained immediate public support and rightful civil and democratic commitment. Such a party, based on values and ideas and not on power, a party which depends on a consensus of public opinion and not on the support of interested economic and social factions is bound to die if all its channels of communication with society are cut. At that point only one course of action was open to the party: to terminate its activity. In defining the terms for the closure of the Radical Party the Congress left just one alternative open: an act of non-violent rebellion on the part of influential personalities from the world of letters, science, culture and show business against the censorship practised on the values and ideals of the Radical Party. The Congress even set a target for this action which would save the party from closure: ten thousand subscriptions world-wide would be needed in the space of a few months. In this way the slogan "choose it or lose it" was born. The response went beyond o

ur wildest expectations:

- three Nobel prize winners with very different backgrounds and achievements: Vassily Leontief, Rita Levi Montalcini, George Wald;

- from the depths of life and age-long sentences, many ex-terrorists found new hope in the non-violent proposals of the Radical Party;

- government ministers from Africa and Italian members of parliament as well as European, Israeli and French parliamentarians;

- well known contemporary authors such as Eugene Ionesco;

- Soviet and Polish dissidents such as Leonid Pliusc, witnesses of our modern times such as Marek Halter and many, many Soviet Jews involved in the human struggle in the USSR, such as Avital Sharanskj and Haim Maragulis;

- priests and religious like Jean Cardonnel, Christian Delorme, Guy Gilbert;

- hundreds of common criminals and prisoners, together with their families;

- men and women from the world of culture and show-business, artists, actors, musicians, painters, journalists and even sportsmen, all rallied to our appeal.

Over ten thousand, all or nearly all claiming never to have belonged to a party in their lives, decided in the space of just a few weeks, to join the Radical Party in 1986 so that it could survive in 1987 and 1988...but the fourth and fifth powers, the information and communication industries of press and television got their revenge a few months later in 1987. Jealous of the Radical Party's exceptional triumph of enthusiasm and intelligence, they homed in on one of the Radical Party's hundreds of candidates in the Parliamentary elections Ilona Staller, the porno-star alias "Cicciolina". Our views on morality and lay principles compelled us to include her on our lists, as it is inappropriate for a lay party to discriminate on the basis of sexual mores. Once again the media succeeded in distorting the Radical Party's image and identity by smothering under Cicciolina's breasts not only the personalities who had joined the Radical Party, but also the other candidates who included famous surgeons, writers, ge

nerals, and men and women well known for their involvement in struggles for civil rights and democracy both in Italy and in Europe.

With the faces and statements of some of the members of the Radical Party we hope to rectify at least for those who read this, the distortions of the world press. In these pages we give just a few accounts of the way people came to join the transnational Radical Party so that all readers can identify with these stories, each one so different. We would like each and everyone to know the face of the Radical Party and its members and to decide whether it is worth their while to join and to give impetus to this political undertaking, to this ideal, adding their own face, their own story, their own commitment.

George Wald

Is an American, Professor of Biochemistry and Biology at Harvard and Nobel Prizewinner for Medicine in 1967; he joined the Radical Party in 1987. "The reason why I am glad to be a member of the Radical Party, is that I can see this Party is fighting for the good of the planet, for any form of life on earth and for human beings, and this is vital. For people should be considered as such wherever they are. They have the right to be treated in a civil and human way, and this is not guaranteed by governments even in the so-called democratic countries. The distance between peoples and their governments is increasing all the time, and this often creates inhuman situations. All over the world, we need to look for our humanity and to regain it."

Rita Levi Montalcini

Is a Nobel Prizewinner for Medicine and a member of the Radical Party.

"As a free citizen and not as a Nobel Prizewinner, I feel called upon to express my approval of the non-violent campaign in favour of the right to life and freedom, by joining the Radical Party. The absolute freedom of its members to renew their membership every year, recognised by the Party's statutes, shows great democratic sensitivity. I hope that a lot of other free citizens will make the same choice".

Basile Guissou

Is the former Minister for Information and also for Foreign Affairs in Burkina-Faso, one of the countries suffering from hunger and thirst; he is a member of the Radical Party. At the moment he is the Deputy First Secretary of the Radical Party.

"I am conscious in this way of furthering the cause of my people, my country and all the oppressed in the world. The Radical Party is the protagonist of concrete action to achieve social justice in all countries. My enrolment and my firmest support go to what I feel a daring strategy based on acts of formidable political courage".

Leonid Pliusc

Is a mathematician, a Soviet dissident living in exile in Paris, and a member of the Radical Party. Confined for many years in the mental hospitals of the Soviet Union, he managed to leave Russia after a great mobilisation of international public opinion. He took part in the Congress of the Radical Party in 1986 in Rome.

"I do not belong to a party organisation; as an exception, I have joined the Radical Party because it gives uninvolved support to struggles identical to ours, and because its ideas and methods are very similar. My gesture is a concrete gesture of commitment to the fights and battles of the Radical Party.

"Already for nine years I have been following the Radical Party's action in the field of human rights in the so-called Socialist countries, and in relations between the West and the Warsaw block. Although I do not entirely agree with Radical politics, I maintain that many ideas and many methods of this party are necessary if the problems of the present international situation are to be resolved. "The Radical Party constantly "provokes" European politicians and solicits a search for for new ways of fighting for peace and human rights."

Eugene Ionesco

Is a Romanian playwright, who joined the Radical Party in 1987.

"The proposals and ideas of this Radical Party speak to my heart: I am violently non-violent. If this Party should cease to exist, it would be disastrous because within it are the seeds of a spirituality which could be infinitely beneficial to mankind. I want to do something and I can't. I can only join this Party and be a foreign militant, if you allow me to do so. I assure you, with the little strength I own, that I will do all I can".

Saikou Sabally

Is Minister of Agriculture for Gambia, and former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Vice-President of the World Food Council.

As a Gambian, I am involved in the problems of starvation and disarmament. As a result, I have decided to join the Radical Party in its fight against the problems of hunger and disarmament, which are particularly serious here in Africa".

Arturo Goetz

Is Secretary of the Committee for Food Security in Latin America. He is Argentinian.

"The fight against extermination by hunger is the absolute priority of our epoch. Only thanks to the Radical Party has the need to fight against it become the focus of attention and a political cause for peoples and governments; without the Radical Party this battle would be alienated once again. This is why, in order not to let a great hope for those who are dying of hunger die with the Radical Party, I have chosen to join it."

Jean J. De Felice

Is a lawyer of the Court of Appeal in Paris; he joined the Party in 1987 explaining the motives for his choice in this way:

"I think it is quite obvious that the Radical Party should not die. I offer complete solidarity to the battle it has been waging for so many years for democracy, for rights and for all the reasons of State".

Anatolij Dubkov

Editor of the social-political review "Slovo" ("The Word"), mainly distributed in the city of Leningrad.

"I have had the chance, the good fortune to get to know the statutes of the Radical Party, which is based in Italy, and currently passing through a phase of re-launching in a transnational direction. I give my full support to the preamble to the statutes - which I have read with great attention - and to all the principles of this Party. I consider it particularly significant that the Radicals do not have an "ideology" or a normal "programme", because in fact their programme has already been worked out in anticipation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other pacts on civil and political rights in the constitutions of democratic countries".

André Bercoff

Is a French journalist and writer.

"What I like about the Radical Party - formerly Italian and soon to be European - is that it is as ready to die as it is to live, to destroy itself as to be reborn. I like the fact that, with the existential torment of a politician who has never known with whom to identify his vote, Marco Pannella and his friends contribute the indispensable mixture of Gandhian spirituality and Commedia dell'Arte derision which ought, in these uncertain times to characterise societies which do not any longer know whether they are making History or whether History is unmaking them".

Jean Cardonnel

Is a Dominican priest and a theologian.

"It is easier to be extremist than to be Radical. There must be solidarity between men and women, people who are conscious of wanting to build a free world. Our future depends on this: putting an end to extermination by hunger, typical of the savage capitalism which is becoming integrated within official socialism in its economic circuit. I see this need as the political expression of my faith in brotherly love. This is the meaning of my enrolment in the party that courageously rebels against the brutal order of things; the party of non-violent battles against all the violence done to man: the Radical Party."

Marek Halter

Is an intellectual, a Jew and the founder of "SOS Racism"; he joined the Radical Party in 1987.

"The Bible says that as long as a king accepts the interruptions of a prophet, freedom exists: when this ceases to be the case, the king imprisons the prophet and freedom is dead. In every country there is a group playing the role of the prophet: I think in Italy the Radical Party plays this role. Today I know that the only way to support the Radical Party is to join it. I am very glad to do so".

Miguel Bosé

Is a singer.

"just a few quick words of solidarity, to defend (not desperately I hope), the space the Radical Party has gained in the course of its brief but decisive history; built on the basis of ideal principles and battles that no other party has been brave enough to face, it is the political soul which promotes new alternatives. This is why I am united with you by becoming a member of the Radical Party, in the hope that it will continue to have a long life and that through giving it something of me, I may become part of it".

Shulamit Aloni

Member of the Israeli Parliament (Knesset), leader of the Party for civil rights, she has declared:

"I am proud of joining the international Radical Party, which is fighting through political democracy for basic civil rights, the equality of all peoples, peace and human dignity for all citizens and all nations. I know that today each of us should rank and "number" among the ten thousand who are fighting for a better life, for fraternity and for freedom of the spirit, for the creativity and free initiative of every individual, and for the possibility of being able to work together beyond national boundaries, regardless of religious creed or other barriers.

Avital Sharanskj

Is the wife of Anatolij Sharanskj, and when she joined the Radical Party she made the following declaration to "Notizie Radicale" in Jerusalem:

"I joined the international Radical Party because I wanted its fair battles for human rights for everybody, everywhere, to be stronger and more numerous. I met the comrades of the Radical Party when I was trying to obtain my husband's release and his right to return to Israel; their solidarity certainly pulled a lot of weight if today we are able to be here together in Jerusalem, reunited! For Joseph Begun, for all the Jews who are persecuted in Russia today, for human and civil rights, organised together, let us fight together with force and hope, now in 1986 and until the beginning of 1987".

Georges Donnez

Is French and the President of the Social Democrat Party, Vice-President of the Judicial Commission of the European Parliament.

"The Radical Party has played an most important role in the building of Europe, and by so doing, has mustered all those Europeans who are the champions of Humanity. I have particularly appreciated the unceasing battle that the Radical Party has continued to wage against hunger in the world, a battle with which I have felt completely in unison. It is indispensable for democracy in general, and particularly for the defence of freedom, that the Radical Party should continue its battles. I wish it a long life. I intend my modest enrolment to show brotherly encouragement, so that we may continue down the common road we have traced for ourselves".

Wassily Leontieff

Is a Nobel prizewinner for Economics. He joined the Radical Party in 1987. Leontieff is among the first Nobel prizewinners who signed the Manifesto-Appeal against extermination by hunger in the world. He is also a member of the administration of the organisation "Food and Disarmament International".

"I am joining the Radical Party because I feel that the Radical Party ought to be able to count on greater forces for its international battles in the defence of human rights, peace and life."

Alexander Lerner

Is a cyberneticist, and a member of the USSR Academy of Science, a former "refuznik" who emigrated to Israel in January 1988.

"I was most interested when I realised that the party known as "Radical" in Italy, is actually a transnational party, which stresses the need for human rights to be respected in all countries including the Soviet Union, and which pays a great deal of attention to the problem of repatriating Jews from the Soviet Union. As this party is the champion of non-violent action, as it supports the moral principles of respect for the rights of the individual, I feel great sympathy for its activity. I fervently support this party's efforts and hope that they will prove productive."

Fernando Savater

Is a philosopher, a writer and a member of the editorial staff of "El Pais".

"In Italy, the Radicals have saved many things. They were the promoters of the referendums on divorce and abortion, and Italy was the first country to vote against nuclear energy. The Radicals have also seriously promoted the reform of justice. It is not a question of founding something similar in Spain. The present proposal is that there should be a single Radical Party in Europe and that it should be completely European and international".

Christian Delorme

Is a Catholic priest. He is well known for his dynamic contribution to movements for aid and solidarity to the alienated. Delorme has joined the Radical Party.

"The Radical Party is the only party in the world which practises non-violence, gives priority to the battle against extermination by hunger, and gathers all those who are usually excluded from other parties because they belong to those minority groups scorned by society. The Radical Party is also unique in its willingness not to be a 'national' party, but to be open to those who, beyond Italian frontiers, share the same love of justice, peace, democracy and freedom".

Cherna Goldort

Is a member of the Radical Party. She was a "refuznik", a Soviet Jew confined to a camp in Siberia, and not allowed to emigrate to Israel, where she now lives.

"When I joined the Radical Party, enrolling by telephone from Siberia, I never thought I would really be able to see you. I did not know much about what the Radical Party was, nor the problems with which it is concerned. Now I know better and I have realised that my own destiny, my personal life, accounts for only a minimal part of those problems with which you are concerned. But even if I am only an infinitesimal part of the problems you are dealing with, my very presence here shows that your efforts are not wasted, and that it is possible to get concrete results, even in countries like the Soviet Union".