Following the arrest of internationally renowned actress Taraneh Alidoosti in Iran, celebrities and human rights activists today called on Iran to release the 38-year-old man.

She is one of the most talented and well-known actresses in Iran, Cameron Bailey, head of the Toronto International Film Festival, said on Twitter. “I hope she will be free soon to continue representing the strength of Iranian cinema.”

Alidoosti spread “false and distorted” information and “incited chaos”, the pro-government Tasnim news agency reported yesterday. She was arrested by court order for failing to provide “documentation for some of her allegations” about the protests, the court’s official website, Misan Online, reported yesterday.

Reports of new arrests

In addition to Alidoosti, other “celebrities” were also questioned or arrested for “baseless allegations about recent events and the publication of provocative material in support of street unrest”, the portal said.

Alidoosti has repeatedly claimed responsibility on online networks for the protest movement that was triggered by the death of young Kurd Mahsa Amini in September in the custody of the vice squad. Last month, she posted on her Instagram page a photo of herself without the mandatory scarf in Iran, for which she was praised at home and abroad, but put her career in jeopardy. She also recently denounced the execution of young protester Mohsen Shekari.

“Any international organization watching this bloodbath and not responding is a disgrace to humanity,” the actress wrote on Instagram of the execution. Today, her profile with more than eight million followers on the platform was no longer accessible.

It’s time to take stock of the year that is ending and, above all, to set goals for the year that is beginning: learn to play the guitar, travel around the world, publish a novel… Maybe before you make this list We can Holding on to two schools of 2,300-year-old philosophical beliefs that have traditionally been viewed as opposites, this can help us get to know ourselves better before thinking about what we can do and how to achieve it. We mean Stoicism, which has been in vogue for some years, and Epicureanism, burdened by centuries of clichés and false accusations.

These two philosophical schools begin their journey after the death of Alexander the Great in 323 BC. They arise in times of crisis: city-states have disappeared and larger kingdoms are being consolidated. There begins to be a great distance between the rulers and the ruled, and philosophers wonder what a single individual can do in a society ruled by a very powerful government that has a lot of influence over our lives, but at the same time is very distant is .

It’s not that far removed from what we sometimes feel: How can I fight climate change? What can I do to mitigate inflation? Will this tweet be useful against the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Indeed, and although it is a question of a time very different from ours, there is at least one other very important common point, as explained to us by Iker Martínez, professor of ancient philosophy at UNED: the sensation that at that time the decline in values ​​could be felt. María Isabel Méndez Lloret, dean of the Faculty of Philosophy at the University of Barcelona agrees: “Hellenistic philosophies appeared at a time when individuals felt helpless and disoriented because moral references had lost their value, their meaning.”

In this context, Zenón de Citio founded the Stoic school, which was also present in the 2nd century AD when the Roman Emperor Marcus Aurelius wrote his Meditations, and which also influenced Christianity and current ideas as diverse as cosmopolitan rights, the entrepreneurial spirit of Silicon Valley and even in the preparation of Luis Enrique, coach of the Spanish men’s soccer team. Their influence can be understood if we recall that, as Victoria Camps writes in her brief History of Ethics, these thinkers “addressed concerns of human death or vulnerability that were hardly addressed directly by the rest of the ancient or modern philosophers became .” “.

And it is that the Stoic philosophy is a practical philosophy that wants to help people to live as well as possible, taking into account human weaknesses. In his Enchiridion (The Manual for a Happy Life), Epictetus said that there are things that are up to us that we can control, including our desires and fears, and others that we cannot, like the fear of growing old or get sick. which we must face courageously. . “It’s not the facts that trouble people, it’s their judgments about the facts,” he wrote.

Stoicism, Martínez recalls, is a system that puts rationality at the center. The goal is apathy, that is, freeing ourselves from the passions that lead us to seek impossible things like immortality, or irrelevant things like wealth and fame, in order to live peacefully and without disturbances.

That is, a Stoic’s New Year’s resolutions will be rational, measurable, and controllable. Go to the gym? Of course. Learn German? Of course. Got a promotion? It is no longer up to us alone, and we must be content with doing our part. We must live as best we can, knowing our limitations and developing virtues such as courage, self-control and justice: “Stoic ethics teaches how through self-knowledge the individual discovers his place in world history, how he accepts it and how he lives his life harmoniously with the universal order of nature,” explains Méndez Lloret.

Still, it’s not surprising that Stoicism is accused of conformism, particularly the versions that have become popular in recent years, and that in exchange for reducing our suffering and fear, we help perpetuate the status quo. As Iker Martínez recalls, all ancient schools are conservative, but even with this in mind, very complex thinking is often simplified, the main aim of which is to get to know ourselves better. And that we admit that in this case we will never learn to play guitar with YouTube videos and should sign up for courses.

The sensual pleasures of Epicurus

Epicureanism sounds like a funnier alternative, at least when we listen to the allegations of banquets and orgies. But these accusations, many dating from the first centuries of Christianity, were bogus and false news that contributed to making Epicurean ideas less known and less accepted. Added to these accusations were aspects of his philosophy that had been difficult for the powerful of his day (and later), such as a belief that the gods did not intervene in human life, his distrust of political power, and a commitment to pacts and dialogue .

It is true that this school, founded by Epicurus, proposes a philosophy based on pleasure: “Joy is the beginning and end of a happy life.” But, as Michel Onfray recalls in Les Wisdoms of Antiquity, after this sentence the philosopher emphasized that present pain or suffering is better if it produces greater satisfaction later, and that immediate pleasure must be avoided if it causes pain in the future. Indeed, avoiding pain was often more important to these thinkers than seeking pleasure.

Méndez Lloret also rejects clichés, recalling that the Epicureans proposed a model of free life, “without luxury, far from political achievements, laws, strict, whose general rule consisted mainly in taking into account the calculation of the consequences of everyday choices.

That said, a foodie wouldn’t indulge in a binge to bursting topped off with two or three (or four) gin and tonics, as he’d factor in the indigestion, the headaches, the regrets and, if there was a cigar, even the lung cancer . His joy is that of moderation and, above all, that of friendship. As Epicurus himself said, “For whom a little is not enough, nothing is enough”.

This way of thinking can not only save us from many an unnecessary Christmas hangover, but also encourage us with resolutions for 2023 such as learning another language or another job, even if that means doing without in the short or even medium term. Hedonism, Onfray recalls, is “a more refined, conceptual, imaginative, less rudimentary mechanism than what its detractors think”. Or as Méndez Lloret sums it up: “A comfortable life is a quiet, trusting, secure life”.

Epicurean insights can also help us assess our priorities, as philosopher Catherine Wilson explains in her How to Be an Epicurean. Of course we can’t always choose, but often we trade pain for a lesser pleasure or, worse, one that never comes: are we working too much, especially when we don’t like what we’re doing? Do we need the car or can we save costs? Do we really have to say yes to all social commitments just so we don’t look bad?

Like the Stoics, Epicurus believes that the faults are not in what happens to us, but in what we think about what happens to us, and especially the fear that certain things will happen to us. Including death, which we should not fear. What Epicurus and his followers suggest – particularly the Roman Lucretius in the first century B.C. – is that we are primarily concerned with the quality of our life and not only with its quantity.

Though now partially forgotten in the face of its rival, Epicureanism influenced thinkers like Thomas Hobbes, utilitarians (who also studied pleasure and pain), and American revolutionaries. It must be remembered that these are also ideas addressed to all of humanity, similar to Stoic cosmopolitanism. Indeed, the school of Epicurus (the Garden) admitted women, the elderly, children, and slaves, which was unusual at the time but contributed to allegations of lack of control and licentiousness.

We can learn from both philosophies. Both pursue the same goal, explains Méndez Lloret: “Restore man’s self-confidence, offer him the philosophical tools to make him a cosmopolitan, free him from belonging to a particular community (the Greek polis)”. That is, becoming critical citizens who trust their reason, although some (the Stoics) accept the natural order of the world and others (the Epicureans) believe that this order is nothing but chaos and chance.

Perhaps it’s not necessary to choose sides or take a stance, but we’ve had a few years of pandemic and inflation and tensions that have almost forced us to be at least a little stoic. Maybe – and that’s my opinion – we could use a little and moderate rest.

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In an interview published this Sunday, December 18, by the Spanish daily ABC, Francis reveals that at the beginning of his pontificate he presented a letter to the then Secretary of State Tarcisio Bertone, declaring that if the worst came to the worst, he would renounce it and make it permanent health problems. The Pope also mentions a trip to Marseille for the Mediterranean Meeting.

Salvatore Cernuzio – Vatican City

Almost ten years ago, at the beginning of his pontificate, Pope Francis presented his then Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, with a letter of waiver “in the event of disability for health reasons”. It is Pope Francis himself who made this decision that Pope Paul VI. had already met before him, in the in-depth interview with the Spanish daily ABC this Sunday the 18th, Francis answers questions from editor-in-chief Julián Quirós and Javier Martínez-Brocal, ABC’s Vatican correspondent, and touches on many topics on current affairs in the church and the world. In particular, he addresses the war in Ukraine, which he says he sees “no short-term end because it is a world war”, abuse cases, the role of women, Brazilian President Lula da Silva and Catalonia, the renunciation of Benedict XVI in 2013 and his possible retirement.

The Waiver Letter

It is in this context that Francis reveals the existence of this letter. “I have already signed my waiver. It was when Tarcisio Bertone was foreign minister. I signed my waiver and said to him, “In case of medical or other disability, here is my waiver.” You have it. I don’t know who Bertone gave it to, but I gave it to him when he was Secretary of State. “Do you want that to be known?” ask the two journalists. “That’s why I’m telling you,” replies Francis, recalling that Paul VI. had delivered a similar letter in writing in case of disability and that Pius XII probably did the same. had done. “I’m saying that for the first time,” adds the sovereign Pope. “Now maybe someone will go and ask Bertone: Give me this letter … (laughs). He must have given it to the new foreign minister. I gave it to him as Secretary of State.”

The war in Ukraine: enormous cruelty

Regarding the conflict in Ukraine, the Pope said bluntly: “What is happening in Ukraine is frightening. There is tremendous cruelty. This is very serious…”. For Francis, “there is no end in sight in the short term: this is a world war. Let’s not forget that. There are already several parties involved in the war. It is global , when an empire begins to weaken and when weapons need to be used, sold and tested. It seems to me that many interests are at stake.” I’m doing what I can. They don’t listen,” he replies. The Pope confirms that he receives and listens to everyone: “Volodymir Zelenskyy has sent me one of his religious advisors for the third time. I am in touch, I receive, I help…”.

ABC Daily Letter

The diplomacy of the Holy See: its weapon is dialogue

The Pope’s activities are coordinated with the diplomatic activities of the Holy See. In this context, the two interviewers ask why the Vatican is so reluctant to denounce totalitarian regimes like that of Ortega in Nicaragua or Maduro in Venezuela. “The Holy See is always trying to save peoples. His weapon is dialogue and diplomacy,” Pope Francis replies. “The Holy See never walks alone. He would be expelled. He always tries to salvage and salvage diplomatic relations, which can be salvaged with patience and dialogue.”

Abuse: “Only one case is outrageous”

No diplomacy, on the other hand, on the part of the Pope to stigmatize cases of abuse within the clergy: “It is very painful, very painful,” he says, referring to the meetings with the victims, which underlined his pontificate. “These are people destroyed by those who should have helped them mature and grow. It is very difficult. Even if this was just a case, it is outrageous that the person who was supposed to lead you to God destroys you along the way. And on this point, no negotiation is possible,” explains the sovereign Pope.

The role of the woman

In the interview granted to ABC, emphasis is also placed on issues of an “ecclesiastical” nature, beginning with a possible leadership role for women within the Roman Curia. “There will be,” assures François. “I have one in mind for a dicastery that will be empty in two years. There is nothing to prevent a woman from leading a dicastery in which a lay person can be prefect.” “If it is a sacramental dicastery, it must be headed by a priest or a bishop,” he insisted.

Tomorrow, Sunday, December 18, the Spanish daily ABC will publish a long interview with Pope Francis, given to the newspaper editor Julian Quiros and the Vaticanist…

Future Conclaves

Francis then softens the controversy that the work of future conclaves could be complicated by the fact that the cardinals he created, all from different and distant places, know little about each other. Of course there could be problems “from a human point of view”, but “it is the Holy Spirit who is at work in the conclave”, explains the Pope. And he recalls the suggestion of a German cardinal during the August sessions on the Apostolic Constitution Predicate Gospel that “only the cardinals living in Rome take part in the election of the new pope”. “Is that the universality of the Church?” asks the Bishop of Rome.

Benedict XVI: a saint, a great man

In the interview, the relationship with his predecessor Benedict XVI. themed. “A saint” and “a man of deep spiritual life,” the Pope said of his predecessor, revealing that he often visited him and was always “edified” by his transparent gaze. “He has a good sense of humor, he is clear, very lively, he speaks softly but follows the conversation. I admire its clarity. That’s a great man.” Pope Francis, meanwhile, says he has no intention of defining the legal status of the pope emeritus: “I feel like the Holy Spirit has no interest in my dealing with these things.”

Francis and his predecessor Benedict XVI

The Church in Germany

Referring to the Church in Germany, which is grappling with an internal synodal process that had provoked and is still provoking various reactions, including negative ones, Pope Francis recalls his “very clear” letter written in June 2019: “ I wrote it myself . It took me a month. It was a letter, as if to say, “Brothers, think about it.”

The question of Catalonia

The Pope goes on to explain in the interview that a trip to Marseille for the Mediterranean meeting is planned, but specifies that it is not a trip to France and that the priority of his apostolic trips is to visit the small countries of Europe. When asked about Catalonia and its desire for independence, François explained that “each country must find its own historical path to solve these problems”. There is no “one size fits all” solution. He then cites the case of North Macedonia or South Tyrol in Italy, which have their own status. As for the Church’s role in this matter, he instead emphasizes: “What the Church cannot do is propaganda for one side or the other, but it can accompany people so that they find a definitive solution”. In the same way, the Pope reiterates that “it is not good for a priest to get involved in politics… The priest is a pastor. It is designed to help people make the right decisions. Join her. But don’t be a politician. If you want to be a politician, leave the priesthood and become a politician.”

Rereading history with the hermeneutics of time

When asked about the negative reinterpretation of the discovery of America, Francis invited to interpret a historical event with the hermeneutics of the time and not the present. “It’s obvious people were being killed there, he said, it’s obvious there was exploitation, but the Indians were also killing each other. The atmosphere of war was not exported by the Spaniards. And the conquest belonged to all. I distinguish between colonization and conquest. I don’t want to say that Spain simply “conquered”. It’s controversial as much as you want, but she’s “colonized”.

The Lula Affair

Another case brought to the Pope’s attention concerns the new President of Brazil, Inácio Lula d Silva. A “paradigmatic” file because the trial of the political leader – who was convicted of passive corruption after spending 580 days in prison – was barred from running in the 2018 presidential election until 2021, when the Supreme Court ruled out all convictions lifted – opened with fake news . This false information, says the pope, “created an atmosphere conducive to his trial. The problem of fake news about political and social leaders is very serious. They can destroy a person”. In the specific case of Lula, according to Pope Francis, it was not a tailor-made trial. “Beware, he warns, of those who create the atmosphere of a trial, whatever it may be. They do this through the media to influence those who judge and decide. A trial needs to be as clean as possible, with first class courts that have no other interest than to uphold clean justice.”

Motu Proprio to Opus Dei

The Motu Proprio Ad Charisma tuendum of last July on Opus Dei is discussed at the end of the interview. “Some, comments the Holy Father, have said: “Finally the Pope has punished Opus Dei…!”. I didn’t punish anyone. And others, on the contrary, said: “Ah, the Pope invades us!”. Nothing of the same. The problem is a resizing that needed to be resolved. It is not right to exaggerate, victimize, or punish them. Please. I am a great friend of Opus Dei, I like the people of Opus Dei very much and they work well in the Church. The good they do is very great.”

With the Motu Proprio “Ad charisma tuendum” the Pope orders the transfer of responsibility for Opus Dei to the Dicastery for the clergy. He also notes that his prelate…

The XXII. Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) ended this Wednesday in Havana with a strong condemnation of attempts to destabilize left-wing Latin American governments (Photo – Internet).

HAVANA, Dec. 14 (Xinhua). The XXII. The Summit of the Bolivarian Alliance for the Peoples of Our America – Peoples’ Trade Treaty (ALBA-TCP) ended this Wednesday in Havana with a strong condemnation of attempts to destabilize left-wing Latin American governments.

At a meeting behind closed doors at the Palace of the Revolution, the seat of the Cuban government, the heads of state and government of the ten member countries of the bloc adopted a final declaration to mark the 18th anniversary of the group, which was founded on December 14, 2004.

“We reject the destabilizing plans and actions promoted by powerful external factors and national oligarchies that have managed or are trying to ignore the will of the peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean, democratically and legitimately expressed in the elections ‘ the text says.

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He also condemned the use of unconventional warfare tactics against the region’s governments and democratically elected leaders, using politically motivated judicial procedures without legal support, commonly referred to as lawfare, to destroy political and ideological rivals.

The statement again called on the United States government to “change its hostile policy towards Cuba, which means the immediate and unconditional end to the economic, commercial and financial blockade” imposed on the island more than half a century ago.

It also confirmed the commitment to strengthen ALBA-TCP “as an instrument for uniting our peoples, based on the principles of solidarity, social justice, cooperation and economic complementarity”.

At the meeting, it was decided that Venezuela’s ambassador to Colombia, Félix Plasencia, would take over as executive secretary of the group, replacing former Bolivian minister Sacha Llorenti.

Prior to his appointment as Ambassador to Bogotá, Plasencia served as President of the International Investment Center of Venezuela, although he also held the positions of Minister of Tourism and Ambassador to China.

Shortly before the start of the summit, the National Assembly of People’s Power (unicameral parliament) of Cuba celebrated the 18th anniversary of the founding of ALBA-TCP with an extraordinary session in which the main leaders of the bloc intervened.

President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela; Daniel Ortega from Nicaragua; and Luis Arce from Bolivia; and Prime Ministers Ralph Goncalvez of St. Vincent and the Grenadines; Roosevelt Skerrit from Dominica and Dickon Mitchell from Grenada.

The speakers collectively condemned the interference and destabilization campaigns by left-wing governments in the region and called for the resumption of large-scale practical projects for the collective benefit.

“Eighteen years after its creation, the Alliance can prove not only its necessity but also its value as an integration mechanism, uniting wills of solidarity, complementarity and cooperation,” said the President, Cuban Miguel Diaz-Canel.

The ALBA-TCP was founded by the late Presidents Hugo Chávez of Venezuela and Fidel Castro of Cuba in response to the United States’ failed project to create a Free Trade Area of ​​America (FTAA).

The alliance currently consists of Antigua and Barbuda, Bolivia, Cuba, Dominica, Grenada, Nicaragua, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Saint Lucia and Venezuela.

With information from people’s newspaper

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