A Message of Solidarity

Traveling this week across Europe—from London to Budapest—I saw afresh how essential is the need, and how vital is the call, for solidarity. Solidarity Now is a new initiative to respond to the crisis in Europe and Greece. Inspired by George Soros’s deep personal commitment to the promise of Europe, Solidarity Now’s message is one of unity rather than charity.

For decades the European Union brought peace, prosperity, and democracy to Europe. Basic respect for human rights, dignity, and the protection of minorities were more than just a formality, they were a prerequisite to membership. That’s why the European Union has stood as a model for a more enlightened and successful form of governance.

In the face of crisis, however, the message in Europe is only one of discipline. At the same time, those who played no part in creating the crisis are bearing the greatest burden.

Today’s Europeans must again stand together so that Europe can reclaim its vision: a unified community based on people working side by side to meet challenges head on. By supporting civil society groups working in Greece to find solutions to shared problems, Solidarity Now aims to do just that. 

Solidarity is a voice. It is a clarion call that people can hear and repeat every day. That is the hope of Solidarity Now and an essential part of what we need to keep Europe an open society.