E a noite cresce por dentro
dos homens do meu país.
Peço notícias ao vento
e o vento nada me diz.
Mas há sempre uma candeia
dentro da própria desgraça
há sempre alguém que semeia
canções no vento que passa.
Mesmo na noite mais triste
em tempo de servidão
há sempre alguém que resiste
há sempre alguém que diz não.
(Excerpt from the poem Trova do Vento Que Passa by Manuel Alegre)
This year marks the 50th anniversary of 25th of April, the movement that put an end to Portugal’s dictatorship. The date is synonymous of freedom (1), resistance (2) and expression (3). Thus, we invite you to reflect with us about its meaning in past, present and future.
(1 ) This is a challenge about freedom and the adversities it faces, in all its different forms. We can talk about censorship and restrictions on freedom of expression and the press from a historical perspective. Also the colonial war (or other more current wars), as an instigator of the radicalisation of positions. Or we can base ourselves on visual or audio memories: how about asking family members to share stories or photographs of the revolution and use them as a basis to participate in the challenge?
However, this date isn’t just about freedom or history. It is also, as the poem indicates, about (2) resistance: how about focussing on activist initiatives and tracing a chronology of their achievements between the lines of freedom in recent times? Or a profile of an activist who has had an impact on you through their fight for freedom?
(3) We also accept opinion pieces: what does 25th of April or freedom mean to you? What seeds, as described in the poem, have been planted, in your view, to promote or restrict freedom and weaken democracy today?
The motto is to celebrate the date, but also to reflect on its meaning. What do you say? Will you risk crossing the lines of freedom with us and discover April? Get on board and submit your proposal by the 23rd of April.
And remember: the YouNDigital newsroom can contain news using sounds, videos and other pictures, hyperlinks and text. Get inspired and let your creativity run free. We look forward to reading you!
