14
Feb
Ciudad Real (Spain): Local development needs more connectivity and more training, especially for rural women.
Ciudad Real (Castilla-La Mancha) hosted a seminar organized by the Association of Families and Women in Rural Areas (AFAMMER). Participants included members of the PICM and experts from various countries. The seminar was titled “Digitalization: An Opportunity for Women's Employment in Rural Areas.”
Carmen Quintanilla, president of AFAMMER (an organization founded 44 years ago with 200,000 members), focused on concerns regarding rural development, equal opportunities for women and men, digitalization, and artificial intelligence (AI).
Piergiorgio Sciacqua, co-chair of EZA and vice-chair of PICM, warned of the EU's four current crises: the lack of intellectual leadership; the problem of the EU's political leadership; and relations with the US and China.
Professor Lara Romero (Madrid) gave the keynote address. She stated that we are facing the fastest technological change ever. She insisted that AI "is neither objective nor neutral" because it is biased for statistical reasons. We must learn how to use AI.
Rafael R. Ponga, president of PICM and Asociación Mirlo, pointed out that digitalization is linked to local and national development and affects international relations. More connectivity is needed, as well as more training and education. We are always learning. Giorgio D’Antoni (MCL, EFAL, Italy) spoke about social cohesion, European cohesion, and the importance of networks of social organizations such as EZA and the Third Sector Forum. Rosaria Rallo (EFAL Sicily, Italy) spoke about career guidance for the unemployed. Rocío Vera, a livestock farmer from Ciudad Real, stated that the countryside is now more profitable and offers a higher quality of life, thanks to new technologies.
Members of the IPCM Board of Directors Rafael R. Ponga, Maribel Alañón, Piergiorgio Sciacqua, Mario G. Somoano and Maria Reina Martin, with host Carmen Quintanilla.
Maria Reina Martin (EZA, PICM, Fidestra Portugal) pointed out that many young people from rural areas prefer to study away from home to attend university and may not return. Joseph Thouvenel (CFTC, France) spoke about the advantages and disadvantages of digitalization and the fragility of society. Maria Rosaria Pilla, vice president of MCL (Italy), focused on the education of women and the importance of the Church's social doctrine. Giorgiana Toflea (IFES, Romania) said that studying in a village is a great challenge and referred to the educational problems faced by Roma people.
Mario González Somoano (Association of Villages with a Future, Spain) spoke about the arrival of immigrants in rural areas, which solves two problems: it counteracts rural depopulation and promotes social integration. Pilar Laguna (URJC, Spain) called for an improvement of the economic model according to Catholic doctrine and for support for rural areas, with opportunities, teleworking, and specific programs. Senator María Jesús Bonilla stated that rural development is everyone's responsibility, not a sectoral issue. Engineer Luisa Pérez (Tragsa, Spain) acknowledged that technology alone is not enough for development.
David Cervera (CEAT, Spain) addressed the risks and benefits of AI, the need for job training courses, and acknowledged that AI's greatest advantage is its speed. Representatives from business and labor organizations also participated: Carlos Marín (FECIR-CEOE), Luis Rodríguez (Chamber of Commerce), and Javier Olmo (USO-CLM).
Several authorities participated in the seminar: Miguel Ángel Valverde, President of the Provincial Council; María José Escobedo, Councilor for Education and Equality of the City Council of Ciudad Real; Francisco Núñez, President of the PP-CLM; David Briceño, Deputy Government Delegate; and Luis Martínez-Sicluna, Secretary General of FEMP. All expressed their support for AFAMMER's work.
The seminar took place from February 9 to 11 at the Hotel Guadiana. It was supported by EZA and the European Union, as well as the public administrations of Ciudad Real. Representatives from Spain, Italy, Portugal, France, Germany, and Romania participated.
The participants visited the town of Almagro (population 9,000) and witnessed firsthand the importance of culture and tourism for rural development. They visited the National Museum of Performing Arts, the Lace Museum, the Corral de Comedias theater, and the Parador de Turismo (a state-run hotel).
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