UCLG·CGLU · www.uclg.org
New Faces in the International Municipal Movement: Federation Mondiale des Villes Jumelées - Cites Unies (FMCU) “There is no delight in owning anything unshared.” SENECA
| 13
The 1950s in general was a rigid, sterile, bi-polar and cold-war period. A sort of standstill and a widespread conformist atmosphere was the dominant character of the times. And there was very little chance for communication and dialogue between people, communities and institutions of two main blocs of the world; namely the USA-led Western block and Soviet Russia’s Eastern bloc. At this conjuncture, J.M.Bressand and and his close friends from the anti-Nazi French Resistance Movement, first created Le Monde Bilingue (Bilingual Education) movement, which soon turned to an international municipal movement and gradually paved the way for the establishment of Federation Mondiale des Villes Jumelees - Cites Unies (The United Towns Organisation) at its founding congress in Aix-les-Bains, France in 1957 (28 April 1957). The charter of the FMCJ (La Charte des Villes Jumelees) took “twinning of cities”, “non-interference”, “non-discrimination”, “bilingualism” and “solidarity” as its main principles. The FMCU used “twinning” as an instrument “to promote peace through mutual respect understanding and cooperation...” and bringing people together. One of the first examples of this understanding was French and Soviet cities twinning (Dijon and Stalingrad) in 1958. he main target of the organisation was: to constitute a force / power capable of making the voice of all humanity heard. The FMCU gradually gained international recognition before the UN and European bodies, and expanded its activities regarding the autonomy of local governments and global peace building.
The world of the 1960s and 1970s “A man of humanity is one who, in seeking to establish himself, finds a foothold for others, and who, desiring attainment for himself, helps others to attain.” CONFUCIUS
The world of the 1960s and 1970s was radically different from previous decades. It was a world of dreams, hope and optimism, and of global peace-seeking and solidarity. A strong belief in change and transformation for a better world prevailed during these years. Of course the world was not totally free of serious problems. But the main spirit of this epoch was of a positive nature. A new kind of socio-political understanding based on human independence, the inviolable dignity of the individual, authenticity, fraternity, participatory democracy, self-government, active citizenship and cooperative values was voiced globally.
1913 2013