Overview

• The 'Gandia Pensa' dialogue series launched on May 8, 2025, with Theodor Kallifatides delivering a keynote titled 'Humanism as a Defense Against Fanaticism' at the Palau Ducal in Gandia.
• Kallifatides drew parallels between today's global tensions and his childhood experiences during World War II, warning of the potential for similar large-scale conflicts.
• He highlighted culture, education, and love as pathways to peace, rejecting war, consumerism, and extreme capitalism as solutions to societal issues.
• The philosopher signed Gandia's book of honor with the phrase, 'There is no justice without freedom, nor freedom without justice,' reaffirming the city's commitment to democratic values.
• The series, organized by Gandia's local government with academic and cultural partners, will continue with contributions from other experts addressing contemporary challenges to human rights and democracy.