What is that of the slow movement?

In recent years, the speed of our lives increases at a frenetic pace every day. Before to know a news we had to wait, at least, until the next day to see it published in the newspaper: now we look at Twitter or the digital editions of the newspapers to know everything a few moments later. Before, we sent letters that took days to arrive; Today we send and receive a lot of emails every day. Before, something broke and we tried to repair it; Today, it is most likely that we get rid of that object as soon as possible and replace it with a new one because it is cheaper to replace than to repair.

In theory all these advances, which allow us to do things faster and, apparently, lose less time , should be helping us to have more free time, to be more relaxed and yet, is it really like that? Every day the number of people suffering from depression, anxiety attacks or all kinds of stress- related illnesses increases, by spending all day running, doing everything that the current society demands of us. Do not you think we should stop for a while to reflect on what we do and how we do it and live a little easier? That is basically what the slow movement proposes to us.

Where is the slow movement born?
The slow movement is, as its name suggests, a movement; it is not a structured organization, it does not have leaders, leaders or spokespersons (although there are publications in which the key points of the movement are touched, such as Carl Honore's "In Praise of Slowness " ). It is born, rather, as a vital need to reduce the level of stress and the speed with which we live our lives and does with Rome as a backdrop. Specifically, in the Plaza de España, in the year 1986.

In this unique enclave, which all of us know even if it is from photographs or images on television, the American chain McDonalds intends to open one of its restaurants. Thus, a group of people, with the journalist Carlo Petrini as the most visible head, decide to protest about it, seeing the dangers of the expansion of fast food on the good eating habits of the Italian population. Thus, what was called at that time was born, Slow Food as opposed to fast food .

It was not only an isolated demonstration, but a whole movement that is united by the defense of the products and the local producers, of a responsible production as opposed to the intensive exploitation of the lands for commercial purposes, of the traditional kitchen begins to be created. and the gastronomic culture of each country.

Slow food, slow sex, slow fashion ... Slow life!
Soon, the analysis and reflections carried out around responsible consumption and the defense of local producers and products irremediably led to other essential areas of life. If slow food allowed us to improve an essential aspect of our lives, why not think of ways to improve other equally important aspects? Quickly from slow food we move on to a real slow life , which proposes to become aware of the goods and the time we have in order to make responsible use of them, which allows us to live more relaxed and enjoy our lives fully.

During the last 30 years, the slow movement has been expanding at the pace that our lives accelerated; first in Europe and, in the last years, also in America. The maximum expression of the good moment through which the movement passes is the emergence of città slow , entire cities, totally slowed down, in which values ​​are promoted, such as dealing with neighbors, the promotion of local commerce or respect for the natural environment.