President of the Romanian Society for Microbiology Dr. Alexandru Rafila considers that a Colectiv Memorial should be built not so much as a symbol for remembrance, but as a bulwark against indifference.
In his view, the memorial could be well placed at the site of the tragedy, but another high traffic location, which would ensure greater visibility, could be chosen equally well.
AGERPRES: What do you think about the creation of a Colectiv Memorial, as a symbol against forgetting?
Dr. Alexandru Rafila: Putting up a Colectiv Memorial could be a good initiative. Yet my opinion is that it should not be so much a symbol for remembrance, but a bulwark against indifference.
AGERPRES: How do you envision this Colectiv Memorial? Should it be built at the site of the tragedy or elsewhere?
Dr. Alexandru Rafila: It could be located at the site of the tragedy, but I don’t know if traffic in the area is a sufficiently intense to attract everybody’s attention. An area with better visibility could be found as well.
AGERPRES: Given the situation of the space where Colectiv Club operated, who and to what extent should handle the design and building of a Colectiv Memorial, including finding the necessary financial resources: the Romanian state or the NGOs?
Dr. Alexandru Rafila: Obviously the Romanian state. It’s the Romanian state’s responsibility. If we want to change mentalities, the organizations’ initiatives are not enough.
AGERPRES: What motto do you think should define this Memorial?
Dr. Alexandru Rafila: “Indifference and non-involvement kill people.”
AGERPRES: What do you think should be the most important lesson for those who visit the Colectiv Memorial?
Dr. Alexandru Rafila: We must learn to do things beforehand, to maintain predictability, not just adopt an attitude after the evil has happened. I believe this is the most important thing. We need to reconsider the way we operate as a society. I think this is the main lesson we must learn. More…