Pietro Pinna facts for kids

Pietro Pinna (born January 5, 1927 – died April 13, 2016) was an Italian peace activist. He is known as the first person in Italy to refuse military service because of his beliefs. He strongly believed in non-violence, which means solving problems without fighting or using force.

Early Life and Beliefs

Pietro Pinna was born in Finale Ligure, Italy. He lived in Ferrara when he was called to join the military in 1948. After experiencing the terrible events of World War II, he became strongly against war and military action. He was inspired by the ideas of Aldo Capitini, another important Italian thinker who believed in peace.

Because of his strong beliefs, Pietro Pinna decided to refuse to serve in the military. This made him the first person in Italy to be a "conscientious objector" for political reasons. A conscientious objector is someone who refuses to join the military because of their moral or religious beliefs.

Facing Challenges for Peace

Pietro Pinna faced a court trial for not following military rules. He was sent to jail for ten months, and then for another eight months. His lawyer, Bruno Segre, became famous for defending people who refused military service.

Aldo Capitini helped share Pietro Pinna's story, and it became known around the world. Pietro received support from important people, including the daughter of the famous writer Leone Tolstoy, Tatiana Tolstoy Suhotin. Many British lawmakers also asked the Italian Prime Minister to help him.

Working for Non-Violence

After his release, Pietro Pinna worked closely with Aldo Capitini. Together, they organized the first Perugia-Assisi March for Peace in 1961. This was a big event where people walked together to show their support for peace.

Pietro continued to work for the non-violent movement throughout his life. He was a national leader of the movement from 1968 to 1976. He also worked as the main editor for the magazine Nonviolent Action until he passed away.

He sometimes faced jail time for his peaceful protests. For example, in 1973, he was arrested for putting up posters that protested the celebration of Armed Forces Day. He was found guilty of disrespecting the military, but he was released after four weeks because the President of Italy, Giovanni Leone, asked for him to be pardoned. In 1979, he was sentenced to jail for blocking a road during a protest, but he was later pardoned for this too.

Pietro Pinna also helped organize the Catania-Comiso March from 1982 to 1983. This march protested against the building of a US missile base in Italy and was an important peaceful action against military bases.

Awards and Recognition

In 2008, Pietro Pinna received the National Nonviolence Award for his dedication to peace. In 2012, the Faculty of Law at the University of Pisa gave him an honorary degree in Peace Sciences, recognizing his important work.

Pietro Pinna passed away on April 13, 2016, in Florence. He is remembered as a brave activist who dedicated his life to promoting peace and non-violence in Italy and beyond.