2529 SIGNIS followup: Salesians in communication at World Congress
austraLasia #2529

SIGNIS followup: Salesians in communication at World Congres
 
CHIANG MAI: 22 October 2009 -- The Signis World Congress held in Chiang Mai, Thailand from October 17-21 was well attended by members of the Salesian Family. The theme organised by SIGNIS (the World Catholic Association for Communication) was “Media for a Culture of Peace: Children’s Rights, Tomorrow’s Promise”.
    The Congress which had 660 participants from about 70 countries also included 100 students between the ages of 13 to 15 from schools in Chiang Mai. They participated in various workshops that enabled them to express their opinions on children’s rights in a digital world.
    Explaining the theme of the congress the President of SIGNIS, Augustine Loorthusamy, said: “By the children, for the children and providing a voice for the voiceless - key mantras that have been heard time and again, but children are still too often invisible in the media. More needs to be done. As Pope Benedict XVI, has emphasized in his special greeting to the Congress, ‘the formation of children by the media and the formation of children to respond appropriately to the media’ should be central concerns for professional communicators.”
    The Salesians of Don Bosco, in their concern for spreading awareness of the importance of educating people for children’s rights were among those who actively participated in the sessions and workshops. Fr. Tom Kunnel sdb (Director of BEAMS, Kenya) chaired the session on the experiences of  Media Education around the world.
    Members of the Advisory Board of SIGNIS included Fr. Peter Gonsalves sdb (President of INTERSIG and representative of the Salesian Department of Communications, Rome) and Fr. Ambrose Pereira sdb (Secretary of SIGNIS Pacific).
    Fr. George Plathottam sdb (Representative of the Catholic Bishop’s Conference of India) had the opportunity to share how the Salesian Formation plan for Social Communications was being redesigned for the training of seminarians in India – a response to the invitation of the Bishops of India.
    Others Salesians present were Fr. Luca Treglia sdb, Madagascar, Fr. Noel Osial sdb, Philippines and Fr. Eleuterio Tapay sdb, Thailand; Fr. Leos Ryska sdb, TV-NOE Czech Republic and Marcelo Mejia, Delegate for Communication for Ecuador.
    The Congress has been hailed as a ‘Congress with a difference’.   An array of renowned resource persons, from all over the world stimulated the participants to think and reflect on topics and issues that are relevant to the theme.  The presence and participation of 100 school children and 10 youth video journalists was an added advantage.  The organization and coordination of the Congress with its unique Thai courtesy has been praised by all.
    ‘What we have heard, seen and listened to, we now need to put into practice’, said a participant as he thanked the hosts for a memorable Congress.
    The Congress was brought to a close with the Media Awards Ceremony, a Eucharistic Liturgy and a Gala Dinner to celebrate the 80th Anniversary of SIGNIS.
  

Click here to comment on this item, or here to assist with Glossary. You will need to enter 20eao02 when asked for a password.
  _________________
 AustraLasia is an email service for the Salesian Family of Asia Pacific.  It also functions as an agency for ANS based in Rome.  For queries please contact admin@bosconet.aust.com . Use Bosconet-wiki to be interactive. RSS feeds - just go to Bosconet, click on austraLasia 2009 in the sidebar. You will see the RSS orange icon in your browser address bar - add it from there.  Or be interactive with the EAO Blog Cetera Tolle. Avail yourself of the Salesian Digital Library at http://sdl.sdb.org.


Title: australasia 2529
Subject and key words: SDB General SIGNIS Thailand
Date (year): 2009
ID: 2000-2099|2529