austraLasia #2272


New Technologies, collaboration, cooperation - next year's World Communications Day theme

VATICAN CITY: October 6th 2008 -- The Vatican, through the President of the Pontifical Council for Social Communications, Archbishop Claudio Celli, has announced the overall theme for next year's World Communications Day: New technologies, New Relationships, Promoting a Culture of Respect, Dialogue and Friendship.
    Place that next to the GC26 statement on same, and we see that we have not only a common mindset but a common task ahead: We also feel questioned by the new technologies of social communication and the educational challenges they pose. Today's communication opportunities have become an habitual way for young people to meet, exchange ideas, and get involved quickly and with great mobility, but also in an impersonal and virtual way. The culture of personal media can compromise one's ability to mature in personal relationships and exposes young people especially to the danger of very negative encounters and dependencies; this is the “playground” where we need to be present in order to listen, enlighten, guide.
    Archbishop Celli made the announcement and praised Pope Benedict XVI for offering a series of commitments and responsibilities which "those involved in the field of communications are personally called to shoulder, at a time so deeply marked by the development of new media technologies which, in effect, are creating a new environment, a new culture". He went on to highlight the potential of new media as a force for good: "The modernisation of instruments does not mean a step forward in technical terms, but creates new conditions and possibilities for mankind to use and apply this resource for the common good, placing it at the foundation of a widespread cultural growth".
    The other obvious 'Salesian' connection in all this is that Pope Benedict will release his message for WCD on 24th January 2009, the Feast of St Francis de Sales, patron of journalists, amongst other things.  The day itself falls on Sunday May 31st 2009.
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Title: australasia 2272
Subject and key words: SDB General - new technologies
Date (year): 2008
ID: 2000-2099|2272