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