WACC Congress 2008

Communicating peace through people’s stories

WACC-Europe seminar on “Communication is peace”

(Paralimni/Agia Napa, Cyprus, 2-6 April 2008)

piet

Communicating peace requires stories about people. This was a key conclusion drawn by participants in the seminar “Communication is peace” that met 2-6 April 2008 in Paralimni and Agia Napa, Cyprus. The event was organised by the European region of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), in cooperation with WACC-Middle East. The telling of personal stories is a compelling means of engaging an audience in the lives, needs and dreams of real people.

Desmond Tutu continúa confrontando la injusticia

Por Dave Wanless, WACC-Africa region

El Arzobispo Desmond Mpilo Tutu, que tendrá a su cargo el discurso de apertura del Congreso 2008 de la WACC, el 6 de octubre en Ciudad del Cabo, es uno de los íconos morales de nuestra era. Galardonado con el Premio Nobel de la Paz en 1984, actualmente es miembro del respetado grupo de “Mayores” que incluye al ex presidente norteamericano Jimmy Carter, a Joaquim Chissano, de Mozambique y a Mary Robinson, de Irlanda, junto con Graca Machel, la esposa de Nelson Mandela, y Sir Richard Branson, del grupo de compañías Virgin. Su tarea es mediar por la paz en situaciones conflictivas alrededor del mundo.

Los disparos no silenciarán el llamado a la paz de comunicad

Por Dennis Smith, Ex-presidente de WACC América Latina.

Los disparos nos despertaron a la 1:35 de la mañana. ¿Doce veces? ¿15? Estaba muy desorientado como para seguir la secuencia. Sin gritos, sin sirenas, pero con la pregunta latente sobre quién había efectuado los disparos y por qué.

Nosotros vivimos en un barrio de clase media-media en la Ciudad de Guatemala, una de las ciudades más violentas de América Latina. La violencia tiene muchas causas: la persistente herencia de 36 años de guerra civil; siglos de racismo; una economía polarizada controlada por una elite rica y diminuta; violencia contra mujeres y contra niños y niñas..

Getting to the heart of peace-building

Rev. Dr. S. Wesley Ariarajah, Professor of Theology, at Drew University, School of Theology

Wesley

It is significant that WACC’s Congress 2008 in Cape Town has chosen ‘Communication is Peace: Building Viable Communities’ as the theme of its gathering. It is common to speak of ‘Communication for Peace’ or ‘for Peace-Building’. But the bold assertion, ‘Communication is Peace’ is a welcome emphasis that gets to the heart of some of the deepest issues that plague our efforts at seeking, building, maintaining, and fostering peace.

Journalists can learn to make peace

By Rebekah Chevalier, WACC-North America Regional Vice-Chair

Rebekah

When you watch or read a news story about a violent incident or a war, are you getting the complete picture? Is there additional background material that would help explain why the conflict is happening or other sources that would provide another dimension to the story? These questions will be the focus of a series of workshops for journalists and peace advocates on “peace journalism” that will be offered during Congress 2008.

Communication is Peace: A Shocking Theme

By Keith Knight, President, WACC- North America

Keith

The theme for Congress 2008, Communication is Peace, seems almost shocking. After all, the logo of the sponsoring organization, the World Association for Christian Communication, proudly proclaims Taking Sides, a tagline that implies taking a stand in the face of conflict and being prepared to accept its consequences. Communication is peace, on the other hand, implies bridge-building, working for consensus, understanding and even validating the other person’s perspective.

Reality and peace

By Frank Kürschner-Pelkmann, Freelance journalist, based in Germany

Frank

A distorted picture of reality is very often a decisive factor on the road from peace to conflict and war. For that reason propaganda has very often been used to distort the worldview of people in order to prepare the next war. The distinction between “us” and “them” is used as a foundation stone for a black and white description of life in a community, in a country or between countries.

Building bridges to reconciliation and peace

By Philip Lee, Deputy Director of Programmes, WACC

‘One thing is clear: that between the life of the townsmen and that bridge, there existed a centuries-old bond. Their fates were so intertwined that they could not be imagined separately. Therefore the story of the foundation and destiny of the bridge is at the same time the story of the life of the town and its people, from generation to generation’ (Ivo Andri?).