272, Nov-Dec 2007

IN THIS ISSUE: WACC releases a statement to mark Human Rights Day December 10 2007 asserting that “there can be no genuine development without human rights and no social justice without communication rights”.

AlSO IN THIS ISSUE: Highlights on Congress 2008, programme stories and pictorial news

Congress keynote speaker addresses Amnesty International council.
Communication rights experts to address Congress 2008.
Focus on Congress 2008 theme: Communication is Peace: Building viable communities.

Cover photo: Children of Western Nepal (File photo: Radio Program, Naya Nepal, Subaltern Forum)
Read more

“No human rights without communication rights”

In a statement released to mark Human Rights Day, December 10 2007, WACC called on governments, non-governmental organizations and the private sector to recognize and strengthen communication rights as a vital component in the development and implementation of political, economic, social and cultural policies. “There can be no genuine development without human rights and no social justice without communication rights”, said WACC in the statement.

Full statement

WACC Statement on World AIDS Day

On World AIDS Day, December 1, 2007, WACC called on its members and partners to encourage their faith communities and their local media to make visible the contributions of people living with HIV and AIDS by allowing them to take leadership positions in parish and community life and by making their voices heard in church and community media.
Read more

Congress keynote speaker addresses Amnesty International council

By Robyn Naylor, Communications Coordinator, Isis-WICCE

The head of a global women’s rights organization scheduled to be a keynote speaker at the upcoming communication rights conference, Congress 2008, recently challenged over 400 senior Amnesty International delegates from all over the world to make women’s human rights real, particularly in Africa, a region where Amnesty International’s initiatives tend to lag behind despite its strong human rights profile.

International communication specialists to address congress 2008

WACC has announced three leaders of learning streams scheduled to take place during Congress 2008 to be held on 6-10 October 2008 in Cape Town South Africa.The leaders who are recognised communication specialists include;

Pradip Thomas, former director of WACC’s Global Studies Programme, who is Associate Professor and Chair of research at the School of Journalism and Communication, University of Queensland, Australia
Patricia A. Made, a Zimbabwean-based editor and media trainer who has been involved in many training, policy and research initiatives on gender in the Southern Africa media as well as working for Inter Press Service
Dr. Jake Lynch currently Associate Professor and Director of the Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies, Sydney University, Australia.

By Keith Knight, president of WACC- North America

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.

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

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.

WACC to launch new website for Congress 2008 in January 2008. Be sure to visit: www.waccglobal.org/congress

La WACC lance un nouveau site web pour le Congrès 2008 ! Au mois de janvier 2008, visitez-nous au: www.waccglobal.org/congress

Media and Poverty in India

By Dr. J.B. Anand, Chairperson, WACC- Asia Region

‘You always have the poor with you’ (Mathew 26: 11).
What a prophetic statement Jesus made some two thousand years ago! Countries like India have the richest people in the world, but in some parts of India, the poorest of the poor people live, deprived of basic living facilities. Some parts of ‘Shining India’ are dying of hunger and committing suicide because they are too poor to stay alive. No doubt, this is Incredible India. With this paradox in mind, the Executive Committee of WACC’s Asia Region has launched a one-year project titled ‘Poverty Reporting Standards'. Read more

Pictorial News

Nairobi, Kenya - Gender and media activists attending a "gender and media advocacy workshop" organised by WACC in Kenya's capital, Nairobi, 3-5 December. They released a declaration criticizing media in Africa for gross gender imbalances and stereotyped portrayal of women in the media.
Read full declaration

Kathmandu, Nepal - Tharu women of mid-western Nepal.
For the past year Subaltern Forum, an organization of journalists based in Kathmandu, Nepal, has been producing and broadcasting fortnightly radio programmes on non-violent conflict resolution. Originally planned by the Society of Environmental Journalists (SEJ), Subaltern took over when political difficulties intervened. WACC supported the initiative under its small projects programme.