國際公教廣播影視協會跟進工作：

慈幼會士參與有關傳意的世界大會

 【慈幼通訊社 ─ 2009年10月22日清邁訊，austraLasia #2529】 ─國際公教廣播影視協會（SIGNIS）世界大會，於十月十七至二十一日，在泰國清邁舉行，有慈幼大家庭多名成員參與。是次大會的主題為「締造和平文化的媒體：兒童的權利、明日的承諾。」

參與大會的成員達六百六十名，他們來自超過七十個國家，當中亦包括一百名年齡介乎十三至十五歲，於清邁的學校就讀的學生。他們參與不同的工作坊，使能表達有關數碼世界兒童權利的意見。

國際公教廣播影視協會主席奧斯定．洛爾圖薩米在解釋大會主題時表示：「由兒童作主、為兒童設想，替弱勢人士發聲──我們一再聽到這串重要的口號，然而兒童在媒體中經常被忽視。」我們需作更多必要性措施。正如教宗本篤十六世，在大會致候辭中強調說：「媒體對兒童的培育工作，以及使兒童適當地回應媒體的培育工作，應為專業傳意工作者關注的重心。」

鮑思高慈幼會士，素來致力宣揚教導人們，關注兒童權利的重要性，因此參與大會的成員，積極參與會議及工作坊。肯尼亞 BEAMS 的主席，慈幼會 Tom Kunnel 神父，在有關世界各地媒體教育經驗會議中擔任主席。

國際公教廣播影視協會咨詢委員會成員包括慈幼會 Peter Gonsalves 神父（ INTERSIG 主席暨羅馬慈幼會傳意部代表），以及慈幼會安博．佩雷拉神父（國際公教廣播影視協會太平洋區秘書）。

慈幼會喬治．普特塔神父（印度天主教主教團代表）乘著會議的時機，分享慈幼會士社會傳意培育計劃，有關印度修院修生培訓課程的部份，如何因應印度主教的邀請而重新設計。

其他出席大會的慈幼會士，包括來自馬達加斯加的 Luca Treglia 神父、來自菲律賓的 Noel Osial 神父、來自泰國的 Eleuterio Tapay 神父、來自捷克 TV-NOE 電視的 Leos Ryska 神父，以及厄瓜多爾傳意代表 Marcelo Mejia。

大會高舉著「與別不同的大會」這個旗號。來自世界各地的一眾知名飽學之士，激發參與者思考並反省與主題相關的一些問題。在場一百名學生及十名青少年影視記者的參與，令大會錦上添花。大會的組織及協調工作，充滿泰國禮儀風情，為大家所欣賞。

一名參與者因這次難忘的會議，在感謝大會主家時表示：「我們所知、所見、所聞的一切，如今都需要實踐。」

大會以媒體頒獎典禮、感恩聖祭以及國際公教廣播影視協會八十週年紀念晚宴作結。

 SIGNIS followup: Salesians in communication at World Congres
 
(ANS – CHIANG MAI , 22 October 2009, austraLasia #2529)  –   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.