 | | In this Issue: New WACC Officers hold their orientation meetings with staff at their Toronto headquarters. The new officers were elected at a Board meeting held in Cape Town, South Africa during the Congress 2008 held in October this year.
Also in this issue: WACC’s statements on Human Rights day and World Aids Day. Community advocacy improves women’s lives in Benin. New WACC president speaks about Violence against women. Documentary reveals atrocities in El Salvador.
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Cover photo: WACC New President, Dennis Smith attending a meeting at WACC offices in Toronto, 9-11 December 2008. (Photo by Tim Meadley, WACC). |
| In this Issue: WACC’s Congress 2008 ends with a unanimous call for peace around the world by 300 participants drawn from 73 countries. A declaration issued by the participants underscores communication as the key means of overcoming inequalities and injustices that give rise to conflicts and violence. Also in this issue:
- Congress resolutions
- Congress recommendations
- Closing ceremonies
- An interview with WACC’s new President, Dennis Smith.
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Cover photo: WACC Congress 2008 participants (By Letlhogile Lucas, Botswana) WACC wishes to thank all the participants for their contribution and support in making Congress 2008 a memorable event!
 | In this issue: “Male and female have an inclination towards feminine power, but women have a better understanding to use its feminine power”, claimed Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng, a key-note speaker, 7 October 7, at the WACC Congress 2008.
Also in this issue: - “Mute journalism” is debated.
- Un documentaire titré « Reel Bad Arabs ».
- Mujeres latinoamericanas hablan sobre el poder femenino.
- Building peace in Papua New Guinea through media advocacy.
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Cover photo: Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng (By Letlhogile Lucas, Botswana).
 | In this Issue: Participants at the WACC Congress 2008 took the trip of a lifetime 8 October to the heart of South Africa’s freedom – Robben Island. Also in this issue: - Poverty attacks churches in South Africa.
- La communication face au défi de la pauvreté.
- El mensaje de Guguletu: mañana será diferente.
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Cover photo: Robben Island (By Erick Coll, Cuba)
 | In this issue: Joanne Sandler, Deputy Executive Director-Program for UNIFEM says media has huge and largely untapped power to promote and protect gender justice.
Also in this issue: - Documentary prompts questions on DRC.
- Est-ce un péché d’être une femme?
- «Ondas de Choc» conmueve a delegada colombiana.
- Churches preach equality but women are under-represented.
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Cover photo: Joanne Sandler, Deputy Executive Director - Program UNIFEM (By Lucas Letoghlie, Botswana).
 | In this issue: Praises and challenges from Archbishop Desmond Tutu and other dignitaries at the opening ceremony of Congress 2008, in Cape Town, South Africa. Also in this issue: Obispo Tutu: Somos llamados a construir la paz. “Clouds of witnesses” honoured. Communiquer à travers sa culture.
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Cover photo: Archbishop Desmond Tutu (By Erick Coll, Cuba)
| | |  | In this issue: An address by Nobel peace laureate Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is a highlight of the opening session of the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) Congress on 6 October, 2008, in Cape Town, South Africa.
Also in this issue:
- The Mayor of Cape Town, Helen Zille expected to attend the opening ceremony of Congress 2008.
- Pre-congress consultation identifies best practices, recommendations.
- En 1992, los Acuerdos de Paz pusieron fin a una guerra civil que se prolongó durante doce largos años y dejó un trágico saldo de ochenta personas asesinadas y un millón en el exilio.
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Cover photo: Cape Town, South Africa ( By Kristine Greenaway, WACC)
| In this issue: Investigative journalist, Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, a daily TV/radio news show airing on more than 700 stations worldwide, is to receive WACC's Communication for Peace Award. Also in this issue: - DFID partners with WACC in fight against HIV/AIDS stigma.
- WACC-Pacific region members meet in Papua New Guinea.
- Congress keynote speaker reflects on communication rights.
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Cover photo: Amy Goodman, investigative journalist, Democracy Now (By Michael Keel)
| In this issue: An interview with outgoing President of WACC, Musimbi Kanyoro, and the outgoing Vice president, Piet Halma, during WACC’s Officers meeting held in Toronto June 26-28, 2008. Also in this issue: - WACC’s statement on Canada’s apology to aboriginal peoples.
- The Media as “Agents for Peace”: a Kenyan Perspective.
- Can communication rights bring about peace and security?
- Graffiti: the Hand Writing on Haiti’s Walls.
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| Cover photo: Musimbi Kanyoro, outgoing President, WACC, (Photo: Google images ) |
| In this issue: WACC announces the winner for this year’s photo competition. The photo presents a female journalist in Maimana, Afghanistan, conducting an interview for her programme on an independent women-managed radio station. The photo visually challenges preconceptions about the power and position of women in Afghanistan.
Also in this issue: - Congress host city is still “striving to build viable communities”.
- Asian communicators pledge to make the voice of the voiceless heard.
- WACC- North America Regional Executive Committee meets at WACC global headquarters in Toronto.
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| Cover photo: Afghanistan journalist (by Leslie Knott, winner, WACC photographic competition 2008). | | |
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| | | Congress | | |
| | Congress host city is still striving to build viable communities. By Dave Wanless, WACC-Africa region South African cities are recovering from increased tension following sporadic violence against refugees and asylum seekers. Cape Town - venue for Congress 2008 avoided the worst of the violence, and city councillors are taking measures to respond to local concerns.’ Read more... | | |
| | | News | | |
| | WACC photo competition results announced By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC The winning photo of this year’s WACC Photographic Competition was submitted by Leslie Knott, a photojournalist based in Kabul, Afghanistan. The photo presents a female journalist in Maimana, Afghanistan, conducting an interview for her agriculture program on Radio Quyaash, an independent women-managed radio station. Read more... | | |
| | Asian communicators pledge to make the voice of the voiceless heard 41 participants of the WACC-Asia Region assembly held in Chiang Mai, Thailand 17-20 May 2008 have expressed concern that media in the region take sides with the interests of those in power, “instead of upholding the people’s voices and aspirations.” Read more... | | |
| | WACC- North America meets at WACC global headquarters in Toronto By Sheila George, Secretary of the WACC- North America Executive Committee The WACC- North America (WACC-NA) Regional Executive Committee became the first regional committee to meet at WACC Global’s headquarters in Toronto, May 9-11, 2008. In addition to experiencing WACC’s new home, the Executive Committee had the opportunity to meet the WACC Global staff and participate in judging this year’s WACC Global photo competition. Read more... | | |
| | | Programme stories | | |
| | Unique talk show on Arabic satellite TV promotes the rights of disabled people WACC partner SAT-7 breaks new ground in Arab media By Mette Schmidt, Sat 7 One hour is not enough! This is the name of a weekly talk show programme aired live from Beirut every Sunday evening by the Arabic satellite TV-channel SAT-7 for the last six months. The programme has been focussing on the rights of disabled persons to education, work and political participation. And the title is to be taken quite literally: The length of the show had to be extended from 60 to 75 minutes! Read more... | | |
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| | | Pictorial News | | | | | | | | | | | WACC General Secretary and WACC - Asia Regional Executive committee members visiting with the General Secretary and Staff of the Christian Conference of Asia at the CCA headquarters in Chiang Mai, Thailand, May 2008. Read more... | | SAT-7, a Christian, Arabic satellite TV-channel, airs a weekly talk show programme focussing on the rights of disabled persons to education, work and political participation. Read more... | | Professor Profesora Margaret Somerville, una destacada profesora Canadiense de ética, se dirigió a 400 comunicadores de alrededor de América del Norte en la Asamblea de Medios Católicos del 2008 que se llevó a cabo en el Centro Sheraton, en el centro de la ciudad de Toronto, desde el 28 hasta el 30 de Mayo. (Foto por Universidad McGill, Montreal). Lea mas acerca de Somerville. Read more... | | | | | | | | |
| In this issue:WACC launches an online donation appeal to support less privileged people to participate in Congress 2008. The Congress will be held in Cape Town, South Africa, 6-10 October, 2008. The theme of the congress is Communication is Peace: Building viable communities. Read more about the Congress. Also in this issue: - WACC calls for protection of journalists.
- WACC-Europe region elects new president.
- Women in Colombia claim right to communicate.
- Media images of violence against women in Middle East monitored.
- A poster campaign in India unmasks human trafficking.
| | | Cover photo: Outgoing President of WACC- Europe region, Piet Halma, during a cultural session at the WACC-Europe regional Assembly held in Paralimni/Agia Napa, Cyprus, 2-6 April 2008. (by: Juha Kinanen, Finland) |
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| Congress |
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| | Protect journalists against violations of press freedom As the world marks Press Freedom Day on May 3, 2008, the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), a global communication advocacy organization based in Toronto, Canada, has released a statement calling on governments to protect journalists against violations of press freedom.
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| | WACC launches online donation appeal to support congress 2008 By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC WACC has launched an online donation appeal to support less privileged or marginalized people to take part in Congress 2008, a global meeting of communicators to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, October 6-10. The focus is on women and youth, indigenous people, people living with disabilities and people living with HIV/AIDS, who are engaged in communication and peace initiatives in their communities.
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| | Communicating peace through people’s stories Report on the WACC-Europe seminar on “Communication is peace”, Paralimni/Agia Napa, Cyprus, 2-6 April 2008 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 WACC- Europe region 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. Communicating peace also calls for clear explanations based on careful research: simply stated, yet never over-simplified.
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| News |
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| | WACC-Europe assembly elects Juha Rajamäki as new president Juha Rajamäki from Finland is the new president of WACC-Europe. The regional assembly, held once every three years, gathered from 2 to 6 April 2008 in Paralimni/Agia Napa, Cyprus. Rajamäki, head of the television department of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of Finland, was elected president for the upcoming three years. Rajamäki will also represent the European region on the global board of WACC.
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| Programme Stories |
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| | Poor urban women in Medellín claim right to communicate By Philip Lee, Deputy Director of Programmes, WACC. Working in the city of Medellín, Colombia, the Sumapaz Foundation is an NGO dedicated to promoting social development for excluded and/or impoverished sectors of society. It also advocates and defends human rights by means of organizational, training and management initiatives.
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| | Organizations in Middle East monitor media images of violence against women By María Teresa Aguirre; Programme Manager, WACC A communication workshop in Lebanon sponsored by WACC ten years ago has yielded unforeseen benefits.Members of the Helwan Association for Community Development (‘Bashayer’)- in partnership with Appropriate Communication Techniques for Development (ACT) – are half way to completing a year- long monitoring of images of violence against women in two of Cairo’s most important daily newspapers.
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| | Caribbean Action Plan for Gender and Media Advocacy By Women’s Media Watch, Jamaica The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) in partnership with Women’s Media Watch (WMW) held a 3-day Regional Training Workshop on Gender and Media Advocacy, 10 to 12 April, 2008, in Kingston, Jamaica. The event brought together civil society as well as some media from 11 Caribbean countries. The regional delegates developed a Caribbean Action Plan for Gender & Media Advocacy.
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| Features |
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| | Poster campaign in India unmasks human trafficking By Kristine Greenaway, Programme Manager, Congress 2008 Toronto, 21 March (WACC) - The minister had never heard the term “human trafficking” but he knew something was happening in his community on the border with Nepal in northeast India.“On Fridays, Nepali girls are coming to the bazaar then we never see them again, ” he told Pradipta Singh, an official with the Church of North India.It was then the minister learned that those young women are being “trafficked” into the sex trade or into slave labour in New Delhi, Mumbai and other Indian cities.
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| | Re-opening of Cyprus Street can build trust, Christian media told By Stephen G Brown, Ecumenical News International (ENI) Paralimni, Cyprus, 4 April (ENI)--The opening of a street crossing point in Nicosia, the divided capital of Cyprus, is a symbolic measure that could build trust between Greek and Turkish Cypriots, a meetingof European Christian journalists and communicators has heard. "Now is the time for everyone to ensure that the breakdown of the 'wall' in the shopping centre of Nicosia will really be the first and right step towards peace, " said Cyprus-born Salpy Eskidjian Weiderud, a policy advisor on peace and security issues at the meeting in Cyprus.
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| Pictorial News |
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| | | | | | | | | Participants at the WACC-Europe Regional Assembly held in Paralimni/Agia Napa, Cyprus, 2-6 April 2008 | | The new president of WACC-Europe region, Juha Rajamäki, from Finland (left), with the Mayor of Paralimni, Cyprus. | | The new president, Juha Rajamäki(left) and the outgoing President, Piet Halma, addressing the Regional Assembly. | | Participants at the Regional Assembly, during a cultural session. | |
| | In this issue: WACC’s Project Partner produces a documentary to challenge discriminatory attitudes towards children who are intellectually disabled. The documentary, aimed at equipping parents and professionals with practical tools to live and work with children with special needs, is now being broadcasted by some media channels in Egypt.
Also in this issue: - Women in rural Democratic Republic of Congo launch a community radio station.
- WACC to confer honorary life membership on three highly-respected international communicators at Congress 2008
- WACC participates in a “Walk for Justice” through downtown Toronto on Good Friday.
- Focus on inter-religious conflicts in Indian state of Orissa.
| | | Cover Photo by Media House, WACC’s Project Partner in Cairo, Egypt. | | | | | | Easter Message from General Secretary, WACC Greetings from WACC during Holy Week! Easter seems to have ‘arrived’ so much earlier this year!It feels like the year has only just begun and here we are in Holy Week.I suspect that many homilies this week will make passing reference at least to the fact that Easter has caught many people unprepared this year. Perhaps this sense of being caught unprepared is not out of keeping with the Easer message.
Read more... | | | WACC participates in ecumenical walk WACC staff participated in a “Walk for Justice” through downtown Toronto on Good Friday, March 21. The walk was organized by a coalition of local churches and ecumenical organizations. The walk continues a tradition begun more than 20 years ago in which Christians from diverse churches hold a creative alternative to traditional Good Friday services. Their “Walk for Justice” draws inspiration from the Biblical account of Jesus’ execution as a political criminal. Walkers focus on sites that remind them of people treated unfairly by our society.
Read more... | | | | Congress |
| | | | | | WACC to honour three leading communicators at Congress 2008 WACC will confer honorary life membership on three highly-respected international communicators at its global communication conference, Congress 2008, scheduled to be held in Cape Town, South Africa in October. In announcing the 2008 honorees on behalf of the Board of Directors, the General Secretary, Randy Naylor said, “Each of these three individuals has made an outstanding contribution to the cause of communication rights in careers of service to the church, academia, and international institutions. WACC has benefited greatly from their contributions to its mission of advocating for communication that contributes to peace, justice and democracy.“
Read more... | | | Desmond Tutu continues to confront injustice and preach peace
By Dave Wanless, WACC-Africa region Archbishop Desmond Mpilo Tutu, who will give the opening address at WACC’s Congress 2008 on 6 October in Cape Town, is one of the moral icons of our era. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984, he is currently serving as one of the group of respected ‘Elders’ which includes former presidents Jimmy Carter of the United States, Joaquim Chissano of Mozambique and Mary Robinson of Ireland along with Graca Machel, the wife of Nelson Mandela, and Sir Richard Branson of the Virgin group of companies. Their task is to mediate peace in situations of conflict around the world.
Read more... | | | | Programme Stories |
| | | | | | Coal widows speak out
By Philip Lee, Deputy Director of Programmes, WACC. More than one hundred years of silent oppression scar the coal-mining region of Coahuila State, in the north-east of Mexico. Recently, with support from WACC, a local NGO called Didaxis has filmed some of the women who have been widowed and left to fend for themselves after mining accidents killed their husbands. On 19 February 2006, shaft 8 of the Pasta de Conchos mine exploded, leaving 65 miners trapped below ground.
Read more... | | | Rural women in Congolese village launch a community radio station
By María Teresa Aguirre; Programme Manager, WACC The inhabitants of Mugogo, a village situated some 2,000 kilometres from Kinshasa, capital city of the Democratic Republic of Congo, will long remember 4 January 2008 as a very special day in the life of their community.That was the day when the first broadcast of Radio Bubusa hit the air.
Read more... | | | Better Start Early
By Julienne Munyaneza, Pogramme manager, WACC “Changing attitudes towards intellectual disability remains a big issue in the Arab world”, says Wimco Ester, the Managing Director of MediaHouse (MH), a WACC partner based in Cairo, Egypt. In 2007, MediaHouse embarked on a documentary initiative dubbed “Early Start” to challenge discriminatory attitudes towards children who are intellectually disabled and their families.
Read more... | | | | | Book Review | | | | Love to Share: Intellectual Property Rights, Copyright, and Christian Churches Co-published by WACC and WCC
By Rev Judy Chan Regional Vice-Chair, WACC-Asia region At first glance, one might wonder why Churches would be concerned about legal matters such as intellectual property rights and copyright issues. As it turns out, Churches regularly have to deal with these matters, particularly concerning music and liturgy for worship. How can Christians be fair to the creator of these works, while at the same time promote a generous spirit of sharing?
Read more... | | | | Features |
| | | | | | Media messages from imported evangelists fuel inter-religious conflict in Indian state
By Kristine Greenaway, WACC Media ministries are aggravating tensions between Hindus and Christians in the Indian state of Orissa says an Indian communications specialist. “Missionaries from South India are involved in ‘spiritual warfare’ using the media and Christian networks,” says Professor Pradip Thomas of the School of Journalism and Communication at the University of Queensland, Australia.
Read more... | | | Riots in Orissa
Published by the Church of North India Seven churches, Catholic, Protestant, Pentecostal, and Independent were burned in Barakhamba village, Kandhamal district, central Orissa. December 23, 2007: Hindutva (Hindu supremacist ideology) affiliated Adivasi (tribal) organizations organized a march, rallying, “Stop Christianity; Kill Christians”.A Dalit (formerly "untouchable" groups) Christian leader testified, “We went to the local police and informed them of the situation.
Read more... | | | | | Pictorial News | | | | Tim Meadley, Manager of Administration, WACC, wearing the insignia (medal) of an Officer of the Order of St John presented to him by the Prior acting on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen of England, the Sovereign Head of the Order, who approves all admissions to and promotions in the Order. The picture was taken in the garden outside the Priory Church at St John Gate, Clerkenwell, UK after the Investiture held this month. | | | |
| | In this issue: WACC announces that Archbishop Desmond Tutu will address Congress 2008 focussing on the important role played by the world’s media in reporting on violence and reconciliation.
Also in this issue: - Former president of WACC- Latin America region talks about violence in Guatemala and the Congress theme of communication and peace.
- A WACC-sponsored filmto be viewed at the most important Israeli Film Festival.
- WACC and WCC releases a booklet on intellectual property rights and copyrights.
- Webmasters and communicators meet at WACC to explore IT challenges.
| | Cover Photo:A clip from the Six Floors to Hell film produced by the Audio-visual wing of Hanitzotz Publishing House, a partner of WACC in Jerusalem, Israel. | | | | Congress |
| | | Archbishop Desmond Tutu to address role of media in reporting on conflict By Kristine Greenaway, Programme Manager, Congress 2008 Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu is set to address a global gathering of communicators focussing on the important role played by the world’s media in reporting on violence and reconciliation. The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) has confirmed that Tutu will speak October 6 at the Atlantic Conference Centre in Cape Town, South Africa during the opening ceremony of Congress 2008, a conference for communicators and peace advocates from faith-based and civil society organizations. The five-day event builds on the theme Communication is peace: Building viable communities. Read more... | | |
| | | Gunfire will not silence Christian communicator’s call for peace By Dennis Smith, former President, WACC-Latin America region Gunfire awakened us at 1:35 this morning.12 rounds?15?I was too disoriented to keep track.No screams, no sirens, but we were left wondering who had fired those rounds and why. We live in a middle-middle class neighbourhood in Guatemala City - one of the most violent cities in Latin America.Violence has many roots: the persistent legacy of 36 years of civil war; centuries of racism; a polarized economy controlled by a tiny, wealthy elite; endemic violence against women and children. Read more... | | |
| | | Media accreditation for congress 2008 WACC is pleased to invite Journalists, photographers and freelancers planning to cover Congress 2008 to register online for accreditation.
Accreditation guidelines and coverage procedures are now available on the Congress website. The deadline for accreditation is 30 August 2008.
An online press centre where journalists can obtain the latest developments related to the congress is now available on the recently launched congress website.
| | | Programme stories | | | Six Floors to Hell, a WACC sponsored film is released
By Julienne Munyaneza, Programme Manager, WACC
Video 48, the audio-visual wing of Hanitzotz Publishing House, a partner of WACC in Jerusalem, Israel, committed to bridging the gap between Arabs and Jews, fighting for the recognition of Arab Israeli’s rights, has just released/produced a powerful film “Six Floors to Hell”. This film was produced thanks to the financial support of WACC and its German partner, Evangelischer Entwicklungsdienst (EED), in Bonn, Germany.
Read more...
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| | News |
| | | Love to share, a booklet on intellectual property rights and copyrights By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) andthe World Council of Churches (WCC) have published a booklet aimed at providing guidelines on intellectual property rights and copyright. The booklet titled Love to share deals with the right of creative artists - including authors, musicians and communities - to be protected from infringement of their rights as creators and with the right of othersto have access to the cultural and spiritual riches produced through their creativity. Read more... | | |
| | | Protect the world’s endangered languages! WACC Statement on International Mother Language Day, February 21 On International Mother Language Day 2008 the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) is calling for concerted action to protect linguistic diversity and to promote multilingualism. Languages are powerful instruments for preserving the culture and heritage of the many different peoples that inhabit the Earth. Rescuing endangered languages keeps traditions alive and inspires knowledge about, and respect for, the past, present and future. But languages are in danger. Read more... | | |
| | | Webmasters and communicators exploreIT challenges
By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC
Webmasters and communicators from faith-based organisations from Toronto met at the WACC offices, February 20, to share experiences and challenges related to the use of websites and information technologies for effective communication.
Participants discussed a wide-range of challenges and experiences including the question of how to adopt rapidly-evolving information technologies (ITs) and use them effectively for advocacy and promotion of faith-based activities. Understanding the effectiveness of information disseminated to audiences was identified as another shared challenge as were the technical issues of poor interconnectivity and lack of widespread IT skills.
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| Bobana, a young photographer in Gradiska, Banja Luka, Bosnia and Herzegovina, who lost her hands to the explosion of war ordnance. The photo won a commendation during the wacc photographic competition 2007.
(The photo was submitted by Paul Jeffrey) | WACC launches Photographic Competition 2008
WACC launched its firth Photographic Competition which is being run on Flickr for the third time! The theme of the competition is Women’s communication rights.
The competition is open to all women, men and children, of all ages and from all countries. Amateurs and professionals are welcome to submit photographs that capture women communicating; women's communication rights in action or photographs illustrating how women use communication to empower themselves.
Read more...
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| | Pictorial News | | | | Webmasters and communicators from faith-based organisations during a networking meeting at WACC, February 20.
(Left-Right: Farai Gonzo, podcaster-Africafiles, Alex Macdonald, Communications Assistant, Presbyterian World Service and Development, Miyuki Fukuma, Web designer, United Church of Canada and Susie Henderson, web Tender, Primate’s World Relief & Development Fund).
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| | | A video clip from “Six Floors to Hell”, a powerful film sponsored by WACC. |
| | In this issue: WACC announces that Joanne Sandler, ad interim Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), will be a keynote speaker at its upcoming global communications conference, Congress 2008, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, October 6-10. Also in this issue: News, Programme stories & Congress highlights. - WACC-Africa region calls for peace in Kenya.
- WACC Calls for Nominations of officers.
- A new website dedicated to Congress 2008 is launched.
- Palestinian women launch a website to bring together women from across the West Bank and Gaza strip.
| | | Cover photo: Women Media and Development (TAMor Tanmiyet wa Aâlam al Mar’ah), Palestine. | | | | News |
| |  Joanne Sandler, Ad Interim Executive Director, UNIFEM
| New UNIFEM Executive Director to speak at Congress 2008 Following the appointment of Noeleen Heyzer, former Executive Director of UNIFEM, to a new post in Bangkok, Thailand, WACC is delighted to announce that Joanne Sandler, ad interim Executive Director of the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM), will replace her as keynote speaker at its upcoming global communications conference, Congress 2008, to be held in Cape Town, South Africa, October 6-10. She will be giving a presentation on 'Media and gender justice.' Read more... | | |
| | | | | WACC Calls for Nominations of Officers Regions are invited to submit names of candidates for positions of WACC officers tothe General Secretary no later than August 31st, 2008.Nominees need not be from the nominating Region. Nominations should indicate the nominee’s willingness to serve and should also provide information as to the qualifications of the nominee for the particular office.Although it is recommended that nominations be submitted via the Regions, nominations may be made by any member, and nominations will also be open to the Board during its meeting in Cape Town, October 2008.
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| | | WACC-Africa region calls for peace in Kenya The World Association for Christian Communication-Africa Region (WACC-AR) is deeply concerned about the violence that is currently taking place in Kenya following the recent election results. As members of WACC, a global body working to promote a culture of peace, nonviolence, justice and healing, we call upon all parties to stop the violence and to find a peaceful solution to the current situation through communication.
Read more... | Programme stories |
| | | Brazil: WACC supports disability-related project By María Teresa Aguirre; Programme Manager, WACC A combination of radio programmes, internet broadcasting and printed bulletin is giving wide exposure to a disability-related project supported by WACC in Brazil.The radio programme series ‘Minuto da Inclusão’(Minute of Inclusion)implemented by the eponymous group Minute of Inclusion from Sao Paulo was first launched on May 25th 2007 through four radio regional station members of RADIOBRAS, Brazil’s communication enterprise linked to the country’s Ministry of Communication. Read more... | | |
| | | Palestinian women launch website By María Teresa Aguirre; Programme Manager, WACC After several months of preparatory work, widespread consultation and many messages of support and encouragement, the Palestinian group Women Media and Development (TAMor Tanmiyet wa Aâlam al Mar’ah) has launched a Palestinian women’s website that brings together the creative work of a myriad women from all over the West Bank and Gaza strip. The new website, http://www.women-space.org/ is supported by WACC.
Read more... | Congress |
| | | WACC launches new website By Teresia Mutuku, Communications Officer and Web Manager, WACC The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) has launched a new website dedicated to its global conference for communicators, Congress 2008, scheduled to take place in Cape Town, South Africa, 6-10 October. The theme of Congress 2008 is Communication is Peace: Building viable communities. The new website is accessible on www.waccglobal.org/congress. Read more... | | |
|  | WACC’s President, Dr. Musimbi Kanyoro | | Africa needs to communicate faith Message from WACC’s President, Dr.Musimbi Kanyoro Africa is a vibrant, modern continent that needs to communicate faith in itself. It needs those working in the mass and community media to project positive images and stories, to play an affirmative role in promoting peace and reconciliation. If people are empowered by communication that is participatory, builds community, and strengthens mutual understanding, they are more capable and more willing to work to bring about the drastic changes needed to transform Africa. Read more... | | |
|  | | President, WACC-Africa Region - Rev. Achowah Umenei | | Words are weapons for communicators Message from the President, WACC-Africa Region, Rev. Achowah Umenei Africa has suffered in the hands of some western communicators, both secular and Christian. They have published distorted stories, televised sensational images and - since they believe and make us believe that good news is no news - focus on what is wrong in Africa and very little on what is good. We are not here for a lecture on how to report Africa well in the western press, but practitioners of wrong reporting won’t convince anyone that they can communicate peace and reconciliation. Nobody will take them seriously, except themselves. Read more... |  | General Secretary, Randy Naylor | | Communication is Peace Message from the General Secretary, Randy Naylor Media headlines make it painfully clear that war and violence are a common element in the lives of millions of people throughout the world."Peace" is not part of those headlines.That WACC should choose to focus on peace at Congress 2008 is both a counter-headline and counter-cultural decision. Read more... | | |
|  | Congress Coordinator, Kristine Greenaway | | Congress: a chance to analyze the role of communication in conflict and peace-building
Message from Congress Coordinator, Kristine Greenaway Faith-based and civil society communicators from around the globe who gather in Cape Town in October 2008 will have a chance to analyze the role of communication in conflict and peace-building situations through keynote presentations, workshops, and networking with people whose experience spans advocacy for communication rights, peace communication, academia, and the production of plays, films, dance, print, electronic, and broadcast stories.
Read more... | Congress reflections |
|  | | Rev. Dr. Wesley Ariarajah | | Getting to the heart of peace-building Rev. Dr. S. Wesley Ariarajah, Professor of Theology, at Drew University, School of Theology 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 isPeace’ 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. Many peace efforts fail, or breakdown after a while because they are not built on mutual knowledge and understanding and an appreciation of the issues that have keep communities apart in a state of alienation. Read more... | | |
|  | | Rebekah Chevalier, WACC-North America Regional Vice-Chair | | Journalists can learn to make peace By Rebekah Chevalier, WACC-North America Regional Vice-Chair 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 an international communication conference in Cape Town, South Africa, October 6-10, 2008.Congress 2008, sponsored by the World Association for Christian Communication (WACC), is open to communicators, journalists, peace advocates and religious leaders from around the world. Read more... |
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