273-Jan 2008
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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.
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| Cover photo: Women Media and Development (TAMor Tanmiyet wa Aâlam al Mar’ah), Palestine. | |||||
News |
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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.' |
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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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Kenyan flag |
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. |
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Programme stories |
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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. |
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Palestinian woman. |
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. |
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Congress |
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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. |
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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... |
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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...
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General Secretary, Randy Naylor |
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... |
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Congress Coordinator, Kristine Greenaway |
Congress: a chance to analyze the role of communication in conflict and peace-building
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. |
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Congress reflections |
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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... |
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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. |
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