by: Srs. Consolata Manding/Maryanne Padilla, FSP Sisters Clothilde delas Llagas, Mary Anne Padilla and Consolata Manding attended the World Catholic Association for Communication “SIGNIS” Asian Assembly held in Surabaya, Indonesia last September 2010. The theme chosen for this year’s assembly “ Cultivate Peace, Protect Ceation: Media’s Role” was inspired by Pope Benedict XVI’ s message for World Day of Peace. The delegates visited the Holy Spirit school that has received multi awards for teaching environmental issues to elementary and high school students, and a visit to Lapindo, a former mining area which now has become a sea of mud that cover a number of former villages. These exposures showed the delegates the positive effects of protecting the environment and tragic consequences of neglect. Children are taught how to protect and appreciate the environment with regular workshops to demonstrate. On the other hand, the Lapindo mud where tourists visit, wearing mask due to bad smell of gas still continuously emitted, is a testimony of the devastating effects of unguarded mining. The Indonesian media are active in their role of cultivating peace and protecting the environment. Radio Station Suara Surabaya that claims to be number one in the region and currently the most expensive air time, use mobile phone of more than three thousand field reporters who inform the station on a daily basis the events and happenings in the city particularly related to peace and environment. The radio staff and reporters call themselves “radio on demand” since most vehicles in the city tune-in and no less than government officials and law enforcers monitor their broadcast. Radio Suara Surabaya is also accessible in the Internet. An FM sister station, one of the thousand plus radio stations in the country, is run by women and broadcast all women programs from child care to the care of the environment. Cultivating peace starts in the family, the announcers claimed during the interview, and they assist and guide the mothers in their roles and functions through timely broadcast information and education. Keynote Filipino speakers Anthony and Elizabeth de Castro spoke on the value of vermi-culture, the production of compose with the use of earthworms. The couple demonstrated how to produce organic fertilizers for growing fruits and vegetable instead of chemical based fertilizers and insecticides. There is much work to do in promoting peace in our region, said World SIGNIS President Augustine Loorthusamy at the beginning of the Assembly. Cultivating peace and protecting creation is the role of everyone starting from our community to the apostolate. Media can assist the individuals, families and communities to become effective in their efforts.
