EDUCOMUNICAÇÃO

"Têm algo que dizer um ao outro?"

" (...) The dialogue of cultures is a dialogue of personalities and communities. Dialogue is possible only when you understand the language of your partner and their moral values, and they understand yours. It is not mandatory to subscribe to these values. However, it is vital to respect and tolerate them.Certain aspects of education also need to be considered. For example, history lessons at school are mostly about wars. Children are asked to remember the dates and the names of military leaders, while major scientific discoveries and cultural achievements are considered less important. Today a child spends twice more time in front of TV than at school. In this connection we should consider the influence that the media and the enormous amount of violence on the screen has on children. The studies on violence in the media, conducted by the UNESCO Observatory at Göteborg University, show that violence on the screen transforms into violence in life.It is imperative that we make the next step and rally the global civil society to fight violence on the screen. Too often have technology issues overshadowed the importance of content. The digital divide was the buzz expression at the World Summit on Information Society. The digital divide does exist and it has to be overcome. However, it would be a great mistake to give technology all the importance.When Alexander Graham Bell, the inventor of the telephone, was informed about the installation of the first transatlantic telephone line between the USA and Europe, his question was: ?Do they have what to say to each other?? Thus, the success of the dialogue of cultures and civilizations will depend on how wisely we speak to each other and how attentively we listen.
Valdas Adamkus, Presidente da República da Lituânia
Discurso na sessão de abertura da conferência "New Ignorancies, new literacies" (Forum Barcelona 2004, 6-8 Set.)