'Without dialogue nothing can be built', declared Esquivel

Twenty-six nations and more than eighty educational institutions met this Monday (11), at the Methodist University of Sao Paulo (Universidade Metodista de São Paulo), to present and debate scientific papers related to religion, media, culture and peace.

The opening of the 6th Conference on Media, Religion and Culture was marked by speeches of hope for a better world, with more diversity of ideas and tolerance among peoples.

“We are honored to host such a great event here at Metodista. This is a unique opportunity to make friends and share new research and discoveries”, said the president of Metodista, Marcio de Moraes.

The initial lecture was made by Professor Adolfo Pérez Esquivel, the 1980 Nobel Peace Prize winner. Esquivel’s speech was marked by a deep inquiry about what we must do in the pursuit of peace among peoples.

“We must communicate to one another because, without dialogue between people, nothing can be built”, declared the Professor.

Esquivel warned the people present at the lecture about the risks we run when it comes to the acceleration of the natural rhythm of things. “Everybody is at the service of machines. Nowadays we have to adapt ourselves to the rhythm of modernity and not to our own rhythm”.

To value local culture to celebrate the characteristics of each individual and to build new paradigms for education are strategies which Professor Esquivel highlighted as ways of recreating a fairer and more peaceful world.  

RENATO NEVES