AMECEA should explore Media opportunity to protect Environment

By Francis Jjunju

15^th July 2022

The Prefect for the Vatican’s Dicastery for Communications Dr Paolo Ruffini has underscored the importance of communication in answering Pope Francis’ calls for care for environment.

In his presentation at the 20^th AMECEA Plenary which is going on in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, under the theme Ecological Impact and Integral Human Development, Dr Ruffini said Catholic media has a big role to play in the campaign to save the environment.

“Many problems of today’s world stem from the tendency, of unconsciousness, to make the method and aims of science and technology and epistemological paradigm which shapes the lives of individuals and the working of the of the society; he said.

Talking specifically about the role of social communications in addressing the environmental crisis, Dr Ruffini said that there is need to “generate accountable citizens, true servants, true stewards on the planet and not only consumers” where communication can help the ecological ethics and so “contribute to the flourishing ecological citizenship.”

Referencing Laudato Si no 65, he emphasized the role of communication “in building or destroying a responsible awareness” about the crisis of our space and time.

The Prefect for Communication appreciated the flourishing of Catholic radio stations in the region since the first African Synod in 1994, so much that it now has over 70 Catholic radios and 7 Catholic television station stations a powerful asset in building society.

Dr Ruffini then reminded the bishops and delegates in the 20^th AMECEA Plenary Assembly that communication is not a one-way process but reciprocal whereby listening to another another’s experiences and stories becomes part and parcel of authentic social communication.