Wednesday, December 3, 1997
Ms. Sizoo opened the session at 3:15 P.M. She thanked the translators and
announced that there would be an additional meeting next day in the morning.
She resumed some of what was discussed yesterday, and outlined what should be
approached today. Concrete experiences should be related, for hope comes from
that, not from talking of what is wrong today.
Eva resumed, in English, what happened yesterday. She spoke of being in
crisis, as a challenge to be faced. The motto was to be concrete and quick.
Subjects were considered interrelated and handled by the group together. She
gave an overview of what has been said on education, science, culture, and
art,
and the underlying values. Ms. Sizoo asked if anybody wanted to add anything.
Mr. Benet Fonteles, from Brazil, proposed alternatives for science and art,
together. He proposes an integrated, interactive scientific education, not
separating environment, or anything, creating a wholeness. To value popular
wisdom, creative thought, without denying science, but questioning it always.
Encouraging the capacity to be enchanted with life. There should be three
objectives, love, beauty, and harmony.
The next speaker talked on knowledge and power. This is difficult to
translate, for power can be a noun or a verb. To know is to have power, or
knowledge is power. He suggested that the delegates might make a little play
with those words in our report. Eva suggested the expression empowerment for
this case.
Prof. Chan, speaking in Chinese and translated by his countryman, stressed
that
scientific development is necessary to solve the problems in all sectors of
human activity. Therefore science should be more and better appreciated.
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Mr. Daniel Pimiento will speak in the name of the Roubaix group, linked by
Internet, presenting their opinion. They stress what is common among the
cultures. They think of education as developing potentialities. Enrichment
includes confrontation, but convergence must be searched.
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Ms. Sizoo is glad of having divergent opinions, because that is a clarifying
process. If the foundation paid for the transport of the Allies, it was
precisely to have the opinions, but also the disagreements with the platform.
Mr. Sandy Fitzgerald talked about art, a field that cannot be controlled.
(Due to electricity problems some parts are lost.)
The subject of education was brought up.
Ms. Sizoo invites Kamala to talk on her experience in India. Kamala is a
schoolteacher. The school is on small scale, allowing familiarity, and has no
hierarchy. They try not to have too many rules. The students' parents are
very
much involved and co-responsible for the school. The teachers try to develop
all the time and learn also from the children, who are treated with perfect
honesty. They have two problems: that of having to turn children away, and
secondly, they do not want to depend on the fees.
Ms. Bishaka from India related that they have several hundred million children
out of school. Should they have very good education for a few, or an average
education for more? Kamala asked: Why wait for others to solve this?
Ms. Sizoo interrupted the meeting at 4:45 P.M. for a coffee-break of 30
minutes.
The meeting resumed at 5:35 P.M.
Ms. Sizoo explained what is expected of the group. The ideas are here, but
they must be put into form, and the group has to be practical, more
down-to-earth.
Marcio Campos thinks the group is not having an actual discussion, because
each
one speaks in turn, without interruptions.
Ms. Nadia had the floor next, and talked about the low participation of
women.
They were invited and it was surprising that so many men accepted. The
written
contributions showed that women were suffering. The ensuing discussion
highlighted that the suffering is caused by the unresolved differences.
Society should represent both sides. Other delegates mentioned that the
private-public dichotomy is more important. The contrast of being modern and
very traditional at the same time is another problem. The discussion
continued
on the topic of dichotomies.
Ms. Sizoo resumed that these preparatory meetings, based on two series of
questions, and the two contributions, already represented a dialogue. This
interaction allows everyone to recognize and accept the difference in others,
in all aspects.
The gentleman from Thailand talked next, saying they should concentrate on the
how instead of the what. How should research be reoriented? In school one is
idealistic, but who does research without money? The group has talked about
all subjects, but the reasons behind these activities must be looked at. Even
when talking about the same thing, people talk with different symbols, in
different languages. The proposals must be based on experience.
Ms. Bembet, from the Philippines, the only Christian country in Asia,
talked of
an institution doing research and wants to share the experience of the
activities of their churches. Any transformation must be based on the
transformation of the individual. She does not want to speak about education,
but about formation, which is the development of the insight in the
individual. They are conscious that God is present here and now. One has to
soak oneself with this consciousness and immerse in it. When one wants to
approach other religions, other nations, one has to take off one's shoes,
so as
not to trample on them. This workshop, and the conference, with the
possibility of making friendships and of immersion in the realities of others,
is a very special opportunity. One must practice immersion 24 hours a day.
The gentleman from Togo has a question on how the imported religion was
integrated into the Philippine roots. In Africa there is a dichotomy, they
don't feel totally open to the new religion. To what extent is the Christian
culture superimposed on the Philippine culture?
Ms. Bembet answers that the aim of the immersion programs is exactly to claim
the original culture and integrate all churches.
Discussion on religion and spirituality went on for some time.
Mr. Marcio Campos, from Brazil, answered to the mention of spirituality and
told of his experience with the Caiapo Indians, who respect nature. He finds
it difficult to separate religion from spirituality and from respect of
nature. This should be a very important matter for the Alliance.
Ms. Fahine from Libya was shocked. She is a Muslim, but there have been other
religions before the Muslim faith began. One can find God or not, but it is
dangerous ground. One must accept peoples' reactions.
The girl from Algeria spoke of the remains of the effects of colonialism in
her.
Mr. Nagarash from India came back to the subject of education. Education
should not be just for getting a good job.
Ms. Sizoo thinks the proposals that the group are supposed to submit are not
yet clear. She asks the members to write down their ideas for proposals and
give them to her either tonight or tomorrow morning. The meeting tomorrow
will
be from 11 A.M. till 1 P.M., for strictly two hours.
Mr. Marcio Campos from Brazil is concerned with dialogue and mutuality.
Mr. Daniel Pimienta thinks the Alliance should not handle religion, but
ethics,
which has universal value.
Ms. Luciana Ferraz, from Brazil would like to share her experience in
practical
teaching. Their idea was to discover the common ethics in children and they
published a book on it.
Mr. Galano asks that everybody leave their names, addresses and other data by
the end of the day.
Ms. Sizoo closed the meeting at 7:05 P.M.
END.
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