|
|
St. Petersburg
International project
"Images and Voices of Hope" started on the shores of the Neva river
|
Spring in St.Petersburg is a long-waited time of warmth and sunshine, of
renewal and blooming. In the sunny days of 10th and 11th
May 2006 the city, decorated with emerald greenery of fresh leafage,
for the first time was welcoming the participants of the
international project "Images and Voices of Hope": journalists,
media professionals and artist - all those who create images,
offer them to the wide audience and through this influence the
public awareness. This initiative is aiming to create in media and
art the "wave" or direction, whose adherents would use in their work
language, themes, stories and images that give hope to the people. |
 |
The
project suggests to reflect on: Where does future come from? Where do the
seeds of world events lie? What influence on the future and on everyone make
images created by professionals and heard or seen by each one of us? It is
difficult to overestimate the importance of these questions, as long before
the events take shape on the world stage, they are played in people's hearts
and heads. The
project took its first steps in 1999. During past 7 years it found followers
in New York, Chicago, Boston, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Toronto, London,
San Paulo, Buenos Aires, Montevideo, Santiago, Dallas, Seattle, Denver,
Orlando, Miami, Tampa, Providence etc.
This
International Conversation Project is the co-creation of three partners: one
academic, one spiritual, and one social sector. The conveners are:
The Visions of a
Better World Foundation (VBWF) was launched in 1994 to give
permanent expression to the global dialogue started by the book "Visions of
a Better World" presented at the United Nations in 1993. VBWF's purpose is
to engage all segments of society in transforming their visions of a better
world into action.
The Brahma Kumaris
is a nonprofit organization established in India in 1937 that works for
positive change at all levels of society in over 70 countries around the
world. The Brahma Kumaris hold general consultative status with the Economic
and Social Council of the United Nations.
Case Center for
Business as an Agent of World Benefit -- Institute for Advanced Appreciative
Inquiry (IAAI) at Case Western Reserve University (CWRU).
IAAI studies examples of partnership and cooperation in the world. IV of
Hope uses the theory and methods of Appreciative Inquiry, developed by Dr.
David Cooperrider, chairman of IAAI and professor at CWRU. Danielle Zandee,
a doctoral student at CWRU is the research coordinator of this project.
In
St.Petersburg, project was supported by three organizations that played the
role of partners:
- International Foundation for Support of City Culture;
- Magazine "Neva";
- St.Petersburg State university, Faculty of Philosophy, Chair of Social
Philosophy and History of Philisophy.
Organizer of dialogue in St.Peterburg -
Saint-Petersburg Center of Brahma Kumaris.
During inauguration of the project, the partners
shared their feelings:
Ludmila
Modina, journalist, President of International Foundation for
Support of City Culture:
|
 
|
The
project was opened by performance of young musicians, and for me it
is a sign of great power. Divine music of Rakhmaninov, marvellous
voices, beautiful young faces - may be these are the images and
voices hope, their living embodiment. We may dispute a lot, but the
best things in the world are nature, man, art. And if we do
something for man to become better, for nature not to disappear and
for art to develop - may God help us. I wish this project great
success. I think that we all together will be able to do a lot, to
do that which one person is not able to do, however much he tries.
Only all together. The theme is urgent for every thinking and
intelligent person. I congratulate all on occasion of such a
beautiful event in our city - inauguration of international project
"Images and Voices of Hope". |
Alexander Melikhov,
writer, deputy editor-in-chief of magazine "Neva":
|
|
I think about it
like a professional writer. Man is living more in the dreamland, the
realm of fancy. He only thinks that he is pragmatic, that he is more
concerned with food, money, health. But what remains in human memory
are not barns or hospitals, but temples etc. We are concerned with
the beautiful image of the self, beautiful image of the world. But
how to combine the tragedy of life, its horrors with something
positive? In art this riddle is solved through high tragedy, after
which people come out with light tears, having the feeling that yes,
the world is horrible, but we are beautiful. The image of beauty,
existence of beauty and high attitude towards life may not
exterminate, rather neutralize all horrors of life. They can create
a kind of dream or vision about the world, in which we are beautiful
and significant, maybe even immortal. And I think that this
occupation of art should be also the occupation in miniature of any
media. High attitude towards life will itself dictate in which tone
to make a report, what to show and what not to show. That is
reporters in their work should follow Shakespeare. I myself in my
work follow it as much as I can, and in our magazine "Neva" You will
find a lot of positive. |
Konstantin
Pigrov, philosopher, professor, head of the department of social
philosophy and history of philosophy at St.Petersburg State
University:
|
|
Shadow of Don
Quihote and Mr.Pickwick is felt in this audience of those who
understand what is positive. I have negative attitude towards media,
because I think that any truth which is converted into lie when
transmitted, becomes just impossible. Why is it like this? To my
mind breakthrough in communication technics exceeds our possibility
of perception. Weak point is not that we speak little and bad,
rather that we understand little and bad. That's why we should not
crave for increase of news, rather to patiently teach to perceive
what people see on TV, listen through radio or reading newspapers.
Ancient wisdom "to know the self" today changes into appeal "to know
the self as a viewer, a listener and a reader". We should work with
ourselves, care of ourselves as of those who apprehend this world.
It is sensitive (delicate) perception of the world that is
perception of positive. |
On May 10th
in terms of the project took place the creative practicum for people
of art and culture "Future begins today". The participants of program
were reflecting over and sharing the ideas, how to actively influence and
create better future in St.Petersburg, in Russia, in the world.
 
|
Judy Rodgers,
director of the project:
It's
my great pleasure to be here
with you in
the city of
white nights. This is the first time that the dialogue has come to Russia.
And yet everyone in the world knows the position of Russia regarding
culture. We all go to the Russian ballets, read Russian playwrights and
novelists. I think it's very important that this dialogue in St.Petersburg
begins to look at what is the contribution that culture brings to the story
of the world. The project was
conceived as a way for local communities of artists, journalists and
media professionals to come together, to think together about the
way that our images and messages affect the society we serve. Each
conversation is very unique - the dialogue in Rio de Janeiro does
not sound like the dialogue in Kuala Lumpur, meeting in
Capetown will be not as in Oxford, England. I'm sure that what
happens in St.Peterburg will be unique here and important to the
city in particular and to Russia in general. |
|
|
|
Veronica
McHugh:
It
is my great honor, privilege and in fact a long-time dream to be in Russia,
to be here for such a wonderful program, such an inspiring event that just
adds to my joy and pleasure. A week or so ago the core group of Images &
Voices got together in Miami, in Florida, that constituted people from
different parts of the world all of whom again were very excited at the idea
that the project ot the initiative was going to begin in Russia. So many
people around the world are waiting with bated breath to hear the results of
what happens here today. And I also think that one alone can't do tit but
this affords an opportunity for all of those who are inspired to make a
difference to come together and to make a difference.
|
|
Didi Chakradhari,
national coordinator of Brahma Kumaris centers in Russia, Baltic and CIS
countries:
When intellectual
people come together, let it be a small group, the results of their meeting
can be significant not only for them, but can influence the whole world. The
program which we are starting now will definitely give wonderful results for
all those who came here. Hearty welcome to all of you. Your presence will
bring good new fruit to the world. |
 |
Words by the
participants of the program:
Galina Artyniuk,
director of the Center of creative initiatives:
Today the whole
world is lost in words. All humanity is in search of new meanings. But what
is needed is not information, rather essence. It is necessary to find the
most essential - that which is spiritually uplifting and would allow every
man to go deeper into the self and to find this positive in himself. Silence
allows us to recomprehend what's going on. Then the world starts sounding
with the voice if hope. Noise, fuss step aside for a while and we hear the
voice of God or of our higher self. To my mind we should speak less, rather
do more and look inside the self more.
|
Yuri Zverev,
writer:
I have come here
as it is my theme. For many years I'm writing about what can help man to be
happy and moral, because happiness is impossible without morality. Once in
the talk with editor of one big magazine I was impressed by the fact
mentioned by him, that all world classics is about either love or sorrow.
And what about happiness? Then I promised to myself that I would definitely
write such book. My latest work is titled "Book about family happiness".
Happiness, family in particular, is actually aspect of huge spiritual work.
Nowadays people mix love with passion. But it is not like this. Love is
given as advances for building happiness, advances which people should be
worthy of.
|
 |
Svetlana
Zharnikova, specialist in fine art and ethnology, candidate of historical
science:
Speaking about
such global things we should think of what should be: a) ethnic culture of
the future, b) social idea of the future, c) world idea of the future. Will
it be discord of nations, their differentiation, or will it be integration
of nations. What idea will unite whole humanity? Now different time has come
and it is time to think of the future, which would unite us, humans, as all
of us are children of the Sun. Each individual can do a lot in this world.
Evidence of this is Buddha, Christ, Mohammed - those who created world
religions. Each of them was alone, but they were able to hear the request of
humanity about new idea and gave that idea. And millions of people carry
this idea. That's why we should now speak about humanity, about that
positive idea which is necessary for humanity.
Didi Santosh,
director of St.Petersburg Center of Brahma Kumaris:
|
|
Before we speak about bringing this idea into
the world, about making world the better place, this idea is
essential for us personally so that we could create our personal
image and our personal voice. And here most important is to realize
the power and influence of an individual, and when I realize it,
then I start making a difference, start bringing these images and
voice into the world. |
After we have created some image or some vision for our own self - this is
the height where I would like to take myself - then this realization of the
importance of an individual is a very strong motivation to help me to bring
this vision into reality. This means lightening the candle of the self.
Because I'm a candle, my internal feelings should remain lit with this
positive hope. And when I have the hope, I can light the candle of another
one, ten that one - of another one... and in this way light can come in the
whole world. Only like this we can make a difference, only through our own
personal elevation, remaining committed to live life of quality, we can go
ahead.
On May 11th
in hotel "Angleter" in terms of the project "Images and Voices of Hope" took
place the dialogue "Media as Agent for World Benefit" for media people -
journalists, editors, film directors etc. On the meeting, that was held in a
very friendly and warm atmosphere ideas about vision of better future of
Saint-Petersburg were given.
The participants
shared their experience on:
|
 |
>
How to
create positive images among great number of real tragedies in the
world;
>
How to
make arguments and facts means for giving people hope, at the same
time not deviating from reality;
>
How to
maintain balance between necessity to reveal negative and desire to
give hope to the society that we serve;
>
How to
create stories that while describing real facts would inspire faith
for the future. |
|
Judy Rodgers:
The idea of the
dialogue is that everyone in the room participates in creating the shared
meaning. It's different from discussion. As the idea gets put into the room,
it can just seat there, during the dialogue new meanings come and they are
added to this idea. When we talk of positive meaning making in the media -
it doesn't mean only happy news, talking only about good things. That's not
the point. There is difference between positive stories and making positive
meaning. We have to be able to talk about things in the world that are bad.
We can't pretend that bad things do not happen. But there are ways for us to
locate the positive meaning in those things. As this conversation has moved
during the last seven years, there has been a lot of discussion about what
does it mean to give positive meaning in these times so that people do not
lose hope, so that to crate resilience instead of despair. There is great
need of in now. |
 |
In the final part
of the dialogue all were offered to share the miraculous story that changed
the world. Each participant was given a task: << Imagine that you have
survived a dark and difficult period in the world and you find
yourself on the other side of it all. The world is transformed almost beyond
recognition... What could be the event in the media that caused the people
of the world to shift the way they looked at human life on Earth and to make
such a profound change in the world? >>
|
|
Yuri
Dorofeev,
correspondent of newspaper
"St.Petersburg
leaflet" :
The world
history is moved by contradiction, competition. Man can be happy
only when he strives for something, when he overcomes something. It
is better than to have absolutely everything available.
|
|
Nadezhda
Ilyinskaya, president of Guild of gender journalism in St.Petersburg:
The story which
emerged at our table is more like a fairy-tale, nevertheless we believe in
it. As we know world is living in a kind of myth-making period. Myth are
created by politicians, by businessmen, are translated by media, so our
world becomes unreal. Sooner or later it will end with some collapse. So a
moment came when people understood that they are living in the world that is
strange to them, that has nothing real. And suddenly one traveler finds in
cave a very old scroll with music. This became an event for the world media.
When this music was played, it influence in a magic way on people, awakening
95% of human consciousness which is normally in sleeping state. The music
resulted containing positive code that could influence the consciousness of
nations. Its influence was so tremendous that people transformed the world
without fighting and made it beautiful. I myself am not sure about reality
of such a world, weather such society viable... But the world became very
beautiful! |
 |
|
|
Sergei
Lisovsky, editor-in-chief, newspaper "Society and Ecology":
When world was on
the verge of global catastrophe, Appeal to all inhabitants of the planet
sounded from the lips of the first man of the government, a president who
was held in big respect and authority in the world, who enjoyed love and
sympathy of the citizens: For the sake of saving life on Earth once and
forever to refuse aggression and violence and to make human moral and
spiritual values priority in one's life, to become sample of hope for the
world. This Appeal was widely covered in world media and served as impulse
to total transformation of human consciousness and of situation in the
world.
|
|
Nikolai Tioply,
director of gallery "Forum":
The only way to
create new world is creation of common religious system that would unite and
reconcile all existing religions. And all the rest is just fiction, it is
not fruitful. From the history we know that long-term transformation in
human lives was possible only due to some religious system. So if such new
system appears that would unite all nations - then world transformation
would be possible. |
 |
At
the end, participants of dialogue shared their impressions and plans for the
future.
|
|
Sergei Lisovsky:
It is a
very valuable dialogue that helps to understand each other and the main idea
of project. It is very good that particularly media professionals were
invited. The atmosphere was very good, filled with cordiality, benevolence,
spirit of learning. I liked it. I would like to take more active
participation in realization of this project.
|
Tatiana Baranova,
President, Foundation of eco-cultural innovations "Astra Nova": It is
pleasant to see readiness of people to make the world better, to
do something for the others.
Nelli
Kuznetsova,
Member of the
Foundation of eco-cultural innovations "Astra Nova":
I'm
very grateful that I was given a chance to know people with positive
attitude. Commonness of interests allowed us to agree about further
cooperation.
|
Olga Panova,
artist, teacher:
Future of society
is part and parcel of the future generation. It would be nice to
create a special program of help by combining media, educational
centers, cultural organizations and business - to give hope to the
children from "risk group", from problem families.
Nina
Belotserkovets,
editor-in-chief, newspaper "Business and Time": Each one should
do his work honestly! |
 |
Students
of the Faculty of Journalism:
We, students of Faculty of Journalism, will share with readers of our
student newspaper our impressions about the seen and heard today. It was
very interesting and also useful to participate such a conference, which
includes elements of game. I knew very interesting people. And opinions,
ideas that was spoken during conversation by professionals, by venerable
journalists seem to be very valuable for the future career. Words
"morality" and "inner regulation" got filled with meaning. Thanks a lot for
the nice evening.
|
|
Tatiana Ostroumova,
administrator of company "Contact": Impression of the dialogue is
only favorable. Communication, knowing new people, exchange of information,
tuning to positive thoughts - this is path to harmony, to equilibrium, to
peace and enlightenment. This is what is needed. Thanks to all organizers of
this meeting.
The project
"Images and Voices of Hope" invites to cooperation all interested
individuals, organizations. Let's together create better future.
|
st.petersburg@ru.bkwsu.org
Back to top
|
|
