As part of the 10th International Symposium of the World Center for Humanist Studies, a round table discussion entitled “Nonviolent Journalism: A Necessary Utopia” was held on Friday (9) and organized by Pressenza, an international news agency focused on peace and nonviolence.
With the clear intention of showcasing Pressenza’s cultural diversity and universalist vocation, the panel of speakers included Mayssa Issaoui, editor of the Arabic newsroom, Md. Biozid Jessorey, climate specialist from Bangladesh, Pía Figueroa, from Chile, co-director and co-founder of the agency, Elena Shubina, translator for the Russian edition, and Walker Vizcarra, photographer and nonviolence activist from the agency’s Ecuador office. The panel was moderated by Javier Tolcachier, also a member of the founding team.
The humanist communicator and writer introduced the session by pointing out that journalism and communication play a crucial role in shaping the social imagination.
“However,” he pointed out, “the current system, driven by values that contradict human evolution, exploits its vast dissemination mechanisms to perpetuate various forms of violence.”
“Corporate-controlled media and digital platforms amplify hate speech and misinformation on a massive scale, while restricting and violating freedom of expression and the fundamental human right to communication,” he added.
In response, popular voices are rising to demand profound changes in the way information is produced and shared. At this critical moment, nonviolent journalism, rooted in the highest human aspirations, emerges as a necessary utopia, Tolcachier said.
Pía Figueroa then took the floor, noting that “it is of great interest to nonviolent journalism to break away from the agenda dictated by economicism and prevailing authoritarianism, to echo the voices coming from the social base, from all those people and communities made invisible or violated by power; from those who break away from official discourse and question the established order, valuing freedom of thought and belief.”
Figueroa emphasized Pressenza’s intention to open up the news agenda to issues and proposals that mobilize positive change or demonstrate exemplary attitudes of nonviolence in societies and individuals. New constructions that, although initially small, are seeds of hope in contrast to a monolithic narrative of violence and serve as examples demonstrating that another way of life—sustainable, equal, inclusive, peaceful, coherent—is indeed possible.
“At the same time,” he added, “it is necessary to critically address the multiple situations of violence that exist, aiming to reveal what are often their structural causes and not simply circumstantial ones. Just as this approach considers violence in any form unacceptable, it also addresses the need to include the denunciation of systemic oppression as a way of placing events in a broader context that helps to develop, disseminate, and mobilize alternatives for overcoming them.”
“Perspectives that this journalism always places within the context of encouragement and the priority of reporting on non-violent conflict resolution. For this reason, it urges that reconciliation processes also be included as prominent news items, reinforcing the need for emphatic criticism of all forms of revenge, whether overt or subtle,” said the founder of Pressenza.
Continuing the event, Mayssa Issaoui spoke from her personal experience: “This trip taught me that journalism can be a means to promote unity rather than division, and to inspire hope and action rather than despair and passivity. The journalism we promote seeks to empower people to envision and work for a world in peace. It is not simply a method of reporting the news, but a movement that puts human rights at the center and nonviolence at its core.”
With a Master’s degree in TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) and as a member of the Arabic editorial team, he highlighted the importance of this work in that cultural region. “Pressenza has become a means of ensuring that the voices of the Middle East and North Africa region are heard beyond their borders, while ensuring that global struggles and solutions are accessible to Arabic-speaking audiences,” she said.
“The region has suffered conflict, inequality, and political instability, largely driven by external forces seeking to divide and dominate. The root causes of this instability go back centuries of war, domination, and corruption. However, despite these challenges, the people have shown incredible resilience, mutual support, and a strong sense of solidarity,” she added.
As a Tunisian, Issaoui highlighted the impact of the 2011 revolution on her country and the entire Middle East and North Africa region. “Tunisia was an example that showed the world how powerful the desire for freedom and dignity can be. Through collective action and peaceful, non-violent means, the Tunisian people showed the world that it is possible to change decades of oppression when people believe in the cause they are fighting for and work together for the common good.”
Towards the end of his speech, one phrase resonated throughout the auditorium: “In a world where the media often becomes a weapon, nonviolent journalism became a radical act of hope and rebellion.”
Next to speak was Md Biozid Jessorey from Bangladesh, who began his presentation by recounting how he witnessed firsthand the devastating effects of climate change in his native Khulna, located in the southwest of the country, 270 km from the capital, Dhaka: intense heat waves, frequent cyclones, floods, and heavy storms. “I have seen rivers erode the land, leaving many people homeless. I have seen farmers lose their livelihoods as sea levels rise and salinity invades the land they once cultivated.”
Biozid emphasized that climate change is no longer just an environmental problem, but is also deeply linked to social, economic, and even violent conflicts.
“Climate change is not a distant or abstract problem, but a global crisis that is already transforming our world. Its effects are being felt on every continent, from rising sea levels to extreme weather events such as heat waves, droughts, floods, and wildfires. We are seeing ecosystem disruptions, threats to food security, the rapid spread of disease, and an increasing risk to coastal communities, such as mine, which are already at risk of displacement. These consequences often result in economic and human losses, creating ripple effects that spread throughout society.”
“As global temperatures rise and vital resources become scarce, we are witnessing an increase in conflict and inequality. Climate change has become a direct driver of social and economic violence, especially in regions that are already fragile. Resource scarcity, displacement, and growing economic inequality are contributing to this growing crisis,” the Pressenza editor said in his analysis.
In terms of ways to address this severe crisis, the Bangladeshi specialist and activist proposed a multifaceted approach, which aims first to mitigate the effects of climate change to prevent them from worsening, including the transition to renewable energy sources, the promotion of sustainable land management practices, and conservation efforts to preserve ecosystems and biodiversity.
It is also essential to ensure that communities most vulnerable to climate change have the resources, knowledge, and support they need to withstand environmental disruptions.
Addressing the root causes of social and economic inequality is critical to preventing violence in the face of climate change, prioritizing equitable economic policies, protecting the rights of marginalized groups, and promoting sustainable development through inclusive decision-making processes.
“This requires collective action, a focus on justice and equity, and a commitment to building a more resilient and peaceful world for all,” the activist concluded.
Pressenza’s Russian translator and editor, Elena Shubina, gave a profound testimony of her participation in the agency.
“One of the great advantages of the agency is the way relationships and activities are built within the team, where the principles proclaimed are implemented in practice. Each participant is given the opportunity to show initiative and contribute their own vision and ideas,” she said.
These relationships are an excellent example of how a Universal Human Nation can be organized. This is practical proof that peace can exist, that human beings can be a supreme value, and that a system of organization can be subordinate to their interests. It is a great, absolutely real example that creativity, love, cooperation, and creative interaction between people can exist in the world, added Shubina.
After highlighting the agency’s absolute financial independence, which allows it editorial freedom and openness in the expression of ideas without external pressure, Elena went on to highlight the spiritual aspects of Pressenza’s agenda.
“Spirituality is a driving force that reveals each person’s potential, helping them to realize themselves, their needs, the meaning of their life, their value, and their place in this world. The meaning of their existence awakens in each person the highest feelings such as love, compassion, mercy, and cooperation,” she proclaimed.
In a strongly testimonial passage, Shubina expressed how Silo’s Message became a guide “that helps me change my life, develop spiritually, and find answers in problematic situations. Upon learning about the Message and the people who follow its teachings, my life changed completely,” she said.
“The communities of his followers, which are found in almost every country in the world, are excellent proof of its effectiveness and profound wisdom. The Humanist Movement was born from Silo’s teachings and forms the basis of Pressenza’s principles. For me, this is the tool I need, I would like to focus on it personally and present it to as many people as possible,” she added.
“I am very happy that Pressenza has decided to include spiritual development as one of its areas of coverage,” said the Russian editor, adding her intention to bring articles based on Silo’s Message to as many people as possible in Russia, materials that reflect the psychological aspects of personality and help unlock the inner potential of each individual.
Finally, Walker Vizcarra closed the panel, illustrating how photojournalism contributes to the construction of a nonviolent and inclusive narrative.
“In a global context of social, economic, and political crisis, photojournalism can serve to amplify the voices of those who have historically been silenced and made invisible… This implies a conscious commitment to diversity of perspectives and an ethical stance against violence and discrimination. Photographing conflicts, injustices, and structural violence is not enough if we do not go further and try to offer a perspective that also points toward solutions and peaceful alternatives,” Vizcarra said.
From a background of decades of humanist activism, the editor of the Ecuador news desk explained: “At Pressenza, we believe that the true power of photography lies in its ability to humanize and transform. Every photo we take has the potential to change the way audiences perceive people, conflicts, and issues. Rather than reducing people to victims or stereotypes, our approach seeks to highlight their dignity, their struggle, and their efforts to overcome violence, not only physical or armed, but also religious, economic, racial, gender, psychological, and moral. Thus, our photographic practice becomes a transformative action that not only documents but also constructs a new reality, one that is more inclusive, egalitarian, and respectful of human rights.
Delving deeper into the way we conceive of graphic production, Walker said: “The way we choose to represent peoples, communities, and individuals in our photo reports should not perpetuate stereotypes, but rather show the diverse layers of the human experience, recognizing the dignity, resilience, and humanity of every being, regardless of their origin, gender, or social status. This means questioning conventional representations and breaking with images that are often repeated in the media, those that reduce people to mere numbers or victims. Our photography must show the complexity of human life, with its tensions, but also with its moments of connection, struggle, and transformation. In doing so, we offer a more complete view of reality, one that is not limited to images of violence, but also opens space for hope, reconciliation, utopia, and the construction of possible futures.”
Finally, he concluded by emphasizing the transformative power of photojournalism. ”Each image has the potential to challenge dominant perceptions, open new ways of thinking, and contribute to the construction of a more just reality. As photographers committed to a humanist vision, our work not only documents events, but also plays an active role in creating a narrative that values diversity, peace, and nonviolence.“
”At Pressenza, we seek to ensure that our images are not only a testimony to suffering, but also a representation of hope, resistance, and change. We choose to photograph those moments that, although sometimes small, are seeds of social transformation. These photographs, far from being simple snapshots, are an invitation to action and change, a reminder that another world is possible if we choose to see and share the stories of those who are working for that future.”
This concluded the presentation by the international news agency Pressenza, certainly a significant example of the title that frames the present Symposium of the World Center for Humanist Studies: “Utopias in Motion. Pathways to the Universal Human Nation.”
