Universities as Pillars of Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions
Third in a Series of Four
by Genevieve B. Kupang
This is the 3rd in the series of what transpired during the SDG #16/17 Boot Camp, RISE 2025 ICREATE IMPACT Conference held on May 28-30, 2025. Mr. Javier Tolcachier (Argentina) and Dr. Jude William Genilo (Bangladesh), underscored the need for non-violent journalism and non-polarizing communication—essential tools in combating divisive narratives and fostering social cohesion.
Javier Tolcachier: The Need For Non-Violent Journalism
Tolcachier, our fifth speaker, is a renowned voice for nonviolent journalism. He champions a communication paradigm rooted in truth, dignity, and hope, urging media to be a catalyst for social transformation, not just a mirror of chaos. He highlighted the concentrated control of global information by a few powerful news agencies, which often perpetuates a one-sided view, amplifying violence and fear.
He advocates for journalism that uplifts stories of reconciliation, compassion, and human potential. This form of storytelling elevates narratives reflecting human dignity and promoting a just, peaceful world. Tolcachier reminded us that violence is multifaceted—encompassing economic, psychological, racial, gender-based, religious, and moral dimensions. Nonviolent journalism must courageously denounce these hidden oppressions while offering alternatives: stories of peacebuilding, solidarity, and human transformation that affirm life and collective future.
This was an excerpt of what he shared: “This type of nonviolent journalism is based on an image of the human being as a historical being whose mode of social action transforms its own nature. This constitutes a dynamic image that highlights our capacity for transformation and the freedom to choose different options for our future. This allows us to imagine the possibility of a more harmonious and supportive world and justifies the efforts for peace, justice, and development. This image of new realities encourages us to believe in the possibility that nonviolence can take root as a definitive and substantial cultural advance within us.
A new consciousness capable of feeling repulsion toward any form of violence would lead human beings to assume personal and collective nonviolent attitudes in all kinds of circumstances. Although many may think this is impossible, we can see that our species, the human species, has already made great progress in this direction. Humanity isn’t in the same condition as it was centuries ago. Progress is being made in eradicating certain forms of violence. It would take too long to develop in this brief iteration the conceptual fundamentals on which this vision of the human being is based. As Antonio Carvallo already explained, for those interested, we recommend the study of the work of Silo, the founder of the thought current and action current of New Humanism.
…Communicators must seek coherence between their personal behavior and the social message they spread. That means the coherence between what we think, what we feel, and what we do… In 2009, the members of the Humanist Movement, driven by the initial idea of the organization World Without Wars, and together with hundreds of organizations and personalities of the world, organized the first World March for Peace and Nonviolence. On that occasion, a group of around 150 people made a symbolic journey around the world to draw attention to the urgency of peace and the need for nonviolence.
That march began on October 2, 2009, from New Zealand, and ended three months later, on January 2, 2010, at the Park of Study and Reflection, Punta de Vacas, at the foot of Mount Aconcagua, on the border between Argentina and Chile, covering 160,000 kilometers. To cover and give resonance in the press to the events and repercussions of the march, Pressenza, an international press agency focused on peace and nonviolence, was created on November 15, 2008. We’re very proud to say that we were part of the founding group, the founding team.
In the Philippines, on the occasion of the first world march (1WM), multiple activities were carried out. The highlight was held on October 7, 2009, with the formation of the largest human symbol of peace made worldwide until then, carried out by more than 12,000 students from schools in Lucena City, Quezon Province. Some of the people who are here today organized with great enthusiasm that spectacular event.
Since that 1WM, Pressenza has developed based on the voluntary work of its collaborators, diversifying its themes and productions, broadcasting today daily information in 10 languages: English, Spanish, French, Italian, German, Russian, Arabic, Catalan, Portuguese, and Greek, and envisioning the launching of newsrooms in Bangla and Urdu in a very short time.
Pressenza gives visibility to news initiatives, proposals, and scenarios related to peace, nonviolence, disarmament, human rights, and the overcoming of all forms of discrimination. It places the human being as a central value and concern and celebrates diversity. It proposes an active and lucid journalism that respects these essential premises, aiming at the resolution of crisis and social conflicts in all attitudes. It disseminates studies, analyses, and actions that contribute to world peace and the overcoming of violence, highlighting the urgency of nuclear and conventional disarmament, the peaceful resolution of conflicts, the prevention and the withdrawal from occupied territories.
Meanwhile, our editorial line denounces all the facts and situations that cause pain and suffering in populations, trying to reveal and transform the underlying causes of these events, going beyond being passive spectators and trying to mobilize actions. Pressenza produces today not only news, interviews, or analyses in written format but also documentaries, photo and audiovisual chronicles, radio programs, podcasts, books, and maintains a constant activity of dissemination of the optics of peace and nonviolence in the different social media platforms.”
Well, I really liked how our speaker ended his talked with this: “Echoing the main motto of this international conference, we then invite you to rise with us to foster nonviolent journalism, to rise with us to humanize communication, to rise with us to expand peace and nonviolence all over the world. Many thanks.”
Preparatory organizational meeting with international speakers for the Boot Camp SDG 16/17, June 5, 2025. From left to right: Javier Tolcachier (Argentina), Antonio Carvallo (United Kingdom), and Genevieve B. Kupang (BCU International Relations Officer, Philippines)
Dr. Jude William Genilo – The Need for Non-Polarizing Communicators
Genilo’s advocacy for non-polarizing communication remarkably complements the earlier sharing of Tolchachier. Both offered pathways to fostering understanding in an age saturated with misinformation and disinformation. Their insights highlight the need for media and public discourse to actively counter division and build bridges of truth and empathy.
Dr. Jude William Genilo during the RISE 2025 Conference.
The sixth speaker, Dr. Genilo of the University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, delivered a compelling presentation on “Next Gen Public Relations: The Need for Non-polarizing Communicators,” offering both diagnostic insights and practical recommendations for communicators in today’s polarized landscape. He began by outlining the essential characteristics of non-polarizing communicators: honesty and sincerity, openness and transparency, understandability and meaning, co-creation, communication professionalism, and decision capability. These qualities, he argued, are foundational for communicators who wish to bridge divides rather than deepen them.
Drawing on the latest Edelman Trust Barometer results, Genilo identified six countries as severely polarized: Argentina, Colombia, United States, South Africa, Sweden, and Spain (Edelman, 2024). He further noted that countries such as Japan, Saudi Arabia, and Thailand are among the least polarized, while nations like Germany, the United Kingdom, and Canada fall into the moderately polarized category (Edelman, 2024). These findings underscore the global nature of polarization, challenging the misconception that “culture wars” are confined to the United States.
Genilo delved into the dynamics of group polarization and affective polarization, emphasizing how communication—especially through social media—can intensify divisions. He highlighted that violence stemming from polarization takes multiple forms: physical, mental, and online. Of particular concern is violence against outgroups, which is often amplified in digital spaces. As a case in point, Genilo referenced the ferocious online violence directed at Maria Ressa of the Philippines, noting that new research details the intensity and persistence of these attacks (Posetti et al., 2023).
This discussion resonated deeply with my own research, which I presented at the conference: “Storytelling, Truth, and Peace-building: A Literary Critique of Maria Ressa and Colum McCann’s Vatican Speeches.” Both Ressa and McCann exemplify how narrative strategies can be harnessed to challenge oppressive structures and foster peacebuilding values. Ressa’s advocacy against digital authoritarianism and gendered oppression, and McCann’s emphasis on empathy and “storylistening,” illustrate the transformative power of storytelling in the battle for truth and justice.
Social media’s role in group polarization cannot be overstated. Economic anxieties, institutional imbalances, and the widening mass-class divide all contribute to a volatile information ecosystem. The battle for truth is not merely a struggle over facts, but also over the narratives that shape public perception and civic engagement. As Genilo emphasized, communication can polarize—but it can also heal. The need for non-polarizing communicators is more urgent than ever.
Organizational meeting on February 28, 2025, with Dr. Jude Genilo and organizers Dr. Rosalie Sheryll Rosales (Scientific and Innovation Chair), Ms. Dannah Valirie Dulnuan (RISE 2025 Coordinator), and Genevieve B. Kupang (SDG 16/17 Organizer, RISE 2025).
Universities, as pillars of peace, justice, and strong institutions, have a vital role to play. By equipping the next generation of communicators with the skills to foster dialogue, resist polarization, and champion non-violent journalism, higher education can help build more resilient and inclusive societies.
In conclusion, the RISE 2025 Boot Camp on SDG 16 and 17 highlighted the pressing need to advance non-violent journalism and non-polarization. As we navigate a polarized world, let us heed the call for honesty, empathy, and professionalism in communication—values that can transform not only our media, but our societies as a whole.
Participants for SDG 16 and 17 included representatives from Baguio Central University, WCC Aeronautic and Technological College, University of Luzon, University of Liberal Arts Bangladesh, and Ginhawa, Inc.
#RISE2025ICREATEIMPACT
For those who missed the earlier articles in this series, you can catch up here:
First Series- https://www.pressenza.com/2025/06/boot-camp-sdg-16-17-of-rise-2025-advances-peace-justice-and-global-goals/
Second Series – https://www.pressenza.com/2025/06/boot-camp-un-sdg-16-17-of-rise-2025-advances-peace-justice-and-global-goals/.
About the Author:
Dr. Genevieve B. Kupang is the organizer of the RISE 2025 ICREATE IMPACT SDG Boot Camp for SDG 16 and 17, held in May 2025 at the WCC ATC. She serves as the Peace Education Coordinator for the World Council for Curriculum and Instruction (WCCI) and is a Leadership Team Member of the Exceptional Women of Peace (EWOP) Awards under Pathways to Peace (PTP). Dr. Kupang is also the International Relations Officer and Dean of the Graduate School at Baguio Central University.
