“Gaining awareness of human communication in culture, promoting collaboration and developing ecumenical and interreligious dialogue, and providing support to education in the media”: these are just some of the objectives set by “Signis”, the new world Catholic association born from the fusion between OCIC (International Catholic Organization of Cinema and Audiovisuals), an umbrella organization that gathers together 140 associations present in over 160 countries throughout the world, and UNDA (International Catholic Association for Radio and Television) that groups together 136 national and 23 international associations. The fusion will be celebrated at the next world congress of the two Catholic organizations to be held in Rome from 19 to 27 November 2001. To coincide with the congress, a major media event, the “Multimedia World Forum”, will be held in the huge building of San Michele, on the banks of the Tiber, from 22 to 24 November. “Signis comments Pierre Bèlanger, secretary general of UNDA – wishes to be an association for the exchange of ideas but also of projects and concrete productions”. A commitment with precise objectives that, according to the secretary general, cannot dispense with collaboration between all the components of the Catholic media. Members of the new organization will comprise Catholic institutions such as radio stations, video production companies, training centres, departments of media studies in the universities, professionals of communication, film critics, experts in pastoral care. In Italy, ACEC, the Catholic Association of Cinema Operators has been active in the field of cinema since 1949. According to ACEC, there are some 700 community halls, venues for meetings, testimony, dialogue and exchange in Italy. For further information and membership details, contact Ocic-Unda, 15, rue du Saphir, 1030 Bruxelles. Tel. 32.2.7344294 fax 32.2.7343207 e-mail sg@ocic.org, web site www.ocic.org
