Querida Amazonia dialogues about education, peace and citizenship from our outgoing being

Experts from different universities and institutions advocated for preserving and promoting peace in our country.

On May 8, 2024, the 4th Querida Amazonía webinar was held titled “Education, peace and citizenship from our being out”, a virtual space that was attended by 15 panelists, two moderators and four organizers from different universities and institutions that advocate for preserving and promoting peace in our country.

The activity began with opening words from Dr. Cipriano Sánchez García, L.C., Rector of the Universidad Anáhuac México, and Dr. José Alberto Castilla Barajas, deputy director of the School of Bioethics. The inaugural conference was held by Bishop Lizardo Estrada, general secretary of the Latin American and Caribbean Episcopal Council (CELAM), with the theme “Peace passes through education: the challenge of universities of Christian and Catholic inspiration in the formation of young people as artisans of peace”, in which he left the message of the search for truth through research and teaching as the main mission of a Catholic university.

The first panel was held with the topic “The role of universities in peace training” moderated by Mtro. Carlos Juárez Cruz, director of the Institute for Economy and Peace (IPE) in Mexico. The first participation was by Dr. Lorena Miranda Navarro, coordinator of the Latin American Center for Social Responsibility (CLARES) of the School of Social Responsibility of the Universidad Anáhuac México, who considered that social responsibility implies the commitment of each individual to contribute to collective well-being and is a fundamental pillar for building peace in society, since it promotes equity in solving problems and building harmonious relationships.

Dr. Florentino Badial, general director of the Universidad Iberoamericana Tijuana, said that universities are a privileged place for the meeting and dialogue of all people, while Father Ernesto Palafox, coordinator of Pastoral Theology at the Pontifical University of Mexico (UPM), cited the words of Ignacio Ellacuría: “Peace is not the absence of war, instead, it is a state of tranquility and harmony, where justice dominates all social relations.”

Javier Acero Pérez, auxiliary bishop of the Primate Archdiocese of Mexico, expressed that a university is a place for listening and dialogue, and that we must all have an attitude of openness to the opinions and points of view of others without falling into relativism, but also without losing sight of the importance of Christian values. Likewise, Dr. Cecilia Coronado, deputy director of the Institute of Humanities of the Universidad Panamericana, addressed the concept of the common good and how it encompasses deeper aspects of life in the community.

To finish the first panel, Néstor Anaya, rector of the Universidad La Salle México, delved into the climate of violence that we experience in Mexico and the importance of education for healthy coexistence and peace, from basic education to higher education at the university.

In the second panel entitled “Fabrics of peace from civil society, business, the Church and politics”, moderated by Father Allan Christian Martiñón, academic of the Academic Directorate of Comprehensive Formation of the Universidad Anáhuac México, began with the presentation by Dr. Mónica Chávez, president of the Mexican Association of Christian Social Doctrine (IMDOSOC), who pointed out that the peace process is a personal and community commitment, and that truth, justice and mercy are the fundamental elements for be able to build peace.

Father Carlos Sandoval, coordinator of the Pastoral Ministry of Education and Culture of the Diocese of Celaya and the province of Bajío, shared his vision of personalism, which he defined as “a deep look toward one's neighbor” and “being a neighbor without borders”, and how it plays an essential role in building peace. Dr. Rafael Estrada Michel, editorial director of the magazine Tiempo de Derechos, highlighted how laws should seek to benefit all people in the broadest way possible, with the aim of not ruling out under any circumstances any expression of human dignity or human rights.

Representative Margarita Zavala emphasized the concept of anthropocentrism and the commitment that all citizens have with respect to politics, explaining the problem of showing concern for politics only during electoral times. This space ended with the words of Germán Araujo, secretary of the Federation of Humanist Entrepreneurs, who noted the importance of a rule of law that is constituted by democracy, the division of powers, transparency and ethics of public administration.

The academic space served as a starting point for the creation of upcoming initiatives that encourage dialogue, reciprocity and the exchange of ideas for the construction of a society that seeks peace through education, the legislature, social responsibility, politics and the family. We appreciate the valuable participation of all the panelists, moderators and organizers who made this magnificent event possible.