Patuloy na ipaglalaban ng Living Laudato Si Philippines ang malayang pamamahayag upang mapalakas ang boses ng mga pinaka-nangangailangan sa lipunan at pangangalaga ng kalikasan.
Ito ang paninindigan at mensahe ni Rodne Galicha – Executive Director ng Living Laudato Si Philippines sa paggunita ng “World Press Freedom day” ngayong ika-3 ng Mayo, 2022.
“We owe it to the truthtellers – to journalists – who serve as our bridge to propagate and communicate to the public the “cry of the earth and the cry of the poor.” Without the independent and free press, we will not be able to tell the stories of the vulnerable communities that suffer to the impacts of the climate crisis. Without the free press, it will be very hard for us to communicate to the world our struggle for climate justice, our call to institutionalize the mechanism for loss and damage, and our endeavor to advance the protection of ‘Our Common Home’,”ayon sa mensaheng ipinadala ni Galicha sa Radio Veritas.
Ayon kay Galicha, ito ay dahil narin patuloy na nararanasan ng mga mamamahayag ang paniniil, karahasan at pagpaslang kung kaya’t higit na kinakailangan ang pagtataguyod ng mga batas na magbibigay proteksyon sa kanilang hanay.
Ipinabatid din ni Galicha ang pasasalamat sa mga mamamahayag sa Pilipinas at buong mundo na palaging nagpaparating sa publiko ng mga mensahe ng katulad nilang mga grupo.
“World Press Freedom Day is not just a celebration but also a reminder to all of us that we need to fight for our right to information, freedom of expression, and freedom of the press. There are many forms of violence and attacks against the free press and our right to information that’s why Filipinos must remain vigilant,” mensahe pa ng opisyal ng Living Laudato Si Philippines.
Ito na ang 29-taon na paggunita sa World Press Freedom day matapos opisyal itong italaga at gunitain ng United nations noong 1993.
Inihayag rin ng Living Laudato Si ang pakikiisa sa naunang mensahe ng pasasalamat ng Kaniyang Kabanalang Francisco sa mga mamamahayag na tagapamalita ng katotohanan upang malaman ng bawat isa ang mga nagaganap sa daigdig.
“Pope Francis on Sunday paid homage to journalists “who pay with their lives to serve the right to press freedom. We echo the pontiff’s message of gratitude to “those who courageously inform us of the wounds of humanity.” The whole Filipino nation and the rest of the world must champion the protection of those who speak truth to power, those who amplify the voice of the poor, and those who people who work at the frontlines to keep us informed and keep us politically and socially abreast,” pagbabahagi pa ni Galicha
