Culture and Media

We are publishing here the complete paper presented by Professor Marina Fernandez to the Second International Symposium organised by the World Centre for Humanist Studies in the different virtually interlinked Parks of Study and Reflection. Marina Fernandez gave her presentation at Punta de Vacas Park of Study and Reflection in the thematic group of Art and Culture.

I want to thank the World Center of Humanist Studies for inviting me to discuss “Foundations for the future Planetary Civilization” in this Park of Study and Reflection located at Punta de Vacas. I wish to emphasize how extraordinary it is to be discussing these issues seemingly so distant from political and social activities.

The 2nd International Symposium of the World Centre of Humanist Studies will take place in the Punta de Vacas Park of Study and Reflection, Mendoza, Argentina, organised by the “Ténetor” Centre of Humanist Studies from the city of Mendoza. Speakers from Chile and Argentina, from the city of Córdoba CHS and the “Educate to be human” CHS from the city of Neuquén will attend.

This is how it’s done in China, ignore everything and without stretching things to any limits, get on with it. This was the message the lone meditator seemed to express as he sat in lotus style under the trees in the quiet hinterland of the Taoist temple of the Yellow Dragon. Meanwhile, Mr and Mrs Common Man relaxed while children frolicked in a heady afternoon of family fun.

Dear Mario, now we live in different spheres, but I feel that our spiritual and moral contact, our friendship and sympathy have not disappeared and cannot ever disappear. Only after the death of a man can we appreciate the real meaning of his life because in everyday life is almost impossible to appreciate the magnitude of the work of others.

Mario Luis Rodríguez Cobos, Silo, died in Mendoza, Argentina on the 16th of September 2010 but none of the big European newspapers (nor the television channels) reported this fact. They therefore silenced the great initiatives and humanist proposals which came from the other side of the Atlantic and which are still there, constructing *“life to come”*.

Silent and humble: Silo lost in the huge auditorium, was the visible leader of the great humanist movement which celebrated an International Encounter in Quito. I attended keen to learn about his ideology, to contact his kindred humanists from the five continents; Tomás Hirsch, the Latin American humanist spokesperson, Giorgo Schultze, Rafael de la Rubia.

Here we transcribe the entirety of these lines by “Guri”, the owner of the ice-cream parlour in Chacras de Coria, Mendoza, Argentina. “About the death of Silo”, in which he recounts his 25 year relationship with Mario Luis Rodríguez, Silo, who always bought his ice-creams and ate them on the terrace of his ice-cream parlour.

The ceremony for Silo’s departure took place on Friday 17th September, in the city of Mendoza, in the presence of his friends and loved ones who attended from different parts of the world. Pressenza has released a video of this event. Now Silo’s disciples will spread the ashes in 20 Parks for Study and Reflection in America, Asia, Europe and Africa.

Following the death of Mario Luis Rodríguez Cobos (better known as Silo), the humanist organization Convergence of Cultures will pay tribute to its source of inspiration on October 2nd next, coinciding with the International Day of Non-Violence. They will participate along with other organizations inspired by his ideas, in ceremonies that will take place in different countries.