New York, 21 May 2019.Abel Prieto, President of the José Martí Cultural Society and Director of the Office of the José Martí Program of Cuba, talked today at the United Nations about the defense of culture and education as pathways for human emancipation; and how it is perhaps one of the most difficult, complex and quixotic missions that can be presently envisaged; when there is precisely a hegemonic entertainment industry that functions as a parallel, non-formal "educational system" of children and youth and establishes values contrary to the objectives of the 2030 AGENDA.
The prominent Cuban intellectual reflected on the need of respect for and understanding of cultural diversity and joint work to foster intercultural understanding and dialogue, mutual listening and learning, and an ethic of global citizenship and solidarity, all of which contained in UNGA Resolution 72/229 "Culture and sustainable development". However, at present, the expressions of intolerance towards what is "different" have surged and we have gone backwards on intercultural dialogue; on the ability to listen to the "other", to learn from the other and even to respect the other, he noted.
In light of this situation, education and culture are the best antidote to the stereotypes and prejudices that fuel xenophobia, misogyny, homophobia, racism, fascist tendencies, and "hate groups”, that is why government policies must be promoted to facilitate the dual influence of a nurturing and releasing pedagogy and of a genuine, profound and equally emancipatory culture.
Abel Prieto, who participated in the Panel: "Culture and Education, the foundations of sustainability" at the " High-Level Event on Culture and Sustainable Development", held at the United Nations, referred to what he described as powerful supranational forces, whose expression is the so-called entertainment industry, for which culture has been reduced to a vulgar commodity, to a "product" to sell, to consume. This industry approaches multiculturalism only to sell it, mutilated, as exotic merchandise, he said.
Prieto, who served as Minister of Culture to the island, argued that this industry exalts the paradigm of the "winner" as one who is capable of accumulating the more money regardless of any ethical limit; promotes "fame" as something valuable and desirable in itself, regardless of what motivates it; encourages racism, the Law of the Strongest, the use of violence, the growth of "hate groups" and "hate crimes", transmitting to children and young people feelings of intolerance that later influence their real world relationships.
Permanent Mission of Cuba to the United Nations