The Convergence of Cultures is one of the organisms of the Humanist Movement. It was established in May 4th, 1969 with a public exposition of its founder, Silo, known as “The Healing of Suffering”, in a mountainous spot in the Andes, named Punta de Vacas, next to the border between Argentina and Chile.
The Humanist Movement is based on the current of thought known as New Humanism or Universalist Humanism, developed in Silo’s works and in the work of the various authors who inspired in it.
This thought also implies a feeling and a way of living, it influences numerous fields of human activity, giving rise to diverse organisms and actions fronts. All of them act in specific fields of activity with a common goal: Humanizing the earth, thus contributing to increase human freedom and happiness.
What is crucial is the encounter and dialogue between human beings of different cultures who can look at each other and say: "I exist because you exist."
Nevertheless the intention to appropriate the whole by a minority and the intolerant proposals of some leaders that take advantage of the lack of future of individuals and peoples, continues to justify and feed the clash between cultures, discrimination and violence..
Today it is necessary to generate settings, ambits, to preserve the ideas, beliefs and humanist attitudes of each culture which, beyond all differences, can be found in the heart of the every community and individual.
The Mundializaction
In today's society, coexistence among different cultures is a daily event. But what is extraordinary of the current historical time is that it is a period of globalization where all cultures are approaching and influencing one another, as it had never happened before. We are not speaking only about the fact that today people all over the world can be in contact with each other thanks to the advancements of communication technology. But rather, apart from the historical accumulation of phenomena such as colonialism and imperialism, the enormous inequality in the living conditions and of survival in different areas of the world, and the resulting massive migration, multi-culturality exists in the interior of territories that are still considered as "national states."
Mundialization and Globalization
It is important to distinguish between this process of growing mundialization, and globalization.
The often mentioned globalization is just the traditional behavior that imperial centers have adopted. As it has repeatedly happened in history, these empires install, develop and make other communities revolve around them, trying to impose their language, customs, clothing, food and all their codes.
These imperialist structures finally end up generating violence and chaos, as a result of his naive outrage and cultural confrontation.
Our Proposals
Encourage the relationship among different cultures.
Denounce and struggle against all forms of manifest or disguised discrimination.
Spread its ideas and activities
Convergence of Cultures is a global organization. In this respect its members, regardless of where they operate, they feel part of the same humanizing global action that is expressed in a diverse but convergent way.
Participation is open to everyone, without discrimination. Anyone who agrees with the basic objectives of the Convergence of Cultures can join the organization, joining as an active member or adherent. It is a human-based organization where each person takes responsibility for that which drives and build.
Relationships and personal and group behaviors are based on the Golden Rule: "Treat others as you want to be treated".
The humanistic attitude
When referring to a humanistic attitude, we refer to the following six points:
The location of the human being as central value and concern.
The affirmation of the equality of all human beings.
The recognition of personal and cultural diversity.
The trend towards knowledge beyond what is accepted or imposed as absolute truth.
The affirmation of the freedom of ideas and beliefs.
The repudiation of violence.
It is possible rescue in history, in thought and spirituality of each culture these elements. They crave more than a nostalgic return to a golden past, are inspired future aspirations and best represent the possible convergence between different cultures
Activities
The Base Teams meet regularly for exchange, ideological clarification, and organization of diverse activities.
Basically, Base Teams are in ongoing contact with communities of different cultures, associations and individuals, with the aim of spreading and organizing the joint activities of the organism.
The most important activities include the following:
Organization of conferences, exhibitions, forums, cultural and artistic meetings with the participation of members of different cultures. Involvement of members in activities organized by other entities, concerning issues related to the organism's (e.g. lectures, conferences, exhibitions).
Participation in international, regional, national and local campaigns launched by the Convergence of Cultures.
Organization and participation in denouncing demonstrations against discrimination. Specific denouncing Campaigns to spread the conflicts and arbitrariness that communities of different cultures may undergo.
Sending and distribution of informational material to cultures in different countries, with the aim of diffusing and assembling individuals and organizations around the study and activities of the Convergence of Cultures
Information on different cultures in schools with the participation of members of various cultural communities.
Publications production, focused on the ideas and activities of the Convergence of Cultures. Production of TV programs, radio, videos, Web sites, papers, bulletins, etc.
Organization of seminars, lectures, presentations on topics which the Convergence of Cultures consider important for its members and for the public in general.
Make available to its members, materials for personal work based on the Manual of Personal Development for the members of the Humanist Movement.
Organization
Convergence of Cultures is a world organization; in that sense, its members, regardless of the place where they act, feel that they take part of a common humanizing world activity expressed in a diverse but convergent way.
Partaking is open and flexible. We are talking about a human-based organization, in which each person becomes responsible for what he sets in motion or builds.
The basic (and main) structures of the Convergence of Cultures are “base teams”, which develop their activity in neighborhoods, schools, universities, workplaces, via internet, etc.
Any group, organization or association that, without losing its own identity, manifests its adhesion to the principles that inspires the C.C., may ask for its inclusion as an "adherent" of the C.C. and maintain with it, relationships of mutual collaboration.
*For more information, see "Handbook of Convergence of Cultures"
The “Convergence of Cultures’ teams” (base teams)
It is essential to encourage the implementation of three main mechanisms or functions for development of the organism:
Growth: its action is directed to other people, to other organizations with the aim of spreading and implementing the ideas, proposals and tools of the Convergence of Cultures.
Communication: it has a fluent Communication and interchange with other base teams of CC and other organizations related to the goals of CC.
Formation: It concentrates on progressive formation of members providing them with tools for personal, cultural and social development. These studies and practices can be found in its official materials.
These teams of the Convergence of Cultures generate ties with other group and organization of its surroundings, but under no circumstances should they establish an organic relationship with any of them.
Documents
Documents as resource and reference
Author
Format
Handbook of Convergence of Cultures
Team work
Manual of Personal Development for members of the Humanist Movement.
Team work
Selfliberation
L. A. AMMANN
Collected Works I
SILO
Collected Works II
SILO
Documents of the meeting Punta de Vacas
Author
Format
Presentation Convergence of Cultures
L.Milani
Notion of Culture
C. Miconi
Power Point about organization
E. Perez
Text of the Guided Power Point
E. Perez
Joint Asking
N. Myers
Documents of difussion
Autor
Format
Logo Convergence of Cultures
R. Edwards
Logo Convergence of Cultures
R. Edwards
Elecciones en Comunidad qom
El sábado 25 de junio se realizaron elecciones en la Comunidad Qom “La Primavera”, de la provincia de Formosa. Un grupo de quienes hemos estado acompañando a la Comunidad en sus reclamos, nos trasladamos a Formosa con el objetivo de garantizar la transparencia de las elecciones.
Las elecciones se hicieron en el marco de los acuerdos tendientes a solucionar el conflicto por la devolución de las tierras pertenecientes a los qom. Tierras que restituidas a la Comunidad por el Estado Nacional en 1940 fueron posteriormente usurpadas en parte por el gobierno de Formosa, en parte por una familia de empresarios y por Parques Nacionales. Este conflicto tuvo su punto culminante en la sangrienta represión llevada a cabo por el gobierno provincial el 23 de noviembre del año pasado. En estas elecciones se definiría al representante legal de la Comunidad, quien tendría la facultad de discutir con los gobiernos nacional y provincial la tenencia definitiva de las tierras. Los candidatos eran Félix Díaz, quien llevó adelante los reclamos contra la represión y por la restitución de las tierras y Cristino Sanabria, apoyado por el gobierno provincial. Como decíamos, algunos amigos nos trasladamos a Formosa con el objetivo de garantizar la transparencia de las elecciones. Llegamos el jueves 23 y nos alojamos en carpas en el terreno que rodea la precaria vivienda de Félix Díaz. En los pocos días transcurridos hasta el regreso, el domingo 26, pudimos constatar varias cosas. 1) la situación de extrema indigencia en que sobrevive la Comunidad, con graves carencias en temas vitales como la salud, la educación, la falta de agua, la escasez de todo tipo de recursos etc. 2) la intromisión directa del gobierno provincial en las elecciones, por un lado intimidando a la gente con amenazas de quitarles la ínfima ayuda económica que algunos reciben o tratando de comprar su voluntad con bolsas de comida, chapas, colchones etc. También desde las intendencias más cercanas, afines al gobierno provincial, se suministraron camionetas para llevar la gente a votar. 3) la importancia de nuestra presencia en el lugar donde se realizaron las elecciones, donde junto con otros representantes de la sociedad civil (en total 50 personas) nos encargamos de filmar, fotografiar y hacer sentir una presencia que compensaba los embates de los punteros políticos provinciales. Creemos que sin esta presencia el fraude se hubiera hecho sentir. 4) la extraordinaria hospitalidad y sensibilidad de la gente de la Comunidad, que en medio de una situación tan tensa nos hacían permanentemente sentir su amistad y agradecimiento. 5) la lucidez de Félix Díaz, que en todo momento se mostró sereno y confiado en que la gente decidiría lo mejor para el conjunto.
El resultado de las elecciones fue apabullante. Sobre un padrón de 1256 inscriptos votó el 80%, adjudicando 610 votos a Díaz y 369 a Sanabria. Al día siguiente Félix realizó una asamblea con su gente, en el que les explicó las implicaciones de esta nueva responsabilidad, que competía a todos los miembros de la Comunidad, ilustrando sus explicaciones con dibujos que realizaba con un palo en la tierra. Antes de partir tuvimos un regalo: poder presenciar la protección que hizo a Félix un chamán de la Comunidad, ceremonia intensa y plena de significado, seguramente fortaleciéndolo para la nueva etapa que comienza, que implicará nuevos y grandes desafíos.
Convergence of Cultures in action. Recent activities of the different teams in the world.
Download materials and documents prepared by base teams of Convergence of Cultures.
Here are various photo galleries of events, activities and campaigns.
We put images and sounds to our activities, a selection of videos, films and presentations.
The Convergence of Cultures is one of the organisms of the 
Convergence of Cultures is a global organization. In this respect its members, regardless of where they operate, they feel part of the same humanizing global action that is expressed in a diverse but convergent way.
