TV turnoff week

Tomorrow millions of people from different countries are expected to join TV-Turnoff Week. This initiative began in the United States in 1995.

We propose this initiative to our readers both because of its intrinsic value as well as the Pope message for this year's Communication Sunday - "The Media in the Family: A Risk and a Richness".

The seed was sown by Henry Labalme, a young man from Connecticut. He was astounded to learn how many hours a day children and families watch television, and especially the consequences this has. He began to study statistics, which compared the behaviour and relation to the world of children and adolescents who watched a lot of television with others who watch for a few hours or not at all.

He was not surprised at the alarming results. The children who watched a lot of television on average were less able to concentrate and had less creativity; more problems relating to the family and friends; less sensitivity to violence, death, and the needs of others; less creative imagination and interest in playing with friends; and more problems with obesity.

This inspired him to found TV Turnoff Network, creating the first "Week without TV" in 1995. The purpose is to free children and adults from dependence on watching many hours of TV a day. To detach oneself from the habit for a week can be a great challenge, but the most important thing is to discover the positive and entertaining things one can do with so much free time available. The idea is to "live life".

In 1998 this initiative was adopted by the Argentinian periodical La Familia. By 1999 it spread throughout Latin America, Spain, Europe, and other continents.

The campaign is not inspired by the belief that television is bad from any point of view. On the contrary, the organisers say that television is very good; but when abused the effects of watching television can be bad.

This happens when, for example, the viewer depends on the set, and cannot make use of it freely. In other words, when one turns the TV on as a reflex, and cannot turn it off. TV-Turnoff Week is focused exclusively on this point: to avoid having to depend on the screen to live life.

The organisers propose a number of points that viewers can follow if they want to be liberated from the possible negative effects of TV.

They say that people should move the TV set to a less important part of the house. This makes the decision to turn it on freer. They propose that the TV set should never be allowed in a child's room since this would keep children from family life and contact with others, and would not let them sleep well. Moreover, parents would not be able to control the programmes that are unsuitable for minors.

If children have a TV in their room, it should be taken away and they should be given something they like instead, something that does them good.

All of us who reflect on our use of TV will notice the great importance that most of us give it. TV is on during meals. This ideal time for conversation is, as a result, changed into passivity. Many today are not able to put clear limits on television watching. TV is unfortunately used as a babysitter. Instead, children can take part in household chores, like cooking and cleaning. They should see this as useful entertainment. Give them the chance to feel they are helping you.

The organisers say that television should not be used as a reward or punishment. This would increase its power. People should not allow the TV to displace what is important: conversation, creativity, reading, and play.

It is unbelievable that many people do not think that there are alternatives to watching television. In fact there are many.

Learn to play a musical instrument, listen to the radio, read a book or read to someone else, organise a picnic or barbecue, write a letter to a friend or relative, be a volunteer in a charity organisation, go to a concert, learn to change the oil or a tire of the car, fix something, contemplate the sunset...

It is very interesting. The freer one is from television, the more normal these activities will seem. The more one watches television, the more the real world seems to be an idyllic world of fantasy.

For additional information contact TV Free America by e-mail (tvfa@essential.org) or visit www.tvfa.org. This site will also provide you with material and activities you can do with your children.