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ANOTHER WORLD … OF COMMUNICATION
Words from the civil society to shape OUR Information Society
What kind of world are we talking about …
We, as communities, groups and movements are developing new discourses
on the global scene. We, as expressions of a plural civil society are
contesting processes of globalisation that see economy and technology
as an end in itself, bringing about the dehumanisation of people. We,
the peoples of the United nations, oppose neo-liberal principles and obscure
modes of global governance that make democracy an empty word, at the local
as well as at the global level. We are, therefore, called to speak our
voice about the future, and the future of another possible world has a
lot to do with the developing vision of the INFORMATION SOCIETY.
What's going on at the global level …
The United Nations, with the International Telecommunication Union in
a leading role, is organizing a two-phase summit - the WORLD SUMMIT ON
THE INFORMATION SOCIETY (WSIS), Geneva 2003 and Tunis 2005 - "to develop
a common vision and understanding of the information society … and to
draw up a strategic plan of action for successfully adapting to the new
society".
Initiatives from the ground …
Since WSIS' proposal is to involve governmental institutions, industries
and the civil society, initiatives are developing, aiming at the affirmation
of our COMMUNICATION RIGHTS IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY. This is the title
of a transnational campaign, which attempts to connect and coordinate
responses from the civil society to enter the WSIS process as subjects
on an equal basis and open up its agenda according to people's priorities.
We believe it is necessary to open up a public space for the people to
discuss these issues and then make our voice heard: what do we need an
information society for? What are our needs and priorities? Who will have
right to access? What pluralism will be granted in such a society? What
global governance do we need for a communication society with a human
face?
Our vision of the Information Society …
We believe that information society does not only mean infrastructure
and technology. It also means education, access, building capacities.
It means ownership control and distribution and it means policies, participation
and respect for fundamental rights … we believe it is necessary to start
a dialogue to develop a common vision of a civil information society,
grounded in the right to communicate as a means to enhance human rights
and to strengthen social, economic and cultural lives of people and communities.
Why this is crucial to all of us …
The development of the information society - visions and realities - matters
for all of us: it does for grassroots groups, as well as for independent
media; it matters for indigenous peoples and minorities, as well as for
women; it has an influence on social change in every society and every
country; it determines the how and what for all those who are now acting
for another possible world. These are the actors, the fundamental subjects:
they need to be involved in a crucial debate concerning their future.
This is why the COMMUNICATION RIGHTS IN THE INFORMATION SOCIETY initiative
is also an opportunity to open up OUR debate about the role communication
and information will play in the near future in all societies and all
cultures; a debate that will develop according to the contribution groups,
NGOs and movements will offer. All of us are fundamental for the success
of making people's voice heard in the creation of OUR COMMON COMMUNICATIVE
SPACE.
Who are we …
CRIS is an initiative of the Platform for Communication Rights and it
strengthens existing synergies among the several groups working in communication
and information for social change at the local, national and global level:
AMARC, APC, VIDEAZIMUT, WACC, ALAI, IWTC, ECC (to be decided if we want
to name them all - who is keeping track of all participants?).
To know more … and do something
The Campaign is developing a series of initiatives: seminars, forums,
information materials, actions, contacts, direct involvement in the WSIS
process ... You can get more information here
where you will also find references for the CRIS mailing list. With the
help of the many organizations who have been involved in this field from
the grassroots to the global level, we are developing ideas and proposals
to get involved: mobilization of groups working in different fields, involvement
in the campaign information activities and participation in the process
of policy making. Just keep an eye on the web site!
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Tracking
Magazine
March '02
EDITORIAL
What
is Community Television?
~
Action
Plan For A Dublin Community TV Channel - Interview
~
French
CTV Needing Support
~
TV
Nova
~
Meeting on Mars - Action
~
On Community TV and other Issues
- Korea
~
NYC - imc: Alternative
News
~
Globalisation: Now Its
Personal
~
Canada - Disorganised
Community Channel Activists !
~
Memory of Dances - Philippino
Video
~
Hand Held Visions -
Book, DeeDee Halleck
~
Writers Store E-Zine
~
ICTS and Development
~
Gender IT
and Developing Countries
~
Community Media
Guidebook
~
World Summit on Information
Society WSIS
~
Communication Rights
in the Information Society - CRIS
~
Words From Civil Society
~
Zimbabwe Passes Draconian
Media Laws
~
MISA Calls For Support
~
Zimbabwe Needs You
~
Zimbabwe
Foreign Journalists
~
Canada Community Media
~
EU/USA Broadband
~
Blackdog
~
E-news from Northern Visitors
~
The Wheel
~
Brazil Youth Site
~
China
~
Caribbean Media
~
Image Media Professionals
~
New Legislation
for Communications and Media
~
Exploring
Culture For A Better World
~
Grassroots Gathering
~
William Thompson
Weekend
~
APC
~
Network Open Channels
~
Non-Profit Radios
~
Media Channel
~
Injustice
~
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