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!