The ITU, to the rescue ...
http://www.geneva2003.org/home/index01.htm
Background
The international community is organizing a World Summit on the Information
Society. It will take place in two phases: in Geneva, December 2003, to be
followed up in Tunis two years later.
The Information Society is at the heart of the political, social, cultural
and economic questions confronting us in the beginning of the 21st century.
The focus of the Information Society Summit is not technology but the human
being - we must keep in mind that it is not enough to be connected to
resolve the fundamental problems that exist in the world.
What values do we embrace to ensure that the Information Society becomes a
vehicle for democracy, justice, equality, the respect for individuals and
peoples, their personal and social development? What is the role of
communication in shaping the future of the society we want to build?
Information travels at an increasingly faster rate. How does it affect
people of different cultures and stages of development? How do we respect
each other's differences while building a responsible society? How do we
give each culture the space and visibility necessary to participate in a
dynamic that is revolutionizing society? How do we give each individual the
tools of information and communication necessary to his prosperity and
creative potential? These are among the questions facing the international
community.
Everyone has a stake in the Summit. The opportunity is there to raise the
issues you would like to see addressed at the Summit. You will find here
the information you need to take part in the process.
The idea of a World Summit on the Information Society took root at the ITU
Plenipotentiary Conference in Minneapolis in 1998 and is based on three
resolutions:
Resolution 73 adopted at the ITU Plenipotentiary
Conference
in Minneapolis in 1998
Resolution 1158 of the ITU Council adopted in 2000
Resolution 1179 of the ITU Council adopted in 2001
Objectives
The Summit plans to adopt:
1.a Declaration embodying a set of principles and rules of conduct aimed at
establishing a more inclusive and equitable Information Society; and
2.a Plan of Action formulating operational proposals and concrete measures
to be taken so that people the world over will benefit more equitably from
the opportunities presented by the Information Society.
When and where
Geneva, 10 - 12 December 2003
A second phase is expected to take place in Tunis in 2005 to follow up on
the decisions taken in Geneva.
Who will participate?
The Summit will bring together Heads of States, representatives of
government, parliament, international organizations, local authorities, the
private sector and civil society.
A "Government PLUS" Summit
Without the active participation of civil society, local authorities, and
the private sector, an equitable Information Society cannot exist. This
means that a new form of dialogue must take place between governments and
the partners concerned:
community & citizens' networks
professional associations
development and solidarity associations
multi-stakeholder coalitions
academics
trade unions
media
To meet this challenge a new process has been established to explore
creative ways of interaction that will allow everyone to provide input
towards the decision-making process. In this way, the Summit will act as a
testing ground for future negotiations at a global level as well as pave
new ways of governance in the Information Society.
But much depends on the strong mobilization of all stakeholders to come
together and take part in the preparatory process leading up to the Summit.
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Jay Fenello, Internet Coaching
http://www.Fenello.com ... 678-585-9765
http://www.YourWebPartner.com ... Web Support
http://www.AligningWithPurpose.com ... for a Better World
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"The first step is to penetrate the clouds of deceit
and distortion and learn the truth about the world, then
to organize and act to change it. That's never been
impossible and never been easy." -- Noam Chomsky
