[Media Caucus] Media justice delegation to WSIS 2005

Fri Apr 29 07:45:13 BST 2005

Hi Rony

This should not have been an attachment, but text in the message. I 
have re-pasted it to a new message and hope that it works this time. 
It's sure to rile you (code word alert!) , but it speaks to me in 
developing context and media ownership concentration terms.

Look forward to your response!

Tracey

re-posted from gender caucus list by Tracey Naughton

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

MEDIA JUSTICE DELEGATION TO WORLD SUMMIT ON INFORMATION SOCIETY 2005.

In November, Third World Majority (TWM) will bring a national
delegation of grassroots community organizers to the World Summit on
Information Society (WSIS) in Tunis, Tunisia on November 16-18, 2005.
Join this unprecedented opportunity for an intergenerational group of
grassroots organizers from North America to learn and critically build
with other organizers from across the globe in action and dialogue
about how we work for Media Justice and our self-determination.

What IS the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) 2005?

WSIS 2005 is the United Nations summit intended to address issues
around information, communication and the technologies and structures
that make up and support these systems.  The first phase of the WSIS in
2003 generated a declaration establishing the goals and priorities of
governments, business and civil society members around the information
society, the society where the digital divide is     increasing while
media ownership consolidates.

Why Should YOU Attend the WSIS?
Why is this Delegation Important for YOUR Grassroots Organizations??
Why Should YOU Even Care About Communications Rights???

Corporate globalization is a force that has a hugely negative impact on
our lives, the lives of people in our communities and the lives of
people throughout the Global South. Media consolidation and the global
media monopoly are driving the homogenization of our cultural
expression – where dominant cultures and multi-national corporations
are expanding their beliefs and ideas globally, locking out the voices
of other cultural expressions and worldviews.

This North American delegation believes that the right to communicate
is a fundamental human right! That is why we are representing the Media
Justice Movement in North America at the WSIS.

Media Justice is about us taking back our right to communicate. We
believe we all have the right to have our voices, worldviews, stories,
ideas and knowledge heard and recognized. We also believe that we have
the right to access and literacy of the technologies for communication.
This is especially true for people of color, immigrants, indigenous
peoples, queer/trans people and other communities who have suffered
media abuse from inaccurate and non-truthful histories as part of the
larger campaign of repression and colonization against our communities.

Globalization and the ownership of communication and ideas/knowledge
threaten our  language, culture, religion, traditional knowledge,
identities and ways of being.  For many of us, it is a threat to our
way of life and our survival.

Communication Rights is a movement rooted in the belief that culture
and communications are entwined.  If we deny any community the right to
communicate with other human beings, we deny them a part of what it is
to be human.  In addition, Communication Rights believes that we all
should have the freedom to share information, a freedom to our own
opinions and expression, as well as the right to freedom of
association, the right to privacy and the right to our own culture.

As Media Justice organizers, we are young people, women, queer/trans
folks, and communities of color/indigenous communities who are fighting
to take back our
media airwaves, networks, cultural cyber and real space--from content,
consolidation and access, to digital technologies, cyber security and
regulation. From who is in front of the camera, who operates and who
owns the camera, to who makes the cameras and who is under surveillance
by them – we all have a stake in all areas concerning our rights to
communication.

Members of the TWM WSIS 2005 delegation will actively participate in
WSIS as organizers and members of civil society, as well as supporting
parallel events and meeting with other community organizations in
Tunis. The goals of the delegation are:  1) To build, learn, and share
strategies and skills around communication rights; 2) To act in
solidarity and build relationships with other communities of the Global
South at WSIS; 3) To learn more about communication rights organizing
and advocacy at an international level; and 4) To develop a grassroots
Media Justice vision within an international communication rights
perspective.

HOW DO I JOIN THE DELEGATION?

The delegation to the World Summit on Information Society 2005 is open
to community organizers who want to learn, build and critically impact
the current communications and media structures in a social justice
context, Media Justice. Please fill out the following application form
to apply for a spot on the delegation. The delegation will be between
10-15 people. There will be full and partial scholarships for travel
and accommodations. As our emphasis is on building a diverse and
intergenerational delegation, young people, queer/trans folks, women,
communities of color/indigenous communities are encouraged to apply..
For more information, contact Joanna Arevalo, (213) 237-9944,
joanna at cultureisaweapon.org.  Submit completed applications to
joanna at cultureisaweapon.org.

This Delegation is supported in part with Funding from the Compton
Foundation as part of the Danforth youth organizing initiative.

Steering Committee: Amalia Anderson (Fourth World Rising), Joanna
Arevalo (TWM), Tammy Ko Robinson (Video Machete), Thenmozhi
Soundararajan (TWM)
World Summit on Information Society 2005 Delegation "Application"

1.      Organization Name: __________________________________________

2.      Organization Complete Address:
Street Address_________________________________________
City_____________State______ Zip code ______Country_______

3.      Organization Contact Information:
Phone#: _______________
Fax#:_________________
Email:___________________
Website:_________________
4.      Tell us about your organization:
a.      What is the mission of your organization?
b.      Who are your organization's constituents/members?
c.      How many constituents/members do you have?
d.      What activities/campaigns does your organization work on?

5.      Why do you think your organization should be present at the 
World
Summit on Information Society? What would the presence of your
organization bring to the delegation and Summit? How would
participating in WSIS assist the work of you organization on its
campaigns.

6.      Please tell us about the two people (1 + alternate, in the event
that the main applicant is unable to attend) that would represent your
organization:

Name of Main Applicant: ____________________________
Age: ________________________
Communities that you identify with:
__________________________________________________________
Title/ role in Organization: ________
_____________________________
Languages spoken other than English: ______________________
Contact Info:
Phone:  ______________________
Email: ______________________
Name of Alternate Applicant: _______________________________
Age: ___________________________
Communities that you identify with:
________________________________
________________________________
Title/ role in Organization: __________
________________________________
Languages spoken other than English:
________________________________
Contact Info:
Phone: __________________________
Email: __________________________
7.      Please describe the work of the potential representative.

8.      What roles do media, information and communication technologies 
play
in your organizing work?

9.       Are you willing to fundraise?

10. Upon returning from WSIS how would you share and bring back the
experience of WSIS with your community and your organization?

**************************
Amalia Anderson
Director, Political Education and Action
Direct: 612-879-7578
Cell: 612-280-4730
Fax: 612-870-4846
Email: amalia at leagueofruralvoters.org
www.leagueofruralvoters.org

Tracey Naughton
NYAKA
Communication for Development Consultant
201 Somerset Hall
239 Oxford Road
Illovo     2196
South Africa

landline & fax:	+27 (0) 11 880 5030
cell / mobile:	+27 (0) 82 821 1771
email:		tracey at traceynaughton.com
skype:		tracey_naughton