<DIV>As someone who has experience in the issues of children both at home and internationally I have one thing to say.</DIV>
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<DIV>1) don't undermine the intelligence of children - the section that they deliver can be the welcome - a child of 10 can be very articulate ! - in many countries they work and support families , they are soldiers etc !!!!! I thought CS wanted to be inclusive ?</DIV>
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<DIV>2) children are the symbol of hope for the future for many nations - and children also want to feel that they have some hope determining their future as well!</DIV>
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<DIV>3) it is good to encourage the participation of children at events such as these - to give them confidence to speak in front of a large group for instance - they don't have to then think they can only have these kinds of opportunities at middle age! </DIV>
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<DIV>4) A large majority of internet users are actually children - do you want to leave a significant portion of the worlds population out ? - or are they insignificant to you ?</DIV>
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<DIV>5) Please read the rights of the child - don't they have a right to appear at the UN ? - or is there CS age discrimination ?</DIV>
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<DIV>6) It will highlight issues that are very relevant in both the N and the S such as the importance of education, the changing structure of the nuclear family and communications, childrens issues in cyber space ( abuse etc )</DIV>
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<DIV>7) Children also have the right to the freedom of expression - we should encourage, guide and stimulate the children of the world - not repress them! </DIV>
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<DIV>I am saddened that you are a believer of "children are only to be seen and not heard!" </DIV>
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<DIV>Amali De Silva-Mitchell ( response in a personal capacity )</DIV>
<DIV><BR><BR><B><I>fortinp@club-internet.fr</I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Hi all,<BR><BR>--------<BR><BR>>De: Meigs <MEIGS@WANADOO.FR><BR><BR><BR>>I did think of the child but it seems to me that we still need to pass on a<BR>>well developed message, as written collaboratively by civil society. And it<BR>>has to be delivered in 5 minutes.<BR><BR>------------<BR><BR>This idea of a speech written collaboratively would be a big challenge for "civil society" given it's diversity and it may lead to a weak statement. Nevertheless, I believe it's not the worst the solution.<BR><BR>As for the children, On a moral point of view, I don't like this idea at all of (ab-)using some children to read a text written by other adults. I dislike it in big sport events ( like olympic games and so on) because it has become mainly business. I dislike perhaps even mor this idea of (ab-)using children to deliver what is to be STRONG POLITICAL MESSAGE. <BR><BR>Af
ter all,
why not ask to Bill McIver and Sally Burch AS COORDINATOR of C&T group. Given there strong commitment in the work of WSIS CS plenary, I believe they deadly deserve it !<BR><BR>PF.<BR><BR>>The youth caucus has been extraordinary during the prepcoms and seems to me<BR>>to offer many possible ³voices² to stand for us.<BR>><BR>>Best<BR>><BR>>Divina Frau-Meigs, <BR>><BR>>> The symbol of child / youth expressing the future of humanity is a good one -<BR>>> why not have a child / youth representative from each region of the world and<BR>>> the message delivered in the official languages of the UN ? It would be nice<BR>>> to include a child in the group.<BR>>> <BR>>> Amali De Silva-Mitchell,<BR>>> Vice President, Vancouver Community Network, Canada<BR>>> <BR>>> Meigs <MEIGS@WANADOO.FR>wrote:<BR>>>> Dear all,<BR>>>> <BR>>>> We do seem to have a problem to come to a consensus on t
he
speaker we will<BR>>>> finally chose. Though i have expressed my own preference, i realize that may<BR>>>> be the solution has to be symbolical rather than personalized.<BR>>>> <BR>>>> How about:<BR>>>> 1- we draft, via the content and themes group for instance, a declaration<BR>>>> that is comprehensive of the issues on which we have a general consensus but<BR>>>> remain problematic for the States.<BR>>>> <BR>>>> 2- Then this common declaration would be read by two anonymous (by that<BR>>>> meaning not famous) YOUNG PEOPLE,-a young girl AND a young boy-, each saying<BR>>>> a sentence in turn, to express the trust of civil society in its sheer power<BR>>>> and its youth. <BR>>>> <BR>>>> Wouldn't this be an innovation in a world summit?<BR>>>> <BR>>>> <BR>>>> It seems to me this would solve some problems with stardom, male or
female<BR>>>> dominance, etc.<BR>>>> <BR>>>> <BR>>>> All the best<BR>>>> Divina Frau-Meigs, IAMCR<BR>>>> <BR>>>> _______________________________________________<BR>>>> Plenary mailing list<BR>>>> Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>>>> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> Amali De Silva-Mitchell<BR>>> <BR>>> Tel: 604-736-9012 & Email: amalidesilva@yahoo.com<BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>>> <BR>><BR><BR>_______________________________________________<BR>Plenary mailing list<BR>Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary</BLOCKQUOTE><BR><BR><DIV>
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<P><STRONG>Amali De Silva-Mitchell</STRONG></P>
<P>Tel: 604-736-9012 & Email: <A href="mailto:amalidesilva@yahoo.com">amalidesilva@yahoo.com</A></P>
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