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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>On which planet have we landed ?</FONT></DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV
style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; FONT: 10pt arial; font-color: black"><B>From:</B>
<A title=amalidesilva@yahoo.com href="mailto:amalidesilva@yahoo.com">Amali De
Silva</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A title=plenary@wsis-cs.org
href="mailto:plenary@wsis-cs.org">plenary@wsis-cs.org</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Cc:</B> <A title=fortinp@club-internet.fr
href="mailto:fortinp@club-internet.fr">fortinp@club-internet.fr</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, November 11, 2003 5:28
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary]
Re:_Yet_another_suggestion_:for_symbolic speakers</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV>As someone who has experience in the issues of children both at home and
internationally I have one thing to say.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am saddened that you are a believer of "children are only to be seen
and not heard!" </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<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>
<DIV>
<DIV>
<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>
<P> </P>
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