<DIV>Please read my detailed message to Pascal. </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Youth PLEASE donot discriminate against those who will soon fill your ranks - be inclusive.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Society includes children - on one side you many see it as an abuse on the other they have the right to appear and speak as well - their presence is "equal" ! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Don't tell me that just a few years ago when you were 10 you couldn't read a text ?</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>It is a sad message that you want to give to child soldiers, children supporting their families, children that are facing abuse - that <STRONG><EM>they are not considered important enough to speak in front of heads of state</EM></STRONG> - it would give them hope to get out of their misery if they see the vision for a better future, that we can help provide! </DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>From someone who has worked in the sectors of international development related to children, child care, education, and child abuse.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>I am sad about the condescending tone used regarding children on this list</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Please refer to the rights of the child - they have the right to the freedom of expression too! It is not a middle-aged persons symbol it is a RIGHT!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>The International School of Geneva would be a good reference point from which to call for children's participation if you are having problems on that account. I would be pleased to assist you making contact with the school.</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Amali De Silva-Mitchell ( in a personal capacity) <BR><BR><B><I>Ajantunen <ajantunen@takingitglobal.org></I></B> wrote:</DIV>
<BLOCKQUOTE class=replbq style="PADDING-LEFT: 5px; MARGIN-LEFT: 5px; BORDER-LEFT: #1010ff 2px solid">Hi everyone,<BR><BR>First off, thanks to Amali and Divina for their suggestion that youth give<BR>the keynote speech - the Youth Caucus would definitely support such a<BR>proposal, and I could suggest the names of several candidates to give the<BR>speech. PF, I believe your concerns are valid - certainly we would not<BR>support the use of children as messengers of propaganda - however, the<BR>candidates I would recommend are old enough and experienced enough in the<BR>WSIS process and the information society in general to avoid being<BR>manipulated. :) Look forward to discussing this further.<BR><BR>Regards,<BR><BR>Adam Jantunen<BR><BR>--------- Original Message --------<BR>From: plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>To: plenary@wsis-cs.org <PLENARY@WSIS-CS.ORG><BR>Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Yet another suggestion :for symbolic speakers<BR>Date: 11/11/03 08:43<BR><BR>><BR>> 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<BR>on a<BR>> >well developed message, as written collaboratively by civil society.<BR>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<BR>"civil society" given it's diversity and it may lead to a weak<BR>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<BR>all of (ab-)using some children to read a text written by other adults. I<BR>dislike it in big sport events ( like olympic games and so on) because it<BR>has become mainly business. I dislike perhaps even mor this idea of<BR>(ab-)using children to deliver what is to be STRONG POLITICAL MESSAGE. After<BR>all, w
hy not
ask to Bill McIver and Sally Burch AS COORDINATOR of C&T<BR>group. Given there strong commitment in the work of WSIS CS plenary, I<BR>believe they deadly deserve it !<BR>><BR>> PF.<BR>><BR>> >The youth caucus has been extraordinary during the prepcoms and seems<BR>to me<BR>> >to offer many possible ³voices² to stand for us.<BR>> ><BR>> >Best<BR>> ><BR>> >Divina Frau-Meigs, ><BR>> >> The symbol of child / youth expressing the future of humanity is<BR>a good one -<BR>> >> why not have a child / youth representative from each region of<BR>the world and<BR>> >> the message delivered in the official languages of the UN ? It<BR>would be nice<BR>> >> to include a child in the group.<BR>> >> >> Amali De Silva-Mitchell,<BR>> >> Vice President, Vancouver Community Network, Canada<BR>> >> >> Meigs <meigs@wanadoo.fr> wrote:<BR>> >>> Dear all,<B
R>>
>>> >>> We do seem to have a problem to come to a<BR>consensus on the speaker we will<BR>> >>> finally chose. Though i have expressed my own preference, i<BR>realize that may<BR>> >>> be the solution has to be symbolical rather than<BR>personalized.<BR>> >>> >>> How about:<BR>> >>> 1- we draft, via the content and themes group for instance, a<BR>declaration<BR>> >>> that is comprehensive of the issues on which we have a<BR>general consensus but<BR>> >>> remain problematic for the States.<BR>> >>> >>> 2- Then this common declaration would be read by<BR>two anonymous (by that<BR>> >>> meaning not famous) YOUNG PEOPLE,-a young girl AND a young<BR>boy-, each saying<BR>> >>> a sentence in turn, to express the trust of civil society in<BR>its sheer power<BR>> >>> and its youth. >>> >>> Wouldn't this be
an<BR>innovation in a world summit?<BR>> >>> >>> >>> It seems to me this would solve<BR>some problems with stardom, male or female<BR>> >>> dominance, etc.<BR>> >>> >>> >>> All the best<BR>> >>> Divina Frau-Meigs, IAMCR<BR>> >>> >>> __<BR>> >>> Plenary mailing list<BR>> >>> Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>> >>> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<BR>> >> >> >> Amali De Silva-Mitchell<BR>> >> >> Tel: 604-736-9012 & Email: amalidesilva@yahoo.com<BR>> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> ><BR>><BR>> _______________________________________________<BR>> Plenary mailing list<BR>> Plenary@wsis-cs.org<BR>>
http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary<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>
<P><EM><FONT face=Verdana size=1></FONT></EM> </P>
<P> </P></DIV></DIV></DIV>