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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman" size=3>Dear
Ralph,<BR><BR>I attended the Congo WSIS-briefing on 7th December. They were
distributing a <BR>new (?) version of the CS statement there. In this new
version the Cultural Diversity Caucus contribution was still the old (and wrong)
one. Below you'll find the one meant to be in the final CS statement. The
Indigenous <BR>Caucus contribution was also the wrong one...<BR><BR>The WSIS
process has failed to introduce cultural and linguistic <BR>diversity as a
cross-cutting issue in the information society. The information <BR>society and
its core elements - knowledge, information, communication and the<BR>information
and communication technologies (ICT) together with related <BR>rules and
standards - are cultural concepts and expressions. Accordingly,<BR>culturally
defined approaches, protocols, proceedings and obligations <BR>have to be
respected and culturally appropriate applications developed
and<BR>promoted.<BR><BR>In order to foster and promote cultural diversity and
enable the<BR>preservation and development of cultures in the information
society, <BR>it is imperative to support cultural communities to create
local content in <BR>their own local and indigenous languages and on their own
terms. Only by <BR>allowing these diverse voices to develop a presence and be
heard, will the<BR>predominance of information, knowledge, perceptions and
existing <BR>approaches to development and unique cultures, by over developed
nations, be<BR>corrected. Development of culturally appropriate elements
of the <BR>Information Society must involve strong participation of all cultural
communities.<BR><BR>Thank you!<BR><BR>Best,<BR></FONT></FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3>Sari</FONT><BR>Cultural Diversity Caucus</DIV></FONT>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial
size=2>--------------------------------------------------------------------------------</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>INCOMINDIOS SCHWEIZ<BR>Beraterstatus als NGO beim
Wirtschafts- und Sozialrat (ECOSOC) der Vereinten Nationen</FONT></DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Witikonerstrasse 39<BR>8032 Zürich<BR>Tel./Fax: 044
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