[Values-ethics] WSIS Ethis&Values Caucus

[Bahiyyih Chaffers]

Dear Friends,

Thank you Geneva group of the Caucus for working on the text!  The NY group
thought there were wonderful concepts that were added to the text.

As agreed at Prepcom 3, the New York group met on Monday to enhance the text
received from the Geneva group.    Here is the most recent draft from the
Caucus for the Civil Society Declaration.

Please respond to me individually if you have any specific questions
otherwise feel free to reply to the group.

Hope you are all well.

Warm Regards,
Bahiyyih Chaffers

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WSIS Ethics & Values Caucus
Monday, October 13, 2003

The Information Society cannot be created through simple formulae based
merely on finance or the propagation of technology. Materialistic approaches
alone can never succeed in building capacity of individuals and communities
to determine their future.

The ethical dimension of the Information Society, where the common good is
its driving force, involves the development of a code of practice at the
individual, community, national and international levels that protects the
dignity of every human life. This ethical dimension is where the oneness of
humanity is recognized and respected and where each human being born into
the world is acknowledged as a trust of the whole.

The information society based on values such as cooperation, equity,
honesty, integrity, respect and solidarity will have a significant impact on
the quality of interaction between cultures and the promotion of meaningful
dialogue among civilizations.

Knowledge, wisdom and values have always been transmitted orally, especially
in traditional and indigenous cultures. The value of this type of human
communication should not be underrated or ignored in the face of current
scientific and technological creativity.

Only when information and technology are used to facilitate and enhance
human interaction and education can the potential of each human being be
released and a prosperous global society be sustained.