[WA-News] Dialogue between nations

[jradloff at iafrica.com]

INFORMATIVE BULLETIN AND INVITATION TO PARTICIPATE NOW 

DIALOGUE BETWEEN NATIONS 

during and after the UN World Conference Against Racism 

http://www.dialoguebetweennations.com 

FROM RACISM TO SELF-DETERMINATION 

August 28, 2001

Thousands of human rights advocates, individuals from diverse social, cultural 
and economic organizations,  goernments and the world press, are in South 
Africa for ten days of decision-making focused upon the need to improve the 
lives of the worlds' most marginalised and excluded communities, amongst them, 
Indigenous Peoples. 

Whether or not many of us are able to make the long journey to the United 
Nations World Conference on Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and 
Related Intolerance (WCAR) in Durban, opportunities exist through the use of 
communications technologies to support those who are seeking genuine dialogue, 
or lobbying governments and international agencies in the days to come.  
Building "una cultura de confianza", an environment based in trust,  for the 
development of an agenda that acknowledges the possibilites for the creation of 
a realistic and fair program of action, which can engage the political, social 
and economic will of nation states and their citizens in the eradication of the 
doctrine of colonialism seems highly unlikely.  Without a doubt,  the debates 
between powerful nations, in the second week of events at the formal UN 
Conference, will become the buffet of international journalists, whose 
assignments will focus on the ongoing violent struggles between extremist 
factions seeking economic or religious control of territories throughout the 
world.  Many of these activities currently contribute to the ongoing genocide 
or assimilation of Indigenous communities. 

Within the framework of this UN mega-conference, DBN Digital Broadcast 
Network/Dialogue Between Nations, an Internet based webcast initiative 
operating out of Vancouver, British Columbia, in conjunction with reporters in 
the field in South Africa, is hosting ongoing  and original programming in an 
interactive format that addresses the goals of Indigenous delegates to both the 
NGO and formal UN meetings. 

This year a talented team of people working together in several parts of North 
and Central America, succesfully delivered provocative and responsible 
programming through a major tranmission from the International Broadcast Centre 
in Quebec City, during the Third Summit of the Americas, focusing on the 
exclusion of Indigenous Peoples in the hemisphere of the Americas. This archive 
can currently be viewed on the DBN site. 

Indigenous leaders in the international arena travel a very difficult road to 
find the collaboration needed to ensure that the recognition of their right to 
self determination is seriously taken up at the WCAR. 

You are invited to share testimonies or strategies, visions or case studies, 
within the virtual forums established on the DBN web site.  We anticipate that 
several Indigenous journalists, participating in the UN Office of the High 
Commissioner for Human Rights Indigenous Media Dialogue, 2000,  will be filing 
stories to complement the points of view of numerous Indigenous leaders 
throughout the world from our archives. These journalists bring with them the 
concerns of Indigenous peoples in their own countries: Kenya, Canada, the 
Philippines, Nepal, Algeria, Columbia, Panama, Kanak Islands, Australia and the 
Russian Federation. They reflect the concerns of Mohawk, Kanak and Kuna 
citizens. 

The issue of the recognition of the right of self-determination is guaranteed 
within several international instruments, yet the denial of this right 
underlies the agendas of many nation states. How can this situation be turned 
around? Be informed, become the solution.  There are seven areas you can post 
in which demand compassionate and powerful debate, in the long red road from 
Racism to Self-Determination and the empowerment of Indigenous PeopleS under 
international law.  Might we see some positive surprises coming out of South 
Africa? 

JOIN US DAILY on DIALOGUE BETWEEN NATIONS AT DBN: DIGITAL BROADCAST NETWORK 
  

www.dialoguebetweennations.com 

Problems posting? Contact us at: info at dialoguebetweennations.com

  
  








  


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