After a steady diet of updates from the formal WSIS processes, here is an
update on alternative/parallel WSIS-related initiatives by other civil
society actors.
Sasha is with the youth caucus, and helped out APC in PrepCom1
Al
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Sasha Costanza-Chock [mailto:schock@asc.upenn.edu]
> Sent: Monday, June 02, 2003 7:03 PM
> To: 'alt.wsis@lists.riseup.net'
> Subject: [alt.wsis] update
>
>
> A brief summary of recent developments around WSIS/alternative visions:
>
> >The latest is still what was decided at a meeting in Geneva in early
> >April: there should be a network of alternative/counter-events,
> >representing distinct events with distinct approaches but cooperating
> >closely. Those events, at the moment, are the Communications Rights
>Forum,
> the media lab, and a "make world" counter-conference. You can >get more
info
> at
> >http://www.worldsummit2003.org/ and specifically at
> >http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/301.htm
>
> >The CR Forum is starting to get organised, while the other 2 events
> >haven't been planned in a more detailed way yet.
>
> There is a (sometimes heated) discussion going on within the CRIS
campaign,
> currently the primary organizers of the WFCR, about the relationship to
the
> official process - ie, it is currently framed as 'parallel' but there is a
> discussion about whether, when, and how it might need to become 'counter'.
>
> Many of us have from the beginning seen the WSIS as an organizing
> opportunity we could use to strenthen our own non-governmental,
non-private
> sector networks, and also possibly a time to push media, information, and
> communication up the agenda of the various arms of the global justice
> movement.
>
> We share the analysis that any meaningful movement for communication
rights
> will need several components: policy advocacy, skillshare, education, and
> direct action.
>
> Currently, the WFCR is shaping up to be a space for media-specialist NGOs
to
> talk, possibly agree on a declaration about communication rights, and
launch
> some media focused initiatives. This will already be an important space,
but
> many of us would like to see more of an effort to include social movements
> in the WFCR from the start. We also envision the WFCR in December as the
> beginning of an ongoing process along the lines of, or in the 'family' of,
> the World Social Forum - perhaps to take place again within WSF 2004,
> perhaps a Thematic Social Forum on Communication Rights to take place in
> 2005 in counter to the second WSIS.
>
> It shouldn't even have to be stated, but just to be sure: the inclusion of
> social movements does not automatically imply a stance of physical
> confontation against the WSIS, a desire to shut down the WSIS, riot police
> and tear gas, etc. At this point what we are talking about is a real
effort
> to bring movements into the WFCR, in organizing it, setting the agenda,
> speakers, tactics, etc.
>
> That said, we also can't rule out confrontation a priori. For example,
say,
> if Bush attends, there will be many who quite legitimately would want to
> visibly protest his violation of communication rights alongside all other
> human rights, repeated bombing of information infrastructures, targeting
of
> reporters, violation of communications space with illegal propaganda
> broadcasts, illegal electronic surveillance of communications worldwide,
> militarization of cyberspace and use of cyberwarfare, militarization of
> space and appropriation of valuable satellite orbits for military
purposes,
> etc.; I would argue that the WFCR should be a space to actively endorse,
if
> not initiate, protests of this nature.
>
> In the US, there has been discussion of holding at least two (east coast,
> west coast) meetings linked to the WFCR, to take place the weekend before;
> these would link media activists to poor people's economic human rights
> campaign and other movements for a day of skillshares, education, and
> action. Communiques of some kind (written? Video? Live conference?) would
> flow from these spaces to Geneva.
>
> Another key space for linking more tightly with other arms of the Global
> Justice movement will be Cancun Ministerial of the WTO. During that week,
> each day will have a theme spearheaded by different arms of the Global
> Justice Movement. A few days before, there will be a media/communications
> themed day, planned by indymedia Mexico and other alternative mediamakers.
> Their conception is to have a day of skillshare to teach various movements
> how to help cover their own day of action during the ministerial; we will
> propose (and they are interested) to also have some time to educate
everyone
> on global media policy and communication rights, for example how the USA
> will try to bring AV sector into the WTO in the Cancun ministerial - and
> hopefully, we will also be able to announce there the World Forum on
> Communication Rights as a space for movements to participate as well.
>
> possible outcomes of the WFCR will include a declaration on communication
> rights, an index on the public sphere, concrete proposals (for example,one
> idea, albeit reformist in nature, is to frame the electromagnetic spectrum
> and the satellite orbits as part of the global commons, like water. Like
> water, they should not be given away for free for private sector to profit
> from. Instead, any private sector use of global commons should require
> significant fee, which would go towards supporting democratic
> communications.)
>
> There should also be a response to the wave of mergers that will come with
> the US Federal Communications Commission decision today, June 2nd, which
> allows much greater media consolidation.
>
> Also perhaps (as mentioned above) the World Forum on Communication Rights
> could be a space from which to launch formal (legal?) inditements against
> the US government for violation of communications rights/treaties. A
demand
> against the militarization of communications. (A concrete proposal from
Dee
> Dee Halleck: 'for every military satellite, there should be a people's
> satellite.')
>
>
> OK that's all for now, hope it updates the picture somewhat.
> Peace
> Sasha Costanza-Chock
>
>