NetNews Usenet Archive 1992 #16/NN_1992_16.iso/spool/misc/activism/progress/5388

Text File | 1992-07-27 | 22.4 KB | 524 lines

Newsgroups: misc.activism.progressive
Path: sparky!uunet!cis.ohio-state.edu!magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu!usenet.ins.cwru.edu!ukma!mont!pencil.cs.missouri.edu!rich
From: [e-mail] (Rich Winkel)
Subject: New Earth Summit NGO Communication/Info Treaty
Message-ID: <[e-mail]>
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: [e-mail]
Sender: [e-mail]
Nntp-Posting-Host: pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 03:33:49 GMT
Approved: [e-mail]
Lines: 509

/** media.issues: 201.0 **/
** Topic: Earth Summit NGO Comm/Info Treaty **
** Written  4:22 pm  Jul 27, 1992 by hfrederick in cdp:media.issues **
Dear Friends:

     A precedent-setting event took place last month in Rio at the Earth
Summit.  Fifty-plus people (a third of them from the APC networks)
participated in the drafting of the NGO Global Forum's "Treaty on
Communication, Information, Media and Networking."  (See below in
various languages.)

     This valuable work is part of what is increasingly being called the
"MacBride Movement," named after Sean MacBride, former Foreign Minister of
Ireland, founder of Amnesty International and the only winner of both the
Lenin and the Nobel peace prizes.

     The MacBride Movement represents the world's nongovernmental
organizations, nations and peoples who are calling for the democratization
and decolonization of world communication, as expressed in UNESCO's famous
1980 MacBride Report [_One World, Many Voices_, Paris: UNESCO, 1980].

     The MacBride Report totally transformed UNESCO and led to the pull out
of the United States government, which called the Report's twin initiatives
a threat to the free flow of information.  Since that time the U.S.
government and powerful press lobbies have prevented the information and
communication issue from surfacing in intergovernmental forums.

     If you wish more information about the MacBride movement in general,
send an email to the World Association for Christian Communication
([e-mail]) and ask for the MacBride Report, also known as _One
World, Many Voices_, and for a new book on the MacBride Movement itself
called _Few Voices, Many Worlds_.  Ask WACC also for a special issue of
their respected journal _Media Development_ on "New Communications for a
New Century," which has several articles about the MacBride Movement.

     Lastly, I'd like to recommend the people consider reading a
chapter in my new book Global Communication and International
Relations (Wadsworth, 1993--already published).  The chapter is
called "Communication, Information and 'New World Orders' " which
summarizes the history of the debate and of the MacBride
Movement.  For information on how to order this book, send email
to [e-mail]

     Let me say in closing that we must apply the lessons of the
communication treaty, and of NGO networking in general, to the upcoming
United Nations Conference on Human Rights in Vienna next year.  The right
to communicate should be included in the fundamental convenants as a basic
human right.

Howard Frederick
** End of text from cdp:media.issues **

/** media.issues: 201.1 **/
** Written  4:22 pm  Jul 27, 1992 by hfrederick in cdp:media.issues **
                        Communication, Information,
                        Media and Networking Treaty

Role of Communication & Information
-----------------------------------

     The right to communicate freely is a basic human right and a
necessity for sustainable development. Access to information is
essential for informed decision-making at all levels. As Chapter
40 Agenda 21 declares, "in sustainable development, everyone is a
user and provider of information considered in the broad sense
that includes data, information, appropriately packaged
experience and knowledge."

     The "Green Press" International Meeting of Journalists on
Environment and Development (Belo Horizonte, May 20-24, 1992)
identified as threats to democratic communication unequal access
to the media, the concentration of information resources in the
hands of economic groups, censorship and other forms of
government control.

     Governments and international institutions should guarantee
the RIGHT of all people to communicate to collect, to put in
proper shape, to disseminate and to exchange all information they
choose without any risk to personal security. People should have
the material and cultural means, including the basic mail and
telephone facilities to communicate with colleagues locally and
globally. Unfortunately in many Southern countries these
facilities are deteriorating.

Networking
----------

     Networking and sharing of information has been repeatedly
emphasized by NGOs throughout the UNCED process as essential to
work effectively together. Networking involves face-to-face
meetings, formal organizations, informal meetings, printed media,
telephone, fax, mail, radio, TV. video and computer
communications. All are significant, all are to be used in the
different circumstances of life and cultural arrangements.
Monolithic, monopolistic. structures of the mass media in most
countries are not sympathetic to NGO issues.

Networking involves:

a.  communicating within and across organizational and sectoral
boundaries
b.  using all media that enhance the dissemination of ideas.
c.  fostering personal relationships with the working press, TV
reporters, etc.
d.  sharing and exchanging information with people with common
interests and who are involved with related activities.

The promotion of networking is a primary objective of the
Communication Treaty.

AN AGENDA FOR NGO COMMUNICATIONS
--------------------------------
(This section includes contributions from the Women's Workshop on
media, and the African Francophone Groups meeting on
communication.)

The following principles direct this communication effort:

a.  support NGO efforts to expand community participation in
decision-making at all levels.
b.  establish and strengthen existing interconnected,
decentralized networks, that provide a capacity for "thinking
globally, acting locally" as well as "thinking locally and acting
globally."
c.  enable NGOs from the South and the North, grassroot
organizations, women's groups and indigenous people to monitor
government and business activity that relates to, supports or
undermines sustainable development.  This effort must include:
-  an early warning system on projects to be implemented by
governments and multilateral agencies.
-  alert systems on environmental, social and related threats.
d.  encourage governments, educators and information providers to
understand that access to information (including information
about government and business activities) is an essential part of
community education.
e.  encourage governments to provide, free of added charges,
information about government activities, and information that
government agencies develop that relate to sustainable
development. Governments should subsidize NGO and educational
information networks that support open, informed, public activity
without restriction.
f.  make use of Indigenous knowledge, local experience, and
community heritage as key sources of information.
g.  promote and strengthen alphabetization and education and
support all expressions of cultural diversity.
h.  give expression to artistic communication and expression
techniques as well as other means of popular expression. which
are used by local communities.
i.  promote establishment and access to free and local radio, and
TV considered as appropriate means of expression, as well as to
support to democratic movements in urban and rural areas and to
implement training programs in order to allow populations to
master the above means of communications.
j.  support and recognize women's media networks worldwide, both
those that supply news on women's activities and concerns to mass
media outlets and those that utilize alternative media channels
to reach women and women's groups with information that assists
and supports them in their community activities.
k.  support efforts by NGOs to provide technical assistance and
training in communication methods and technologies to local and
national groups that are attempting to reach out to otherwise
isolated communities, using appropriate languages and channels
not available to regional and international networks.
l.  support efforts by NGOs to set up resource centers of
information and resources for community activities, especially in
the area of environmental concerns. These resource centers should
contain audio and visual materials in addition to printed
publications, and cover all of the languages most common in the
area being served.

     These principals and goals of the Communications Treaty
constitute a social agenda of enormous importance both for the
environment and for the cause of social justice. The struggle for
social justice is an integral part of environmental restoration
and preservation.

C.  COMMITMENTS TO IMMEDIATE ACTION

     The signatories commit themselves to contribute to NGO
information networking and act as two-way communication channels,
sending, processing and receiving information to and from their
constituencies on a collaborative, fair and non discriminatory
basis.

FOLLOWING ACTIONS WILL BE TAKEN,TO THE EXTENT OF THEIR MEANS, BY
THE SIGNATORIES:

a.  establish and strengthen the existing communication channels
and networks and their connectivity.
b.  share and distribute databases on environment and development
issues that will provide the basis for a new set of indicators of
sustainable development able to challenge the established (World
Bank promoted) view that GNP is the only measure of success.
c.  maintain and develop and disseminate an international
directory of NGOs and individuals engaged in networking,
communication, information activities.
d.  Encourage universities to provide access to computer
resources such as Internet, Bitnet, to NGOs and schools.
e.  expand the human resources currently working on these issues
by organizing people with time on their hands, and a desire to
contribute such as students, elderly people, the unemployed, and
others.
f.  promote effective dissemination of NGO messages through
radio, TV, radio and printed media.
g.  raise funds to support these activities and develop
mechanisms to evaluate their success.
h.  promote the appropriate use of computers for information
activities particularly electronic networking, by undertaking the
following actions:
i.  develop software that is friendly, allows for connectivity,
is portable to the computers of Southern and grassroots users.
ii.  provide access to information on available/appropriate
technologies, costs, etc.
iii.  make computer hardware and software available to NGOs,
grassroots, community-based groups.

BRIDGE THE COMMUNICATION AND DATA GAP:

a.  developing and disseminate training materials, training the
trainers, and organizing workshops, and seminars.
b.  establishing information centers and e-mail nodes in
different countries, particularly in the South.
c.  developing mechanisms to "upload" and distribute information
originated locally from non-electronic sources.
d.  creating mechanisms to distribute information available
electronically in appropriate formats (e.g. radio, video,
newsletters, diskettes. etc.).
e.  translating data and information into different languages and
formats.

     The signatories of the Communication, Information and
Networking Alternative Treaty include NGOs with expertise in
communication, journalism, community-based media, education,
information processing and electronic networking. We are
committed to work for these goals and to address the networking
and information-sharing needs of the other Alternative Treaties.

     The challenge to all NGOs who sign this Communications
Treaty is to take up the responsibility, and the opportunity to
share with others accounts of the tasks in which they are
engaged, the issues which they are facing, and the successes
which they have achieved with the view to develop a civil society
that is informed, engaged, and responsible. The signatories will
continue discussion on this issue through all appropriate
channels, particularly the APC network conference called
en.unced.infox.
** End of text from cdp:media.issues **

/** media.issues: 201.2 **/
** Written  4:22 pm  Jul 27, 1992 by hfrederick in cdp:media.issues **
The following people participated in the drafting of the treaty:

Participants in the development of the Communications Treaty.

Carlos Afonso                        Shaun Fensom
IBASE                                POPTEL 30 Naples Street
R.  Vicente de Souza, 29             Manchester
CEP:22251                            UK
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil               Phone:[phone]
Phone:[phone]                FAX: [phone]
FAX:[phone]                  E-mail:
[e-mail]                     [e-mail]

Maria Luisa Angeles                  Gilberto Koury Fraiha
Av. San Borja Norte 663              Brahma Kumaris Org.
Lima 41, Peru                        R.  Pinheiro Da Cunha
Phone: [phone]                No. 185
                                     Tijuca-RJ
Americo Antunes                      Brazil
Sindicato dos Journalistas de Minas  Andrew Garton
Av. Alveres Conal, 400               Pactok
Belo Horizonte - Minas               10 Seena Court
Brazil                               Cemetery Road
Phone:[phone]                        Bryon Bay
FAX:[phone]                          NSW 2481
                                     Australia
Gilbert Arum                         Phone:[phone]
Centre for Appropriate               FAX:[phone]
Technologies,                        E-Mail: [e-mail]
Kenya
email gn:garum                       Henri Jacob
                                     Le R.E.U.E/als RQGE
Jesus Ayala                          1035 St. Philippe
Radio Panamericana                   Dubuisson
18 de Julio 965-Piso 2               Quebec
Montevideo                           Canada
Uruguay                              J9P4N7
                                     Phone:[phone]-6776
Marcus Azaziel                       FAX: [phone]
Multicoop, Brazil                    E-Mail:web:reve
Av. Beira Mar 406/1002
CEP:20.021                           Pasteur Jean-Blaise
Rio de Janeiro                       Kenmogne
Brasil                               CIPCRE
Phone:[phone]             B.P. 1256 BAFOUSSAM
                                     CAMEROUN
Tina Bishop                          Phone:[phone]
College of Exploration               FAX:[phone]
1431 Towlston Road                   E-mail:GEOD: CIPCRE
Vienna
VA                                   Ph.Kabeye  Zaire
22182                                Hotel Regina
Phone: [phone]
FAX:[phone]
                                     Imekongo Kitoko
Roberto Bissio                       V.D.A. Zaire
NGONET                               B.P 57444
Jackson 1136                         Kinshasa I
Montevideo                           Zaire
Uruguay                              Phone: [phone]
Phone:[phone]
Fax:[phone]                     Richard Labelle
E-Mail:[e-mail]        International Institute for
                                     sustainable development
Geoffrey Butler                      161 Portage Avenue
Evolution Communications             Winnipeg
P.O. Box 91178                       Manitoba, Canada
Anchorage                            R3B044
Alaska
99509                                Griselda Leal
USA                                  Radio Panamericana
907-272-2954                         18 de Julio 965 Piso 2
                                     Montevideo
Jean Carlier (France),               Uruguay
29 Rue Brancas 92310 Sevres
France                               Marcio Leal
Phone: [phone]                Rua Leandro Martins 10/12- ANDAR
                                     Centro Rio de Janeiro/RJ
Millard Clements                     Brazil
New York University                  Phone:[phone]-7541
Environmental Conservation
Education                            Nathalie Liamine
737 East Building                    CLEI/ELCIP.O.  Box 72461
New York                             Nairobi, Kenya
New York                             Environmental Liason Centre
10003                                International
Econet:mclements                     Ndemi Road, off Ngong Road
Internet:                            e-mail:  gn:elcidwr
[e-mail]          FAX:562175

Jean-Louis d"Auzon                   Russ Lindquist
association Pour La                  UNA-USA
Sauvegarde De La Nature              The Intercultutal News Network
Neo-Caledonienne                     16331 Underhill Lane
B.P 1772 Noumea                      Huntington Beach, CA 92647
New Caledonia                        US
South Pacific
Phone/Fax [phone]                 Francis B. Lucas
                                     President
Mark Dubois                          Bayanihan Broadcasting Corp.
Togethernet                          120 J. Arellano St.
401 San Miguel way                   San Juan. M.M.
Sacramento                           Philippines
California, 95019                    FAX:[phone]
USA
Phone:[phone]                   Ph. Kaseya Lutonga
FAX:[phone]                     CNONGD/ZAIRE
                                     B.P. 57744
Edie Farwell                         Kinshasa/Gombe
APC (Assoc. for Prog. Communic.)
c/o IBASE                            Alice Mastrangelo
rua Vicente de Souza 29              International Women's Tribune
Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro             Centre
Brazil                               777 UN Plaza
Phone: [phone]             New York, New York, USA
e-mail: [e-mail]          FAX:[phone]
                                     Phone:[phone]

                                     NGONET
Sabine McNeill                       Casilla de Correo 1539
21a Goldhurst Terrace                11000 Montevideo
ondon NW6 3HB                        Uruguay
Phone:[phone]                   Phone:[phone]
FAX:[phone]                      E-Mail: [e-mail]

Baboo Mondoned                       David Spencer
Cordillera News Agency               US
CNA Foundation
27 Yangoo road                       Jennifer Strand
Cordillera REgion                    Togethernet
Phillippines                         2129 13th Street
Phone/FAX:  [phone]                 Boulder, CO 80302
                                     USA
Miriam Murphy                        Phone:[phone]
Rua Van Erven 34 Bl. 2 Apto 104      FAX:[phone]
Catumbi, Rio de Janeiro
Brazil                               Peter Tuddenham
                                     College of Exploration & IRIS
Raphael Ndiaye                       Network
ENDA.COORCOM                         1431 Towlston Road
BP 370 DAKAR                         Vienna, VA 22182
SENEGAL                              USA
PHONE:[phone]                   Phone: [phone]
FAX:[phone]                     FAX: [phone]
                                     E-Mail:[e-mail]
Ronise Nepomuceno
Brazil  205-4903                     Cristina Vasconi
                                     Nicarao
Alessandra Oliveira                  CRIES
AlterNex                             Apartado 3516
Rua Vicente de Souza 29              Iglesia Carmen
Botafogo, Rio de Janeiro             1 cuadra al lago
Brazil                               Managua, Nicaragua
e-mail: [e-mail]             Tel: [phone]
                                     Fax: [phone]
Joyce O'Ryan                         e-mail: [e-mail]
Cetal Centro De Estudios de
Tecnologias                          Anatoli Voronov
Apropiadas Para America Latina       Glasnet
Area de Medio Ambiente               Ulitsa Yasroslovaskaya 8
Encargada de Difusion                Korpus 3, Komnata 111
Abato 576 Cerro Concepcion           129164 Moscow, Russia
Valparaiso, Chile                    Tel: + 7 [phone] or 0209
Phone:[phone]                  email avoronov@glas
FAX:[phone]
                                     Paul Wilson
Paul Osborne                         Pegasus
The One Foundation                   P.O.Box 424
H Gorternof 102                      The Epicentre, Border Street
NL-1422JS                            Byron Bay 2481
Vitthoorn                            New South Wales, Australia
Netherlands                          Tel: [phone]
E-Mail:geo2:one                      Fax: [phone]
                                     email pwilson@peg
Miguel Peirano
NGONET
Casilla de Correo 1539
11000 Montevideo
Uruguay
Phone:[phone]
FAX:[phone]
[e-mail]

Jagdish Parikh
NGONET
Casilla Correo 1539
Montevideo 11000
Uruguay
Phone:[phone]
FAX:[phone]
E-Mail: [e-mail]

Ian Peter
Pegasas Networks
P.O. Box 424 Byron Bay
Australia
email [e-mail]

Gillian Phillips
WEED Foundation
Ottawa
CANADA
e-mail: web:phillips

Robert Pollard
Da Zi Bao / International Synergy
Institute
801 Homestead Street
Baltimore, MD 21218
410 243-2131 (phone)
410 243-7357 (fax)
rpollard on Alternex, GreenNet &
EcoNet

Kirk Roberts
NIRV Centre
401 Richmond st., Suite 104
Toronto, Ontario M5V 3A8
Canada
e-mail: web:kirk

Bob Russell
Neahtawanta Center
1308 Neahtawanta Rd
Traverse City, MI 49684 USA
[phone]v
[phone]
email: neahtwanta@igc

Janet Lynn Rutherford
Global Understanding through
Intercultural
Discourse and Education (GUIDE)
Arai 1-13-4a, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 165,
Japan
Telephone: [phone] FAX: 81-
45-413-1607
OR:
HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI LIVE
Dove's Palace, 708 Hawks Avenue,
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, V6A 3J3
Telephone: [phone]
Email: "sky" on WEB
[e-mail]

Fernando Sa
Director of Communications
IBASE
R.  Vicente de Souza, 29
Cep:22251
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Phone:[phone]
FAX:[phone]
Alternex:fsa

Magela Sigillito
** End of text from cdp:media.issues **