[WSIS CS-Plenary] OpeningCeremonySpeaker PCT proposal : Richard Stal

[Beatriz Busaniche]

On behalf of Federico Heinz, from Fundación Vía Libre, Argentina




-----Mensaje original-----
De: Federico Heinz [mailto:fheinz at vialibre.org.ar] 
Enviado el: jueves, 06 de noviembre de 2003 13:40
Para: Beatriz Busaniche
Asunto: Re: RV: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary]
OpeningCeremonySpeaker PCT proposal : Richard Stal


Please let me take exception to those that argue that having RMS deliver the
message for civil society would put the discussion in a technology
framework. While it is true that Richard didn't single-handedly save us all
from the claws of monopolistic corporations (first, we are still very far
from being safe, and second, if we ever manage to avoid this destiny, it
will be thanks to the hard work and dedication of thousands of people
worldwide), he is probably the one person that has spent most time thinking
about, and has shown the deepest understanding of the role of technology for
society. His work is most definitely not about technology, but about social
interaction, cooperation, equality and solidarity.

I share the concern that the message to be delivered must center around
basic issues of human rights in the information society, and I argue that it
is very hard to find a single person that has as much insight into the
various and intricate social issues raised by the information society as RMS
has.

Ultimately, I think that it's not very relevant who delivers the speech...
it is likely that there are more popular persons than Richard to deliver it,
and if this additional popularity helps our message reach more ears, we
should by all means seize the opportunity and have them do it (not that I
think that it will make any difference---WSIS is pretty much made up its
collective mind that CS's role is to shut down, sit down and applaud). But
even if Richard does not deliver the speech, we should most definitely seek
his advice on the contents of the speech, for he is very apt to offer a very
concise and compact summary of the key issues.

Of course, it is probable that his suggestions will be centered around
issues such as patents, copyright and such. Do not mistake this with
technocentrism! A simple look at the WSIS documents show how, no matter what
the Declaration of Principles says, their tactics are centered precisely
around these issues. It's not saying that human rights or gender issues are
not important, it's talking *in concrete terms* about what is needed for
those principles to be sustainable in the information society. We need those
concrete terms, because otherwise we will end up with a very ugly bargain:
an agreement in principles, but an action plan that makes the principles
impossible to attain. A society in which men and women have equal roles,
namely passive users of foreign-supplied technology.

	Fede Heinz
	Fundación Vía Libre