2- Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re:_[WSIS_CS-Plenary]_Re:_Yet_another_suggestion_:for_symbolic speakers

Tue Nov 11 17:02:26 GMT 2003

Please read my detailed message to Pascal. 

Youth PLEASE donot discriminate against those who will soon fill your ranks - be inclusive.

Society includes children - on one side you many see it as an abuse on the other they have the right to appear and speak as well - their presence is "equal" ! 

Don't tell me that just a few years ago when you were 10 you couldn't read a text ?

It is a sad message that you want to give to child soldiers, children supporting their families, children that are facing abuse - that they are not considered important enough to speak in front of heads of state - it would give them hope to get out of their misery if they see the vision for a better future, that we can help provide! 

>From someone who has worked in the sectors of international development related to children, child care, education, and child abuse.

I am sad about the condescending tone used regarding children on this list

Please refer to the rights of the child - they have the right to the freedom of expression too! It is not a middle-aged persons symbol it is a RIGHT!

The International School of Geneva would be a good reference point from which to call for children's participation if you are having problems on that account. I would be pleased to assist you making contact with the school.

Amali De Silva-Mitchell ( in a personal capacity) 

Ajantunen <ajantunen at takingitglobal.org> wrote:
Hi everyone,

First off, thanks to Amali and Divina for their suggestion that youth give
the keynote speech - the Youth Caucus would definitely support such a
proposal, and I could suggest the names of several candidates to give the
speech. PF, I believe your concerns are valid - certainly we would not
support the use of children as messengers of propaganda - however, the
candidates I would recommend are old enough and experienced enough in the
WSIS process and the information society in general to avoid being
manipulated. :) Look forward to discussing this further.

Regards,

Adam Jantunen

--------- Original Message --------
From: plenary at wsis-cs.org
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org 

Subject: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Re: Yet another suggestion :for symbolic speakers
Date: 11/11/03 08:43

>
> Hi all,
>
> --------
>
> >De: Meigs <meigs at wanadoo.fr>
>
>
> >I did think of the child but it seems to me that we still need to pass
on a
> >well developed message, as written collaboratively by civil society.
And it
> >has to be delivered in 5 minutes.
>
> ------------
>
> This idea of a speech written collaboratively would be a big challenge for
"civil society" given it's diversity and it may lead to a weak
statement. Nevertheless, I believe it's not the worst the solution.
>
> As for the children, On a moral point of view, I don't like this idea at
all of (ab-)using some children to read a text written by other adults. I
dislike it in big sport events ( like olympic games and so on) because it
has become mainly business. I dislike perhaps even mor this idea of
(ab-)using children to deliver what is to be STRONG POLITICAL MESSAGE. After
all, why not ask to Bill McIver and Sally Burch AS COORDINATOR of C&T
group. Given there strong commitment in the work of WSIS CS plenary, I
believe they deadly deserve it !
>
> PF.
>
> >The youth caucus has been extraordinary during the prepcoms and seems
to me
> >to offer many possible ³voices² to stand for us.
> >
> >Best
> >
> >Divina Frau-Meigs, >
> >> The symbol of child / youth expressing the future of humanity is
a good one -
> >> why not have a child / youth representative from each region of
the world and
> >> the message delivered in the official languages of the UN ? It
would be nice
> >> to include a child in the group.
> >> >> Amali De Silva-Mitchell,
> >> Vice President, Vancouver Community Network, Canada
> >> >> Meigs <meigs at wanadoo.fr> wrote:
> >>> Dear all,
> >>> >>> We do seem to have a problem to come to a
consensus on the speaker we will
> >>> finally chose. Though i have expressed my own preference, i
realize that may
> >>> be the solution has to be symbolical rather than
personalized.
> >>> >>> How about:
> >>> 1- we draft, via the content and themes group for instance, a
declaration
> >>> that is comprehensive of the issues on which we have a
general consensus but
> >>> remain problematic for the States.
> >>> >>> 2- Then this common declaration would be read by
two anonymous (by that
> >>> meaning not famous) YOUNG PEOPLE,-a young girl AND a young
boy-, each saying
> >>> a sentence in turn, to express the trust of civil society in
its sheer power
> >>> and its youth. >>> >>> Wouldn't this be an
innovation in a world summit?
> >>> >>> >>> It seems to me this would solve
some problems with stardom, male or female
> >>> dominance, etc.
> >>> >>> >>> All the best
> >>> Divina Frau-Meigs, IAMCR
> >>> >>> __
> >>> Plenary mailing list
> >>> Plenary at wsis-cs.org
> >>> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary
> >> >> >> Amali De Silva-Mitchell
> >> >> Tel: 604-736-9012 & Email: amalidesilva at yahoo.com
> >> >> >> >> >> >> >> >
>
> _______________________________________________
> Plenary mailing list
> Plenary at wsis-cs.org
> http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary
>
>
>
>
>
>

_______________________________________________
Plenary mailing list
Plenary at wsis-cs.org
http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary

Amali De Silva-Mitchell

Tel: 604-736-9012 & Email: amalidesilva at yahoo.com

-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: http://mailman-new.greennet.org.uk/pipermail/plenary/attachments/20031111/4dea8cc7/attachment.htm