[WSIS CS-Plenary] [THETHA] WSIS Thetha Forum - Cape Town, 22 August 2005

[THETHA]

THETHA - THE SANGONeT ICT DISCUSSION FORUM

"World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)"

Civic Centre, Cape Town

22 August 2005

www.sangonet.org.za

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SANGONeT will host a second Thetha forum on the World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) on Monday, 22 August 2005 (09h00-15h30) at the
Civic Centre in Cape Town (5th Floor, Crush Room).

The Summit is an important event, symbolising the recognition by the global
community that ICTs can play a major role in social and economic development
and contribute significantly towards poverty alleviation.

The WSIS Thetha forums provide South African civil society organisations
(CSOs) with an opportunity to reflect on the focus and objectives of WSIS
and related processes. It will also provide a platform to discuss the
position of the South African government and civil society in this regard.

In the past few months SANGONeT has compiled a draft WSIS civil society
document with the support of various local CSOs. This draft document focuses
on issues such as local content; community broadcasting; freedom of
expression, diversity and pluralism; financing the digital divide; education
and ICT literacy. The document is available on the SANGONeT website and will
be reviewed at the WSIS Thetha in Cape Town.

Speakers at the Thetha will include David Barnard, SANGONeT; Adama
Samessekou, President, WSIS Geneva Phase; Dr Harold Wesso, Western Cape
Provincial Government; Paul Esselaar, Internet Society; Tracey Naughton,
WSIS Media Caucus; and Raymond Louw, Media Institute of Southern Africa
(MISA).

If you are interested in participating in the WSIS Thetha, please contact
Refilwe Rakhibane at SANGONeT before 19 August 2005:

Tel: (011) 403-4935 / Fax: (011) 403-0130 E-mail: thetha at sangonet.org.za

SANGONeT's Thetha Forums aim to provide CSOs with an opportunity to discuss
information communication technology (ICT) issues of common concern and to
learn from one another's experiences. The forums focus specifically on the
ICT challenges facing the CSO sector, highlighting and promoting practical
benefits, opportunities and lessons learned to date.

For more information on WSIS, please refer to the following websites:

WSIS Official Website
http://www.wsis.org / www.itu.int/wsis

Heinrich Boell's Worldsummit2005
http://www.worldsummit2005.org

WSIS Civil Society Meeting Point
http://www.wsis-cs.org

UN Non-governmental Liaison Service - Special WSIS Page
http://www.un-ngls.org/wsis.htm

WSIS Community Platform
http://www.wsis-online.net

Participation in the Thetha is free of charge.

"Come Thetha with us"


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