hearusnow.org: Consumer Voice for Communications Choicehearusnow.org: Consumer Voice for Communications Choice

Harness technology to expand human rights!

This free pre-conference will explore opportunities and impediments to harness the potential of communications, media and intellectual property policies to expand democratic, consumer and human rights around the world.  From community media to wireless communications and the global internet, this pre-conference will cover the intersections in global fights for human rights, communication rights and consumer rights.  We will bring experts and advocates from around the world working in these three fields together to explore how and where their work connects.

Media corporations have the power not just to report news, but to shape the world they cover. In an age of increased digital information and rapid technological innovation, the method by which information is delivered may be just as important as the content of the news column or broadcast. Diverse ownership of communications, coupled with widespread access, is the only way to ensure a rich marketplace of ideas. 

Oppressed peoples throughout the world are finding innovative ways to use new digital tools to circumvent censorship, expose abuses and amplify voices both inside and outside mainstream channels. 

  • Text messages have been used in China to organize protests to stop the siting of chemical plants. 
  • Voice over internet protocol (VoIP) is used in North Korea to avoid phone taps. 
  • Pictures beamed to websites from mobile phones exposed abuse in Burma. 
  • Low power radio held communities and survivors together in Louisiana after Hurricane Katrina. 
  • Text messages and blogs were integral to getting accurate stories out of Kenya during the recent post-election conflict.

Yet, these opportunities are impeded when governments and industry create policies that centralize control over communications infrastructure, censor or cripple the use of new technology or simply cut off access to means of communication.

Much of the world is still in the process of shaping its digital tools.  The ability of citizens and consumers to impact that development will be crucial to maintaining cultural diversity and ensuring the success of emerging democracies.  As issues of connectivity and democracy are debated across the world by scholars, NGO’s, journalists, industry lobbyists, governments and others, global trade regimes are moving forward to create their own development models.  While the content being beamed into countries and communities may not reflect the diverse cultures within them, it will most certainly play a role in shaping their futures.  The challenge before civil society activists is to create meaningful ways to protect citizen, consumer and community interests and involvement in the new communications environment of the 21st century. 

Civil society leaders, policy experts and media activists from around the world will convene at this pre-conference to continue tackling the communication challenges facing developed and developing countries.  Our dialogue will touch on topics as diverse and nuanced as the many cultures they affect. 

  • What is the role of a free media in protecting justice and peace in conflict societies? 
  • How are mobile phones, blogs and online video streaming being used to circumvent traditional tools of government suppression and expose human rights violations in the developing world? 
  • What communications policies are being implemented to encourage or suppress the use of new information technologies? 
  • Where is the balance between protecting intellectual property and opening access to knowledge in a connected world? 
  • How are community media being used to grow participation in social and economic justice fights throughout the world? 
  • How are new digital tools being used to build democracies?

Please join us at this pre-conference to learn about what’s happening around the world, engage in the debate and find out ways that you can get involved. 

This is a free pre-conference.  We do need to get an idea of how many people plan to attend.  Please click here to register the deadline is June 1st!  Please note that registering for this pre-conference does not admit you to the National Conference for Media Reform.

If you are having trouble registering please contact Joel Kelsey at (202) 462-6262 or email mitcka@consumer.org.

 

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