From: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu (Rich Winkel)
Subject: New Earth Summit NGO Communication/Info Treaty
Followup-To: alt.activism.d
Originator: rich@pencil.cs.missouri.edu
Organization: PACH
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 03:33:49 GMT

/** 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 
(wacc@gn.apc.org) 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 hfrederick@igc.apc.org

     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:44-61-839-4212
Phone:(55-21)286-0348                FAX: 44-61-839-4214
FAX:(55-21)286-0541                  E-mail:
cafonso@ibase.br                     shaun.fensom@geo2.geomail.org
                                     
Maria Luisa Angeles                  Gilberto Koury Fraiha
Av. San Borja Norte 663              Brahma Kumaris Org.
Lima 41, Peru                        R.  Pinheiro Da Cunha
Phone: 754195- 373425                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:2245011                        Bryon Bay
FAX:2244428                          NSW 2481
                                     Australia
Gilbert Arum                         Phone:61-66-858041
Centre for Appropriate               FAX:61-66-857962
Technologies,                        E-Mail: agarton@peg.apc.org
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:819-7385261/825-6776
Marcus Azaziel                       FAX: 819-825-4215
Multicoop, Brazil                    E-Mail:web:reve
Av. Beira Mar 406/1002               
CEP:20.021                           Pasteur Jean-Blaise
Rio de Janeiro                       Kenmogne
Brasil                               CIPCRE
Phone:240-0465, 240-7923             B.P. 1256 BAFOUSSAM
                                     CAMEROUN
Tina Bishop                          Phone:237-44-3055
College of Exploration               FAX:237-44-5191
1431 Towlston Road                   E-mail:GEOD: CIPCRE
Vienna                               
VA                                   Ph.Kabeye  Zaire
22182                                Hotel Regina
Phone: 703-255-2672                  
FAX:703-255-2792                     
                                     Imekongo Kitoko
Roberto Bissio                       V.D.A. Zaire
NGONET                               B.P 57444
Jackson 1136                         Kinshasa I
Montevideo                           Zaire
Uruguay                              Phone: 234-26707
Phone:+598 (2) 49 6192               
Fax:598-2-419222                     Richard Labelle
E-Mail:rbissio@chasque.org.uy        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: (1)46-26-27-16                Rua Leandro Martins 10/12- ANDAR
                                     Centro Rio de Janeiro/RJ
Millard Clements                     Brazil
New York University                  Phone:021-263-7094/263-7541
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
clements@acfcluster.nyu.edu          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 687-283275                 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:632-521-8-125
USA                                  
Phone:916-457-0433                   Ph. Kaseya Lutonga
FAX:916-739-6951                     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: +55 (21) 286 0348             New York, New York, USA
e-mail: efarwell@ax.apc.org          FAX:212-661-2704
                                     Phone:212-687-8633

                                     NGONET
Sabine McNeill                       Casilla de Correo 1539
21a Goldhurst Terrace                11000 Montevideo
ondon NW6 3HB                        Uruguay
Phone:071-625-8804                   Phone:598-2-49192
FAX:071372-2378                      E-Mail: magela@chasque.org.uy
                                     
Baboo Mondoned                       David Spencer
Cordillera News Agency               US
CNA Foundation                       
27 Yangoo road                       Jennifer Strand
Cordillera REgion                    Togethernet
Phillippines                         2129 13th Street
Phone/FAX:  442-7314                 Boulder, CO 80302
                                     USA
Miriam Murphy                        Phone:303-444-9567
Rua Van Erven 34 Bl. 2 Apto 104      FAX:303-4447512
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:221-22-28-90                   Phone: 703-255-2672
FAX:221-22-26-95                     FAX: 703-255-2792
                                     E-Mail:peter@tmn.com
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: aless@ax.apc.org             Tel: +505 (2) 26 228
                                     Fax: +505 (2) 26 180
Joyce O'Ryan                         e-mail: cvasconi@ni.apc.org
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 (095) 262 4857 or 0209
Phone:(56-32)257313                  email avoronov@glas
FAX:(56-32)214857                    
                                     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: +61 (66) 856789
E-Mail:geo2:one                      Fax: +61(66)856962
                                     email pwilson@peg
Miguel Peirano                       
NGONET
Casilla de Correo 1539
11000 Montevideo
Uruguay
Phone:598-2-49192
FAX:598-2-419222
Miguel@chasque.org.uy

Jagdish Parikh
NGONET
Casilla Correo 1539
Montevideo 11000
Uruguay
Phone:598-2-496192
FAX:598-2-419222
E-Mail: jagdish@chasque.org.uy

Ian Peter
Pegasas Networks
P.O. Box 424 Byron Bay
Australia
email ianp@peg.apc.org

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
(616) 223-7315v
(616) 223-7557
email: neahtwanta@igc

Janet Lynn Rutherford
Global Understanding through
Intercultural
Discourse and Education (GUIDE)
Arai 1-13-4a, Nakano-ku, Tokyo 165,
Japan
Telephone: 81-3-5380-5262 FAX: 81-
45-413-1607
OR:
HIROSHIMA-NAGASAKI LIVE
Dove's Palace, 708 Hawks Avenue,
Vancouver,
British Columbia, Canada, V6A 3J3
Telephone: 1-604-266-0889
Email: "sky" on WEB
sky%aegis.or.jp@kyoto-u.ac.jp

Fernando Sa
Director of Communications
IBASE
R.  Vicente de Souza, 29
Cep:22251
Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Phone:(55-21)286-0348
FAX:(55-21)286-0541
Alternex:fsa

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

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