[eccr] The European Forum on Communication Rights, London, Oct 14

The Media Culture and Communications Rights Network

Presents

The European Forum on Communication Rights

Thursday 14 October 2004
9.15am - 6.30pm

@ The Camden Centre,
Judd St
Near Kings Cross,
London WC1

FREE / donations encouraged
RSVP to (info /at/ efcr2004.net)
See www.efcr2004.net

The European Forum on Communication Rights (EFCR) takes place the day
before the start of the European Social Forum, and tackles one of the
most important questions we face how to bring together those working at
different levels on communication rights - from grass roots activists
working on practical projects and street level campaigns, to those
engaged in lobbying and advocacy, to researchers and academics.

"As the movement around Communications Rights gathers momentum, a
multitude of campaigns are confronting the same issues from a variety of
directions."

Starting the day a series of keynote speakers, presentations and
open-floor discussions will establish what is at stake in the
information revolution who owns what, who has the power, and what it
means for us all.  Focusing on the global issues of Security and the
Surveillance State, Migration and Borders, and the Corporatisation of
our Communication spaces and knowledge, the afternoon aims to find
common ground that links these varied strands together to produce
vibrant, relevant and powerful campaigns.

The (EFCR) is the first of four days of discussion, practical
collaboration and media making, based at the Camden Centre, next to
Kings Cross in the Bloomsbury area (one of the two major ESF locations).

------------------------------------------

Keynote Speakers Include:

Dr Cees J. Hamelink
Dr. Hamelink has published over 250 articles, papers and numerous books
on Communication Rights, and initiated the People's Communication
Charter movement.

Sean O'Siochru
CRIS Campaign Ireland (Communication Rights in the Information Society)
and Coordinator, World Forum on Communication Rights, Geneva December
2003.

Dr. Claudia Padovani
Dept. of Historical and Political Studies, University of Padova and CRIS
Campaign, Italy.

Roberto Verzola
Currently the secretary-general of the Philippine Greens, Roberto
Verzola was one of the founders of the progressive information and
communications technology (ICT) movement.

Ruth Ojiambo Ochieng
Director of Isis-WICCE, (Women's International Cross Cultural Exchange)
Uganda. Ruth Ochieng is also a member of the International Coordinating
Committee of Women Human Rights Defender (WHRD) and WSIS Africa Gender
Caucus.

-------------------------------------

Participating panel speakers and organisations include:

Supinya Klangnarong, Secretary General of the Campaign for Popular Media
Reform in Thailand Simon Davies, Privacy International Gus Hosein,
Privacy International Mark Littlewood, No2id Campaign Hagen Kopp, IOM
campaign Steve Buckley, AMARC Karen Banks, APC Arun Kundnani, Institute
of Race Relations Ben Hayes, Statewatch

And speakers from Defy-ID, Indymedia Estrecho (madiaq collective), with
more to be confirmed.

======================================

The European Forum on Communication Rights  and ongoing four day
programme has been developed to counteract the lack of content
addressing communication rights within the  European Social Forum
programme. As thousands of participants from diverse movements gather to
meet and discuss, the urgency of Communication Rights issues and the
freedom to communicate must be at the core of any vision of another
society.

The venue will also house an ongoing Indymedia centre (IMC) to
facilitate DIY reporting and media production, and all attendees are
encouraged to participate. There will also be a bar and cheap food
available, as well as social events and film screenings.



======================================

PROGRAMME

The European Forum on Communication Rights Thursday 14 October 2004
9.15am - 6.30pm

9.15  Doors open

9.45 - 10.00 Welcome (MCCRN representative)

10.00 - 10.45 Keynote  Cees Hamelink (with response speaker)

10.45 - 11.45 Framework on Communication Rights Defining Key Issues in
the European Context Speakers Sean O'Siochru and Claudia Padovani

12.00 - 1.30 Communication Rights  Grassroots Experience and Social
Realities Speakers Roberto Verzola (Philippines) and Ruth Ojiambo
Ochieng (Uganda)

1.30 -  2.30 Lunch Break
(cheap food is available from the venue and there are many pubs and
shops in walking distance)

2.30 - 2.45 Introduction to the Afternoon (MCCRN representative) The
afternoon focuses on three global issues and aims to find common ground
that links these varied strands together to examine how to produce
vibrant, relevant and powerful campaigns. Each panel will have short
contributions from speakers, followed by an open floor discussion.

2.45 - 3.45  The Security State and Technologies of Control As civil
liberties crumble under the wave of repressive anti-terrorism
legislation being introduced across Europe, the UK is becoming a testing
ground for new levels of surveillance and control. While migrants will
be tagged with satellite tracking devices, the general population will
be required to carry 'Biometric Microchip Identity Cards' to access
healthcare, welfare benefits and local services like transport, with all
data being stored in a vast national information system of linked
databases accessible by thousands of government departments and other
'interested' 
parties.

What are the latest developments, what are the strategies of different
campaigners, how are they working together to form broader coalitions to
prevent this repressive wave from obliterating fundamental human rights
and freedoms?

3.45 - 4.45 Migration Freedom of Movement and Free Communication Despite
increasing tendencies of global governance directed at the flow of
migration and communication through databases like the Schengen
Information System, biometric controls etc, people continue to move and
communicate. 
This panel will explore the connections between free movement and free
communication, looking at institutions like the International
Organisation of Migration (IOM) and the World Intellectual Property
Organisation (WIPO) as well as the movements against these types of
global governance and the ICT tools they are using.

4.45 - 5.45 The Corporatisation of Our Communication Spaces and
Knowledge The growth of corporate power in europe is reflected in
increasing concentration of ownership in media and communications.
Safeguards to preserve pluralism have been insufficient to keep in check
the big corporations unaccountable power over public life. This panel
looks at the rise of corporate power in Thailand and Italy and its base
in major communications corporations. It asks what measures are needed
to counter the corporate communications hegemony and asks "is another
communication possible?", as well as drawing parallels with other areas
such as Intellectual Property.

5.45 - 6.30 Closing Session

Note: The Camden Centre has a licensed bar which will be open through
the evening.

============================

The Media Culture and Communications Rights Network includes:

Article 19, Association For Progressive Communications (APC), volunteers
from Babels, Community Media Association UK, Computer Aid International,
members of the CRIS Campaign (Ireland, UK, Italy), E-Hippies, GreenNet,
GreenNet Educational Trust, volunteers from Indymedia Centers in the UK,
France and Germany, Privacy International, World Association of
Christian Communications (WACC), World Association of Community Radio
Broadcasters
(AMARC)

============================

Links and Contacts:

EFCR website
www.efcr2004.net

EFCR contact
(info /at/ efcr2004.net)

Official ESF website
www.fse-esf.org

Unofficial ESF website
www.esf2004.net

ESF Autonomous Spaces and Initiatives
www.altspaces.net

Indymedia UK Network
www.indymedia.org.uk

IMC Media Centre organising wiki website
http//docs.indymedia.org/view/Local/UkImcEsf



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