[ox-en] Report from "We Seize!" - Monday
- From: Stefan Merten <smerten oekonux.de>
- Date: Mon, 08 Dec 2003 17:35:50 +0100
Hi!
While being here in Geneva I also can try to report on what is
happening here at the "We Seize!" events. I don't know, however,
whether this is possible on the other days.
Monday has been the second day of preparation of the "We Seize!"
(after a year of online preparation). It started with a press
conference in the morning.
Press conference
----------------
* Jamie King who is one of the main organizers made a declaration you
can find under
http://www.geneva03.net/moin.cgi/PressCommunique
(At the moment this page is truncated :-( .)
One of the key points is that at "We Seize!" people who kind of live
the information society already are gathering instead of some
political leaders.
* The "We Seize!" event has not been planned to be a big event.
Instead people from all over the world can participate online.
* The program has been outlined. Please check
http://www.geneva03.net/
for an up-to-date snapshot.
* The streaming during the conference is made possible for "zero cost"
by Free Software.
* Besides freedom of communication mentioned in the declaration
freedom of knowledge was highlighted.
* The "Digital Divide" is never digital. Instead it is monetary.
* When accessing the Internet it is important to know how you can use
it. This differs much from people getting connected to some business
channels. Free Software is at the very base of this know how.
* If software is the basis of the information society putting
copyrights on software is like putting a copyright on language. Also
proprietary software sets the terms which people have to use to
communicate. Free Software frees people to choose these terms
individually.
* It is important to prevent technological fetishism as it can be seen
in the official WSIS to some degree (e-everything). Instead the
people should be the most important thing.
* Free Software and its importance has been mentioned in many
contributions.
* "We Seize!" has been named to make clear that we just take what we
need instead of waiting what "they" give us.
* Besides Internet streaming other media is used by re-broadcasting
the digital streams (radio, television). Also the "We Seize!" uses
these type of media itself (particularly in the Polymedia Lab).
* Internet is a cheaper media than other regulated media.
* Program of Strategic Conference has been settled now. [Which changed
since the press conference.] There are even printed versions.
* The key concept of "We Seize!" is to show autonomy, demonstrating
networking, sharing of knowledge, and so on. Demonstrations on the
street are not seen as a good way to show this autonomy.
* The wanted outcome of "We Seize!" is to have some substantial
discussions, to learn something, check out practical solutions, show
autonomy, connect groups which are subject to the same issues.
* There are attempts to organize self-organized networks independent
from e.g. ICANN. This sort of networks becomes more important as the
commercial networks prevent free flow of information. This is
parallel to the success of Free Software.
* The commercial factions have more disagreement between themselves
than to the Free Movement (e.g. IBM/HP vs. M$). The Free movement
can grow in the cracks between these factions.
* CRIS published "We Seize!" in the official program. "We Seize!"
itself has no relationship to the official process. CRIS has a foot
in both areas.
In the afternoon the second part of the preparation took place. It was
mainly concerned with laying out the Strategic Conference
(http://www.geneva03.net/moin.cgi/StrategicConference). Actually the
first two sessions have been merged and the rest stayed as it was.
Mit Freien Grüßen
Stefan
_______________________
http://www.oekonux.org/