You cannot talk about sustainability without talking about the impact of the Internet and Information-Technologies on politics and society. The Digitalization happening right now is revolutionary and is changing the whole society we live in.
New policies towards the new society have to be invented and implemented. The main tasks are creating a kind of framework without regulation the Internet too much, a consciousness for it and the same conditions for everybody everywhere. At the same time politics has to be aware of the changes on society, politics and democracy. The basis for tackling those challenges has to be the concept of sustainability.
Needs and Demands
1. New Democracy
Internet has become a way of transforming this situation, especially the concept of citizenship. We believe that the decision making process should be reformulated, in order to consider the transformations. That can be done throughout close cooperation between governments and informal organizations, as relevant NGOs. The work done by these NGOs should be considered as valid and effective in political participation. In addition to this, the political system should cooperate with the net-generation, so that they can be taken as responsable political agents, creating effective discussion areas and using new technologies and Internet.
2. Internet Governance
The theme of regulation has been always an object of discussion, therefore we must bear in mind that we are not talking about censorship, but the drawing of some guidance rules which do not fit the actual law. We propose the creation of a global Table of Internet Rights and Duties, not only concerning individual users, but also private enterprises. Internet users themselves have to develop an Internet civil courage.
The decision makers should also establish organizations (for example non governmental organizations or in the framework of the UN) that could be able to protect the citizen who uses the net. This kind consensus-based regulation has to guarantee the free exchange of opinions. Internet Governance has to go further than just controlling IP-addresses, the way ICANN is doing it at the moment. Internet Governance has to be done on international level on consensus between all the players concerned.
3. Bridging the Digital Divide
In general terms that issue entails two main directions: the Have/Have-nots problem between development categories such as poor and rich countries (north and south) and the problem inside developed countries.
There should be governmental initiatives to promote the Internet inside the educational system, beginning with children, regarding the future. In global terms, due to the gap of generations concerning the use of the net, it is necessary to educate older generations, in order to improve the social cohesion.
All people need access to the Internet. Be part of the Internet! Politicians, people and society have to participate in the Internet to bring and use the Internet in its positive way. The Internet has to become cheaper and accessible to everyone. It has to be guaranteed that there is a possibility to everyone to get public access to the Net and use it. Poorer or less developed countries have to be integrated into the process of Digitalization. We demand active and fast support for these countries.
Dienstag, 11.11.2003
