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Broadcasters'
Declaration
World Broadcasting
Unions (WBU), World Summit on the Information Society
December 09, 2003
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Statements
from broadcasters representing the world's main regions:
Hassan Mohamed
Hamed, for the Arab world
Comments on Article 5 of the Broadcasters' Declaration.
There comes a time
when words are inadequate to express a thought or a feeling. Before
such a distinguished audience, I find myself privileged to convey
heartfelt greetings from Egypt, the cradle of civilization and heart
of the Arab World. The Arab area - as you all know - is the birthplace
of the three divine religions: Judaism, Christianity and Islam. This
has indeed given enormous weight to human relations, focusing all
the more on human activities related to the dissemination of ideas,
thoughts and knowledge. The rich heritage we see today is echoed by
the flourishing media industry in this region in an age of fast developing
satellites and media booms.
Allow me to
touch on a few points related to information accessibility and affordability.
Government and private sectors should forge ahead to activate and
enable broadcasting media institutions to cope with new forms of
digital, transnational, decentralized and interactive broadcasting
media by expanding public access, encouraging free flow of information
and a wider and better balanced dissemination of information. Media
diversity and a pluralistic press should be encouraged and supported
reflecting the widest possible range of opinion and participation
within the community.
Traditional
broadcasting media systems should move to deal with the forces of
change created by globalization processes. National and local broadcasting
systems must address these changes, promoting concepts of cultural
diversity; equitable access to information and knowledge, especially
in the public domain. This includes respect for human rights; freedom
of expression; freedom of the press and strengthening the forces
of democracy. National and local broadcasting media systems should
make every effort to address public needs as well as to make information
affordable to the majority, free of charge or at a minimum charge.
Every effort
should be exerted in order to narrow the dividing gap between the
haves and have nots. Until this is achieved, the haves must shoulder
the responsibility of accommodating the needs of the have nots.
It is our duty to balance the flow of information and fight all
aspects of misinformation stemming from discrimination on the basis
of race, colour or creed.
Better access
to information means empowering the weak, the needy and the oppressed
as well as opening all windows of hope before them. Let their frail
voices be heard loud and clear. Let us unite our efforts to abolish
all the man-made checkpoints of fear and misgivings and eradicate
the high walls of arrogance and hatred . Let us get rid of the malpractices
of stereotyping and ridiculing the other simply because he belongs
to another culture. Understanding each other's cultures will lead
to a more coherent and peaceful world. Ladies and Gentlemen. The
challenges are great, but the opportunities are greater and together
we will prevail.
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