AC FORUM 2008: The Participative Society
The first featured debate is now being opened and I have a slight alteration of the program to announce. Unfortunately Vicente Verdú has suddenly been unable to join us and Margarita Riviere has taken the stage in his stead. She is a journalist who, like Mr Verdú , has been a regular contributor to the influential Spanish daily EL PAÍS.
The link to this interview will familiarize you briefly with her work (transcript is in Spanish).
Hit the link below for ongoing coverage.
10.31 AM — At the time of the 2005 French referendum of the European Union constitution, 80% of French mass media were supportive of the ‘Yes’ vote. In reminding us of the referendum’s resounding downfall, Thierry Maillet has related a very compelling example of the place for new, alternative, responsible and interactive media.
10.54 AM — Mr Maillet and Ms Riviere are now taking questions from the audience. For the next featured event I will bring may computer directly into the main hall and let it serve its purpose as a LAP top; the debate does not allow me to run to the press room for quick dispatches often enough.
To provide a brief recapitulation: Mr Maillet and Ms Riviere touched on a range of issues relating to the use of participative technologies in the world today. Participative technologies in turn are founded on networks of information technology; we will hear more later in the day on this. Specifically, Mr Maillet spoke of the need for information diffusion in the context of humanitarian crises such as those in Africa. Amy Weesner of the ICT office at UN headquarters in New York is a guest here at the Forum today and we will hear from her shortly.
I’m off for a quick peek into the Speaker’s Corner where discussion is ongoing to complement the proceedings in the main hall.
I’ll report in soon as the second panel opens: Social Networks, ICT and Worldwide Mobilization where we will hear from Ms Weesner among others.