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A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY

ACCESS TO INFORMATION -. A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY. Baltic Sea NGO Forum, Turku 9.5.2003: ”Northern Dimension - Human Dimension Strengthening Civil Society in the Baltic Sea Region”. Reino Paasilinna, Dr. Ph. Member of the European parliament. INFORMATION- WHAT DOES IT MEAN?.

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A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY

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  1. ACCESS TO INFORMATION - A PREREQUISITE TO DEMOCRACY Baltic Sea NGO Forum, Turku 9.5.2003: ”Northern Dimension - Human Dimension Strengthening Civil Society in the Baltic Sea Region” Reino Paasilinna, Dr. Ph. Member of the European parliament

  2. INFORMATION- WHAT DOES IT MEAN? • Data - information - knowledge - understanding - wisdom • Information is necessary for: • freedom – peace • truth – participation • justice – democracy.

  3. INFORMATION- WHAT DOES IT MEAN? • Soviet Union - an example: Glasnost • Knowledge secures individual’s autonomy and rights. • Information is the biggest factor of production.

  4. ”OWNERSHIP” OF INFORMATION • The control of information means crucial power. • The instruments of processing and distribution of information, information industry, introduces economic and political powers. • Information has been changed into a product although it is primarily a citizens’ right.

  5. LIBERALISM: The market is the best distributor of information resources. Result: uneven distribution. • Citizenship is converted into consumership, people spend away themselves instead of demanding socio-political changes. • Without capabilities in the Information society one will be pushed aside in the information based economy. • DIGITAL DIVIDE

  6. What is happening now? • Public information diminishes, private information grows. • Media publicity under the elite’s control • Televization of politics • Putin - Berlusconi • EP resolution on media concentration • MEGAPOWER

  7. eGovernment • Government can be a major driverof Internet take-up through on-line public services. • More efficient and user-friendly public administration • Success requires internal reorganisation and investment in human capital.

  8. Proposed actions: eGovernment • Modern, online public services: eGovernment • broadband connection of all public services • interoperability (framework by end 2003) • interactive public services by end 2004 • public procurement • public internet access points (PIAP’s) • culture and tourism

  9. Social movements tend to introduce an alternative pattern of communication and to democratize the communication processes.

  10. ACCESS TO INFORMATION • Is the issue public, in the archives or ONLY in the Internet? • The democracy in the European Union cannot work without publicity. • The prerequisite of democracy: public access to information and public information networks. • Essential information should cost nothing.

  11. ACCESS TO INFORMATION • Everyone should have access to the Internet • Free Internet time to every citizen • NGOs to fight for access in the Internet • The 9/11 factor: control of information - and people

  12. For more information: www.europa.eu.int www.rpaasilinna.net

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