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An Initiative of Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
  • Who participates in civic discussions?
  • What issues are on the agenda?
  • How are issues placed on the agenda?
  • How are discussion and decision-making processes conducted?
  • What are the consequences?

Building Communication Spaces for Civic Intelligence

When it becomes a program, hopelessness paralyzes us, immobilizes us. We succumb to fatalism, and then it becomes impossible to muster the strength we absolutely need for a fierce struggle that will re-create the world.

- Paulo Freire, The Pedagogy of Hope
What's New?

Seattle Statement. In May, 2000, participants at CPSR's "Shaping the Network Society" symposium drafted the "Seattle Statement" which calls for new public spheres to help address societal concerns. The statement is now available in seven languages and has over 200 signatures. We invite your signature and your assistance in developing the next version of the statement. Please Sign!

Seattle IMC The Independent Media Center (1415 Third Avenue in Seattle) and its website were launched in the fall of 1999 to provide immediate, authentic, grassroots coverage of events surrounding the World Trade Organization Ministerial (our new site received 1.5 million hits in just a few days). Now, just two years later, the website serves as the backbone to a powerful independent communications network which continues to expand at an exhilarating rate - over 50 IMC's currently span six continents.

Reporters Without Borders is publishing the first worldwide press freedom index. The first worldwide index of press freedom has some surprises for Western democracies. The United States ranks below Costa Rica and Italy scores lower than Benin. The five countries with least press freedom are North Korea, China, Burma, Turkmenistan and Bhutan.

Why no action?!?!? Two years ago the Seattle City Council asked the Department of Administrative Services to look into the feasibility of establishing a public municipal information infrastructure. Here is a letter to Jim Compton, Seattle City Council member asking him about the fate of this resolution.

Resources
 
The following areas are presently in-work.
  • Dispatches
  • Census
  • Partners
  • References
  • Education
  • Technology
  • Organizations
  • Seattle
The Public Sphere Project

promotes equitable and effective use of information and communication technology;

promotes civic and community problem solving;

promotes human -- not technology -- centered approaches;

promotes appropriate local and regional tactics and strategies;

promotes integration of education, research, technology development, policy and activism; and

promotes collaboration with individuals and organizations all over the world.

The Public Sphere Project is an initiative of
Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility

Updated; July 7, 2002