Search Climate Insights Directory

The Digital Justice Manifesto, launched by the Just Net Coalition, calls for the reclamation of digital power from 'intelligence corporations'. It proposes 16 principles centered on the individual and collective ownership of data, the treatment of key digital infrastructures as public utilities, and the democratic governance of datafication from a local-to-global perspective.

The statement asserts that democracy depends on freedom of expression and an independent press, noting that journalists have faced prison threats for reporting on hospital equipment shortages during the pandemic and violent assaults during protests in the USA. It also highlights a gender imbalance in pandemic media coverage, where women were quoted significantly less than men.

The ‡Khomani Bushmen, residing in South Africa's Northern Cape, have transitioned from a sustainable hunter-gatherer existence to a mode of subsistence that contributes to climate change. This shift is driven by land restitution processes that returned fenced farms rather than open wilderness, and a lack of basic government services like refuse collection and sanitation. Consequently, the community relies on borehole water without a management policy, burns wood and plastic for heat and waste disposal, and uses non-biodegradable packaging. While initiatives like 'veldskool' and youth camps attempt to preserve indigenous knowledge and environmental mindfulness, they are hindered by a shortage of mentors and a lack of immediate behavioral change.

The document explores the challenges of maintaining a free and independent media in a datafied society, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It analyzes the rise of state surveillance in Latin America, the failure of health communication in India, and the struggle for media sustainability. It also advocates for linguistic rights and a new 'digital social contract' to reclaim data ownership from global corporations.

The author advocates for a shift in power and resources toward local women's rights actors and independent feminist media to challenge patriarchal structures in peace, security, and humanitarian agendas. The text highlights the importance of gender-inclusive communication and the need to include marginalized voices, such as rural women in the Pacific islands, in decision-making processes to ensure equitable and just outcomes.

The statement reports that Hurricane Dorian caused 50 confirmed deaths, displaced 70,000 people, and caused property damage estimated between US$3 and US$7 billion in the Bahamas. It highlights that Haitians and Bahamian-Haitians have been targets of racism, xenophobia, and exclusion from rescue efforts. The author argues that the disaster and subsequent social tensions provide evidence of the links between global warming and mass migrations, urging WACC Global to explicitly address these connections in its workplans and publications.

The report describes a complex media environment in the Pacific Small Island Developing States, where traditional radio remains vital for reaching remote areas, but mobile phone and ICT penetration is rapidly increasing. It identifies significant barriers to communication, including geographic isolation, infrastructure instability, and gender disparities. To address these, the report proposes that WACC focus on network development through the Pacific Conference of Churches, support youth-led 'artivism', and follow up on Global Media Monitoring Project findings, specifically linking communications to regional priorities like climate change.

The research paper examines the 'Petrochallengers' movement in Haiti, which began in August 2018 following a viral tweet by filmmaker Gilbert Mirambeau asking "kot kòb Petrokaribe ?" (Where is the PetroCaribe money?). The author argues that the movement represents a shift in political engagement, where youth—previously marginalized from the political process—used digital platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to organize a leaderless, horizontal structure. This digital mobilization extended transnationally, engaging the Haitian diaspora in protests in cities such as Paris. While the author acknowledges the power of the internet in creating a 'subaltern counter-public,' they emphasize that the movement was also a response to systemic economic crises, including fuel price hikes and currency depreciation, rather than being a purely technological product.

The document examines the marginalization of traditional knowledge and the Kwéyòl language in Saint Lucia's public policy, often driven by a bias toward modernization and Eurocentric development models. It highlights the role of the Folk Research Centre (FRC) in documenting and promoting these cultural assets through initiatives like Jounen Kwéyòl and the development of Creole orthography. The author contends that while some progress has been made, such as the use of Kwéyòl in parliament, the language is still excluded from formal education and business. The paper concludes by advocating for the official recognition of Kwéyòl and the mainstreaming of cultural analysis in policy, similar to gender and climate change, to achieve more sustainable lifestyles.

The author critiques the IPSP's approach to media and communication, arguing that social progress cannot be measured without naming specific structural oppressions—such as white supremacy and heteropatriarchy—and applying an intersectional lens. The paper emphasizes that representation, ownership, and employment inequalities persist, and that online hate speech and state/corporate propaganda are critical threats. It advocates for 'design justice' in ICT development, the inclusion of free software, and the adoption of media policy proposals from social movements. The author proposes the creation of an 'intersectional Media Equity Index' using semi-automated tools to track progress across ownership, employment, and content production.

The author discusses the closure of The Vindicator, a family-owned newspaper in Youngstown, Ohio, as a symptom of the decline of local journalism. The text argues that the loss of regular reporting on local government, school boards, and courts undermines public accountability and democracy. While citing the shift toward digital platforms and free news as a cause for the decline in paid subscriptions, the author advocates for a collective movement to champion independent and diverse media in the digital sphere to maintain an informed citizenry.

The document argues that 'communication and information poverty'—characterized by lack of access to platforms, media misrepresentation, and limited media literacy—is a structural deficit that hinders the achievement of the UN 2030 Agenda. While acknowledging that SDGs 5, 9, 16, and 17 touch upon ICTs and public information, the authors contend that these are insufficient. They advocate for a rights-based approach to communication, emphasizing that freedom of expression must be supported by rights to privacy, data protection, and linguistic diversity to ensure marginalized groups can participate in decision-making processes.

The document argues that the 'personal is political' regarding technology use, suggesting that individual ethical struggles with digital distraction and loneliness can be a gateway to broader advocacy for media justice. It highlights two primary areas of focus: net neutrality, which prevents Internet Service Providers from unfairly prioritizing or blocking content, and the 'Change the Terms' campaign, which seeks transparent, fair corporate policies to combat online hate speech. The author emphasizes that faith-based organizations are uniquely positioned to lead these efforts due to their moral approach to social justice and their history of fighting discrimination.

The document advocates for the integration of communication rights into global development frameworks, specifically proposing a new UN Sustainable Development Goal (SDG 18) titled 'Communication for All'. It explores the philosophical basis of communication as an essential human need, examines how 'communication and information poverty' undermines existing SDGs—particularly regarding gender equality, ICT infrastructure, and peace and justice—and provides case studies on media restrictions and digital divides in Palestine, Gaza, and Ethiopia. Additionally, it discusses the role of community media for Indigenous Peoples and the use of communication to support memory and justice processes in Argentina.

The statement emphasizes the importance of interpersonal relationships and trustworthy journalism in overcoming societal fragmentation. It advocates for a clear distinction between news and opinion in media to maintain trust and highlights the necessity of dialogue to address global crises, including climate change and the refugee crisis.

The document explores the intersection of digital technology and human rights, arguing that current governance and educational models often prioritize corporate interests over civic empowerment. It advocates for a 'critical media literacy' that teaches youth to navigate digital ethics and the political economy of information. Case studies highlight the work of 'Coding Rights' in Latin America to translate human rights into digital code and analyze the restrictive media landscape in Albania, where corporate and political ownership limits press freedom. Additionally, it revisits the MacBride Report's vision of a New World Information and Communication Order to argue for communication as a fundamental human right and a tool for social development.

The document explores the crisis of professional journalism, highlighting the tension between commercial interests and the public interest. It analyzes the decline of trust in media, the impact of digital platforms and 'fake news', and the struggle of public broadcasters in Europe. Conversely, it highlights a resurgence of non-profit, digitally native public service journalism in Latin America and community-led 'communicative ecology' experiments in South Africa, while documenting the extreme dangers faced by investigative journalists in Mexico and Honduras.

The document argues that communication and information poverty—characterized by lack of access to platforms, media misrepresentation, and low media literacy—undermines the achievement of the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). It specifically analyzes the intersections between communication rights and SDGs 5, 9, 16, and 17, while providing recommendations for a rights-based approach to communication. The report highlights the need to democratize media systems, increase digital media literacy, and address the specific needs of marginalized groups, particularly Indigenous peoples, which it claims are insufficiently addressed in Agenda 2030.

The document investigates the shift from institutional 'journals of record' to 'globital' memory, where digital tools allow individuals to archive and share personal narratives. It analyzes the role of mobile technology in documenting gendered experiences and human rights abuses, the use of new media by asylum seekers to challenge state narratives, and the capacity of video games and virtual museums to engage with historical atrocities and marginalized identities. Additionally, it discusses the impact of digital connectivity on local community memory in Australia and the influence of religious fundamentalist actors in international human rights spaces.

The document is a collection of articles and interviews exploring how communication technologies influence social justice and governance. Key discussions include the failure of social media platforms to foster rational public debate due to their design, the ethical tensions in INGO public communications that often perpetuate colonial stereotypes, and the struggle for a transparent, democratic communication model in Cuba. It also analyzes the 'democratization of information' through Google Books, the impact of new media on political participation in Jamaica, and the personal history of advocacy journalism regarding Palestinian rights.