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Home / Community / Newsletters / Plain-Text Dispatch / 4.3 - Human Rights

TakingITGlobal Proudly Presents:
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The TakingITGlobal Dispatch!
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For the month of March 2004 (Volume 4.3)
In this Issue:
1 -> Welcome to the Dispatch
2 -> Monthly Theme: Human Rights
3 -> Featuring TIG Country Sites
4 -> Global Gallery: Images of Intolerance
5 -> Global Gallery: Imagining Histories Contest Winners
6 -> Panorama: New and Improved!
7 -> Wrap up 
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++ 1. Welcome to the Dispatch ++
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Welcome to TakingITGlobal's Dispatch for the month of March!  In this 
issue, we invite you to participate in our new monthly theme of "Human 
Rights", learn how you can have your country site featured on TIG, 
contribute to the "Images of Intolerance" Global Gallery contest, check 
out the "Imagining Histories" contest winners, and meet our brand new 
Online Publication PANORAMA! Read on, and stay connected! 
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++ 2. Monthly Theme: Human Rights ++
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This month, we attempt to tackle the massive topic of Human Rights. In 
a world where Human Rights play an increasingly important role, Human 
Rights keep getting harder to define. The understanding that Human 
Rights are universal because they apply to all people is tempered by 
the cultures in which they are based.  So what are we supposed to think 
when we say "Human Rights"?  It is a difficult question. We felt that a 
topic this big needed a focus. Fortunately, one of our mentors and 
experts for this month (Robert Guerra) turned us onto a quote by 
Shulamith Koenig, "Human rights are the banks of the river within which 
life can flow in freedom and dignity."  We built this metaphor into a 
path of understanding. Using the language of the river, we followed the 
steps that are necessary to ultimately make Human Rights a universal 
reality.
So many of the issues that have been dealt with in previous Monthly 
Themes lend themselves back to issues of Human Rights, and we did not 
want to rehash old themes.  So we focused on a way of creating a 
framework that allows you to become as active as you want to be, while 
building upon a foundation of understanding.  As TIG members you are 
already on your way to making significant change: This theme lets you 
solidify the process, as well as have something that you can show your 
friends and family.
The last thing that we want to mention is this month's contest; Rights and 
Democracy Network has donated 10 copies of the book "Pole Star: Human 
Rights in the Information Society" by Professor Deborah Hurley.  The 9 
most active members during the month will each receive a copy of this 
book and so will the winner of the Global Gallery Contest -- so good 
luck and get active! 
To learn more and get involved, visit the theme page:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.3/themes/hr/
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++ 3. Featuring TIG Country Sites ++
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Are you interested in supporting and promoting cross-cultural 
understanding?  Would you like more people to learn about your country?  
Starting April 2004, a new country site will be featured every two weeks 
on the main page of TakingITGlobal.  The criteria on which the countries 
will be selected is based upon: the level of activity of members from the 
country, the range of perspectives, the quality and quantity of current 
and relevant content, the uniqueness of the country site, and its recent 
growth in membership.  We hope that you will join us in this initiative 
to develop individual country sites to continue fostering communication 
of our global community.  To check out your own country site, go to 
http://canada.takingitglobal.org.  For questions and contributions please 
email us: countries@takingitglobal.org
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++ 4. Global Gallery: Images of Intolerance ++
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"Whereas recognition of the inherent dignity and of the equal and 
inalienable rights of all members of the human family is the foundation 
of freedom, justice and peace in the world, Whereas disregard and 
contempt for human rights have resulted in barbarous acts which have 
outraged the conscience of mankind, and the advent of a world in which 
human beings shall enjoy freedom of speech and belief and freedom from 
fear and want has been proclaimed as the highest aspiration of the 
common people, All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and 
rights. Everyone is entitled to all the rights and freedoms set forth 
in this Declaration, without distinction of any kind, such as race, 
colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national 
or social origin, property, birth or other status. Furthermore, no 
distinction shall be made on the basis of the political, jurisdictional 
or international status of the country or territory to which a person 
belongs, whether it be independent, trust, non-self-governing or under 
any other limitation of sovereignty."
Slavery and torture are illegal, an opinion is a right. There are 
places where opinions are not free, people live in chains, and when 
they express themselves, they are tortured. We are born free, and 
equal in dignity and rights. One day we die. What happens in between?
Use an image to interpret violations of elementary and basic human 
rights OR promote equal dignity and freedom.
The winner of this contest will recieve a copy of the book "Pole Star: 
Human Rights in the Information Society" by Professor Deborah Hurley 
and an HP digital camera, printer or scanner.  Three runners-up will 
also receive prizes!
http://gallery.takingitglobal.org/contest
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++ 5. Imagining Histories Contest Winners ++
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Last month the Global Gallery ran a contest entitled "Imagining 
Histories" around our monthly theme of Indigenous Peoples.  Listed below are the 
winners:
WINNER

"Maori Creation Myth" by Raman:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.3/express/gallery/view.html?sid=3566
RUNNERS-UP

"The Birth of The World" by Irene:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.3/express/gallery/view.html?sid=3621

"Primordial Soup" by Rebecca:
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.3/express/gallery/view.html?sid=3642

"Maori Creation Myth" by Nicole: 
http://d.takingitglobal.org/4.3/express/gallery/view.html?sid=3644
Congratulations to our winners and thank you to everyone who participated!
Check out this month's Global Gallery contest here:
http://gallery.takingitglobal.org/contest
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++ 6. Panorama: New and Improved! ++
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We have revamped our entire publication!  With a new smoother and more 
professional looking format, we still bring you the same high quality 
writing that you have come to expect from TakingITGlobal.  Check out 
our new submission procedures, along with our featured writers, easier 
access to previous issues (all the issues of I-Cubed have been moved 
into Panorama), our new ranking system, and our new sections that 
feature the best of our Poetry, Opinions, Interviews and Short Stories!
This month’s issue deals with Human Rights.  We will feature interviews 
with experts popping up during the month, as well as writing by members 
covering the entire scope of Human Rights.
Check out Panorama at http://panorama.takingitglobal.org/
If you encounter any problems, please email us at 
panorama@takingitglobal.org
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++ 7. Wrap Up ++
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Your interest, support and involvement with TakingITGlobal helps our 
community to grow and encourage more young people to become inspired, 
informed and involved everyday! Thank you for being a member with the 
vision of positive change!
In friendship,
The TakingITGlobal Team
dispatch@takingitglobal.org
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The TakingITGlobal Dispatch is the official newsletter of 
TakingITGlobal, electronically published via email, and compiled from 
various events and news from within the TakingITGlobal network. 
Contributions should be sent to dispatch@takingitglobal.org. 
Please include your full name, age, and your member name.
Past issues of the Dispatch can be read in the dispatch archive, found 
at http://www.takingitglobal.org/community/newsletters/dispatch