RIGHT2KNOW - Information, like knowledge, is power

YOUR
RIGHT2KNOW
Information, like knowledge, is power.

Information is power, allowing you to make informed decisions. Withheld information by government officials, is dis-empowering and does not allow you to develop to your full potential. It is also unconstitutional and anti-democratic.

Our government has introduced the Protection of Information Bill and the Media Appeals Tribunal for public discussion. We believe that these Bills will restrict what you know and will decide what you are allowed to know. If certain information is declared ‘restricted’, then journalists who publish such information can be jailed for up to 25 years.

An independent media is the cornerstone in a democracy and plays an important role in exposing the wrongs in government and in society in general. Does our government need to busy itself with issues of the media, when the country is faced by major problems such as crime, rampant corruption and inadequate service delivery?

The response of Civil Society has been to gather under the banner of the Right2Know Campaign in order to protest against the Bills. Therefore the Right2 Know campaign in KZN has developed a programme of action to highlight the clear opposition of Civil Society to the two media bills.

WEEK OF ACTION
Tues. 19 October 2010 Listen to your local radio stations for broadcasts about the media Bills. Join us in rallies at the Durban office of the SABC and at the City Hall. In PM Burg join us at a rally outside the KZN Legislature. Bring your own banners and posters.

Wed. 20 October. “The Last Press Conference” will take place at St Paul’s Cathedral in Durban at 11h00. There will be inter-religious prayers and meetings at the Cathedral. Everyone is welcome.

21 October is Black Thursday. We ask you to wear black t-shirts/clothes and attend the Media workshop/seminar between 09h00 and 13h00 at the Durban University of Technology Indian Cane Growers Hall at the ML Sultan Campus (next to St Aiden’s Hospital). The Hall is on the first floor above the main entrance. Please park at the Ritson Road Campus, entrance opposite Sastri College/Curries Fountain and walk across to the venue or you may park in Curries Fountain itself. Light refreshments provided.

Friday 22 October. At 12 noon we ask all motorists to hoot and blow your vuvus. You can also wear your Bafana T-shirts with a black armband.

22/23/24 October. We appeal to all priests/moulanas of all religious faiths to conduct prayers and sermons to campaign around the issue of the bills. Churchgoers to wear black and others to wear white.

Mon. 25 October. Join the motor car cavalcade in central Durban at 12 noon starting from the Diakonia office in St Andrew’s Street.

Tuesday 26 October. Mock burning of books at the Workshop Park and amphitheatre.

Wed. 27 Oct. March from Botha’s Garden at 08h00 (opp. DUT’s City Campus) to City Hall where there will be a range of activities. Bring your organisation’s banners and your own posters and creative happenings. Colour your hair or paint your face to express your democracy or wear fancy clothes. Bring an instrument and sing songs of freedom.

We make an earnest appeal for each and every civil society organization to participate by joining the coalition and support the ongoing activities. Individuals also welcome. Please contact the R2K coordinator:
Quinton Kippen on 031-304 9305/6 or 083 871 7549 on e-mail quinton@ddpdurban.org.za or
Desmond D’Sa on 083 982 6939 or on email >sdcea3@mail.ngo.za<

We would like you to continuously show your support by sms-ing eTV during the news: Sun+Comment+Name 34970