In the News May 3

World Press Freedom Day

Freedom of Information – Also a Human Right

The UN website says, “Freedom of information laws, which permit access to public information are essential, but so are the means by which information is made available, be it through ICTs or the simple sharing of documents.”

ICT stands for Information and Communication Technology. ICT tools refers to the latest technology or devices and concepts used in students to students, students to teacher interaction (e.g., flipped classroom, mobile apps, and clickers devices).

UNESCO says, “Information can change the way we see the world around us, our place in it, and how to adjust our lives in order to maximize the benefits available through our local resources. Fact driven decision-making can significantly alter our political, social and economic perspectives. Therefore, open and pluralistic media are, perhaps, most precious when they simply provide the mirror for society to see itself. These moments of reflection are instrumental in defining community objectives, making course corrections when society or its leaders have lost touch with each other or gone astray.”

It continues:

“The right to access information can be interpreted within the legal frameworks that support freedom of information as it applies to information held by public bodies, or in a wider sense to encompass both access and circulation of information held by other actors, where it becomes intrinsically linked to freedom of expression.

“Freedom of information and the transparency it promotes, has a direct consequence on fighting corruption, which in turn has a tangible impact on development.”

Unfortunately, it cites former World Bank president James Wolfensohn to illustrate its point, saying he often identified government corruption as the primary hindrance to development and an independent media sector as the number one tool to fight public corruption. Suggesting the World Bank is an exemplar of anti-corruption requires an impossible stretch of the imagination. It is a major instrument under the dictate of the United States to impose dollar hegemony over the entire world, to keep humanity subservient to the U.S. striving for world hegemony. Many would legitimately consider Wolfensohn’s statement as the ultimate cover-up for corruption at the highest levels of privilege and power.

It underscores the urgency for the working class and peoples to themselves identify how to define the rights to expression, information and speech in order to make sure they can exercise control over the decisions which affect their lives.

TML Daily, posted May 3, 2022.