Opening Plenaries - Jacques Diouf - DG FAO
Today was the opening of the conference - for a first timer in the FAO building, its easy to be impressed with the large conference rooms, the portraits of weighty looking men on the walls, surely former FAO headmen...
The Director-General Jacques Diouf welcomed participants and reminded us that the core business of FAO isnt only Food, but also Sharing Knowledge. Among many comments on the role of communication in development, and the potential with ICTs, Mr Diouf said that we should not lose sight of fact that technology is at best a facilitator and tool, and real communication and real development are socially and culturally based – that the is message more important than technology that is used to convey it.
Digital technologies are shrinking the world and creating a global market place, a revolution similar to the industrial revolution back in its day. However, the digital era celebrates the power of mind, ideas and creativity whereas the industrial revolution partly substituted the capacities of man by machines.
He also encouraged us not to forget fundamental role which more traditional media play in promoting development – rural radio, programmes produced with audience participation and broadcast in local language that stimulate dialogues and debates. It is imperative for populations to put their own fingerprints on their development concerns. Folk theatre, puppets, song & dance, traditional art should not be forgotten.
The Director-General Jacques Diouf welcomed participants and reminded us that the core business of FAO isnt only Food, but also Sharing Knowledge. Among many comments on the role of communication in development, and the potential with ICTs, Mr Diouf said that we should not lose sight of fact that technology is at best a facilitator and tool, and real communication and real development are socially and culturally based – that the is message more important than technology that is used to convey it.
Digital technologies are shrinking the world and creating a global market place, a revolution similar to the industrial revolution back in its day. However, the digital era celebrates the power of mind, ideas and creativity whereas the industrial revolution partly substituted the capacities of man by machines.
He also encouraged us not to forget fundamental role which more traditional media play in promoting development – rural radio, programmes produced with audience participation and broadcast in local language that stimulate dialogues and debates. It is imperative for populations to put their own fingerprints on their development concerns. Folk theatre, puppets, song & dance, traditional art should not be forgotten.
Looking towards the future – we need to seek best ways to harness the potential of new ICTs, we need creativity and imagination to bridge the digital divide.
No one can deny that the world is changing rapidly. Our job together here is to find ways to ensure that those changes and the momentous advances best serve the process of sustainable development .
FAO has distributed seeds for farmers to sow. Just as important today is the mission that brought us together – planting among the world’s poor the seeds of hope
posted by saskia at 5:53 PM
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