The World Social Forum (WSF) appears an ideal and legitimate space to catalyze energy and foster the emergence of a social movement under the banner of democratization of communications. With this premise in mind, we propose that this conference should focus its attention on outlining a SOCIAL AGENDA IN COMMUNICATION. Being a cross-cutting theme that concerns all human relations, the important thing is to situate the central points for definition of strategies and aims, in order to build and give impetus to this social movement.

In a letter to Information Minister Jonathan Moyo, RSF expressed its concern over government threats to foreign journalists who may have entered the country illegally. "These journalists applied for tourist visas only because they had no other option in order to cover the news. We ask the government to give them accreditation and let them work freely," stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard.

Journalist Rafael Marques has been ordered by the Provincial Court of Luanda to pay compensation of 30,000 kwanza (approx. US$950) to President Eduardo dos Santos, after the court found him guilty of defaming, slandering and injuring the president. The charge relates to a 3 July 1999 article by Marques published in "Agora" newspaper, in which he referred to dos Santos as a dictator. The article, titled "The Lipstick of Dictatorship", said that dos Santos was "responsible for the destruction of the country and the promotion of corruption".

The government-controlled media seized the opportunity to feast on the comments of opposition MDC leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, who suggested that South Africa could introduce sanctions against Zimbabwe as a response to threats to undermine the presidential election by the military and President Mugabe himself. He was commenting to the BBC on the inconclusive SADC summit in Malawi that discussed the deepening political and economic crisis in Zimbabwe.

The Congress of South African Trade Unions (Cosatu) and the National Community Radio Forum (NCRF) are close to sealing a deal to enhance the sustainable growth of community radio in South Africa.

Zimbabwean authorities are searching for several foreign journalists who entered the country as tourists in defiance of a ban on most visiting correspondents, a senior government official said on Thursday.

Today's world can very well be considered to be a wired one, encapsulated by what is known as the World Wide Web. As the digitisation of society unfolds, there is an increasing need to know whether bytes indeed travel freely across the world. What are the consequences of the digitisation of society at a global scale? What happens when global bytes arrive at particular local sites? Will this enhance e-quality globally? This work-conference will confront these issues by analysing Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs), with a particular focus on the Internet, in countries in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

For the last several months a group of dedicated African scholars and students have conceived the idea of an African Distance Learning Association which will co-ordinate existing educational technologies and the skill of African expatriates to assist African scientific and social institutions via traditional collaborations, volunteer teaching, information exchange, student exchange and the like. This association is open to all who can make positive contribution to education in Africa.

Tony Poderis makes a strong and well argued appeal for traditional face to face fundraising. The web is impersonal, he says. But he forgets entirely about email, the most personal online medium other than chat.

The Zimbabwean President faced a rebellion by some of his closest allies on Tuesday when they refused to endorse a media law that seeks to stifle criticism of Robert Mugabe and shut down the free press.

international campaign to preserve press freedom in Mozambique appeared to win a tactical victory Friday when a judge delayed for two months a criminal defamation trial against the two small children of a corruption-fighting journalist who was gunned down in an apparent assassination in the capital, Maputo, 14 months ago.

ARTICLE 19 has released a report criticising a Bill now before the Zimbabwean Parliament that will significantly extend government control over the independent media. ARTICLE 19 calls on the Parliament not to pass the Bill into law. The Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Bill 2001 would grant a broad range of restrictive powers over the media to a Commission under the control of the Minister of Information. Despite its name, the Bill does very little to ensure access to information and contains only limited provisions on privacy.

Zimbabwean journalists who gathered in Harare on Saturday have resolved to defy a proposed new media bill expected to be considered by parliament later this week.

Thousands of people who fled their homes in the eastern Congolese town of Goma following a volcanic eruption on Thursday have begun streaming back home, ignoring continued tremors from Mt. Nyiragongo and warnings by UN officials.

After intense international pressure, Zimbabwe's government delayed its vote last week on a harsh media bill that would stifle dissent during the run-up to the presidential elections, scheduled for early March, until certain changes can be made to the legislation, according to Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa.

In a letter to Justice Minister Amadou Ali, RSF asked for clarification following the sentencing of Georges Baongla, publication director of the weekly "Le Démenti", to five years' imprisonment. "Due process was seemingly not respected in this case.