Abramortiis
21stApril2005, 18:00
Ave,
Europe’s intent on establishing the warmest possible ties of friendship with the peoples of the world. However, in extending the hand of friendship, I will say a few words:
The languages are different.
Our societies are different.
Our cultures are different.
But the message is the same.
Cultural diversity enriches the world.
For Europe, diversity is central to our identity.
We are a nation which is officially bilingual.
Europe has some straightforward cultural goals:
Ensure access to European voices and spaces;
Promote the creation of quality Europe content;
Reflect Europe's diversity;
Present and protect Europe's heritage;
Contribute to Europe's economic prosperity;
Foster dynamic international outreach.
To safeguard and preserve our race.
To achieve these objectives, we pursue freedom of choice for consumers, freedom of expression by creators and partnerships at home and abroad.
Throughout this century, every European government has taken the view and acted upon the view that the marketplace alone cannot guarantee Europe content.
Europe governments of all political affiliations have sought to expand our borders, in the fields of radio, periodicals, television, the arts, sound recording, film, heritage and multimedia, in order to stimulate Europe creative talents, imagination and cultural excellence.
Our efforts have been equal, for classical and popular culture alike.
We are a nation of only five hundred million people, and yet we occupy this national space which is the second largest by surface area in the world. Our nation also has the oldest histories on the planet. European’s recognize how lucky they are and aware of the sacrifices made by the generations before us to build this nation and make it prosper.
And we know our responsibilities to the generations to follow and to the children of the world.
We feel deeply fortunate that, "Europe stands as a model of how different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity and mutual respect."
And European’s enjoy several cultures. We appreciate the best that Cannes has to offer. In Europe, we also know, however, that culture is more than entertainment. In a globalized marketplace, in an era of rapid technological change, European’s have acted and will act to address our interests and to ensure Europe’s have access to Europe culture.
After all, culture is what makes life worth living. Culture is the heritage left to us by our ancestors, one which we in turn pass on to our children. Culture forms the very basis of society. Culture is what inspires us as human beings. Cultural development is as important as economic and social development for the well-being of humanity.
We are extraordinarily fortunate to live in an era when artists, performers, creators and producers have expanded their horizons to span the globe. We are fortunate to live in a time when transportation and communications allow us exposure to phenomenal cultural experiences.
And we should work to create an atmosphere which upholds the right of every society and every country to make cultural choices which express their values, their culture, their identity, their heritage and aspirations.
Culture is a reflection of ourselves; it is a springboard, a window on the world. Culture touches our souls, our spirit and our perception of ourselves as citizens and human beings. The wealth and diversity of our national cultures represent a great treasure for all of humankind. By working together to create strategic alliances, we will find solutions to the problems we share.
Our world would be so incredibly boring if we all thought, spoke and lived the same way. Individually and collectively, we can and must work to preserve, promote and stimulate the growth of our national identities and cultural opportunities, for the good of all children of the world.
In a world where information is power, the youth of each community and each society must have both the chance to hear the stories of their ancestors and to make their own mark on the future of modern culture. Culture empowers us as communities. Ennobles us as civilizations and enriches us as humanity. Europe has been, is and will remain the most open country in the world for foreign cultural influences.
The majority of European’s speak the same language as our neighbors to the north. This country has rightly taken actions to support our culture in light of that fact.
40 percent of the English language television programs in Europe are foreign. We are open to the world. We just want to make sure that the world is open to us. We want to ensure that European’s have the cultural freedom to share our stories with each other and with the world.
We want to ensure that Europe young people have the necessary freedom to share in all the world's cultures, including their own and thus the opportunity to contribute to mankind's cultural heritage and to that of their own country.
Non-governmental organizations from the world over have come together today in Europe's capital to forge new partnerships to stimulate and promote effective culturalisim. The work of these organizations must continue. There is enthusiastic support for a new network of Culture Ministers. The world should look at a universal declaration on cultural diversity. Every level of every society must share best practices on dealing with trade agreements. There must be better indicators to access the effectiveness of cultural policies. There should be a new international working group of NGOs to develop links around our globe and to push the cultural agenda forward. These ideas are inspired, creative and practical.
Tomorrow, Culture Ministers should let their hair down and have an open discussion about integrating culture into development considerations, international relations and trade negotiations. Politicians sometimes like to make grand pronouncements about the importance of meetings.
But what we hope to accomplish, quite simply, is the beginning of partnership among like-minded countries. To advocate on the world stage for our like-minded views. It is no simple matter to find the means enabling every society to produce and disseminate cultural content.
As we all know, nothing worthwhile, nothing lasting, nothing truly noble comes easily.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
Culture is a pillar of human rights. Cultural diversity enhances the quality of human achievements. Diversity is a source of wealth for humankind in creative, intellectual, economic, social and spiritual pursuits. And let us remember that, in the end, it is culture that is the greatest blessing passed on to us through the ages.
And it is culture that will be our most permanent legacy to the future.
Best regards
Abramortiis
Europe’s intent on establishing the warmest possible ties of friendship with the peoples of the world. However, in extending the hand of friendship, I will say a few words:
The languages are different.
Our societies are different.
Our cultures are different.
But the message is the same.
Cultural diversity enriches the world.
For Europe, diversity is central to our identity.
We are a nation which is officially bilingual.
Europe has some straightforward cultural goals:
Ensure access to European voices and spaces;
Promote the creation of quality Europe content;
Reflect Europe's diversity;
Present and protect Europe's heritage;
Contribute to Europe's economic prosperity;
Foster dynamic international outreach.
To safeguard and preserve our race.
To achieve these objectives, we pursue freedom of choice for consumers, freedom of expression by creators and partnerships at home and abroad.
Throughout this century, every European government has taken the view and acted upon the view that the marketplace alone cannot guarantee Europe content.
Europe governments of all political affiliations have sought to expand our borders, in the fields of radio, periodicals, television, the arts, sound recording, film, heritage and multimedia, in order to stimulate Europe creative talents, imagination and cultural excellence.
Our efforts have been equal, for classical and popular culture alike.
We are a nation of only five hundred million people, and yet we occupy this national space which is the second largest by surface area in the world. Our nation also has the oldest histories on the planet. European’s recognize how lucky they are and aware of the sacrifices made by the generations before us to build this nation and make it prosper.
And we know our responsibilities to the generations to follow and to the children of the world.
We feel deeply fortunate that, "Europe stands as a model of how different cultures can live and work together in peace, prosperity and mutual respect."
And European’s enjoy several cultures. We appreciate the best that Cannes has to offer. In Europe, we also know, however, that culture is more than entertainment. In a globalized marketplace, in an era of rapid technological change, European’s have acted and will act to address our interests and to ensure Europe’s have access to Europe culture.
After all, culture is what makes life worth living. Culture is the heritage left to us by our ancestors, one which we in turn pass on to our children. Culture forms the very basis of society. Culture is what inspires us as human beings. Cultural development is as important as economic and social development for the well-being of humanity.
We are extraordinarily fortunate to live in an era when artists, performers, creators and producers have expanded their horizons to span the globe. We are fortunate to live in a time when transportation and communications allow us exposure to phenomenal cultural experiences.
And we should work to create an atmosphere which upholds the right of every society and every country to make cultural choices which express their values, their culture, their identity, their heritage and aspirations.
Culture is a reflection of ourselves; it is a springboard, a window on the world. Culture touches our souls, our spirit and our perception of ourselves as citizens and human beings. The wealth and diversity of our national cultures represent a great treasure for all of humankind. By working together to create strategic alliances, we will find solutions to the problems we share.
Our world would be so incredibly boring if we all thought, spoke and lived the same way. Individually and collectively, we can and must work to preserve, promote and stimulate the growth of our national identities and cultural opportunities, for the good of all children of the world.
In a world where information is power, the youth of each community and each society must have both the chance to hear the stories of their ancestors and to make their own mark on the future of modern culture. Culture empowers us as communities. Ennobles us as civilizations and enriches us as humanity. Europe has been, is and will remain the most open country in the world for foreign cultural influences.
The majority of European’s speak the same language as our neighbors to the north. This country has rightly taken actions to support our culture in light of that fact.
40 percent of the English language television programs in Europe are foreign. We are open to the world. We just want to make sure that the world is open to us. We want to ensure that European’s have the cultural freedom to share our stories with each other and with the world.
We want to ensure that Europe young people have the necessary freedom to share in all the world's cultures, including their own and thus the opportunity to contribute to mankind's cultural heritage and to that of their own country.
Non-governmental organizations from the world over have come together today in Europe's capital to forge new partnerships to stimulate and promote effective culturalisim. The work of these organizations must continue. There is enthusiastic support for a new network of Culture Ministers. The world should look at a universal declaration on cultural diversity. Every level of every society must share best practices on dealing with trade agreements. There must be better indicators to access the effectiveness of cultural policies. There should be a new international working group of NGOs to develop links around our globe and to push the cultural agenda forward. These ideas are inspired, creative and practical.
Tomorrow, Culture Ministers should let their hair down and have an open discussion about integrating culture into development considerations, international relations and trade negotiations. Politicians sometimes like to make grand pronouncements about the importance of meetings.
But what we hope to accomplish, quite simply, is the beginning of partnership among like-minded countries. To advocate on the world stage for our like-minded views. It is no simple matter to find the means enabling every society to produce and disseminate cultural content.
As we all know, nothing worthwhile, nothing lasting, nothing truly noble comes easily.
As Mahatma Gandhi said, "I do not want my house to be walled in on all sides, and my windows to be stuffed. I want the cultures of all the lands to be blown about my house as freely as possible. But I refuse to be blown off my feet by any."
Culture is a pillar of human rights. Cultural diversity enhances the quality of human achievements. Diversity is a source of wealth for humankind in creative, intellectual, economic, social and spiritual pursuits. And let us remember that, in the end, it is culture that is the greatest blessing passed on to us through the ages.
And it is culture that will be our most permanent legacy to the future.
Best regards
Abramortiis