The Roots of the People's Forum
The People's Forum process represents a merger of two separate but related development tracks: work by Anthony Judge of the Union of International Associations on the design of participant interaction messaging systems and "transformative conferencing", and by Robert Pollard -- now of the TOES/US and Information Habitat: Where Information Lives -- on communication, information and participation processes and the role of information technology in the UNCED preparations.
#3, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

Da Zi Bao in the Rio Process
Since its inception at the Roots of the Future conference in Paris, Da Zi Bao was successfully implemented at several other UNCED-related conferences. These included the Second Global Structure Convocation, held in Washington, DC in February 1992; the Global Heart Planning Session, in Tucson Arizona, also in February 1992; the final Preparatory Committee for UNCED in New York in March-April 1992; and at the Global Forum in Rio in June 1992 -- where a total of seventy-two issues of the bulletin were produced. Da Zi Bao was also implemented at the 2nd International Eco-Cities Conference, that took place in Adelaide, Australia in April 1992.
#4, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

Participant Interaction Messaging Systems
At the heart of the People's Forum is a "participant interactive message system" that provides a vehicle for strengthening communication among participants in any community, or of a conference. The basic unit is a brief message - preferably less than fifty words - on any issue of substance or of process, or as a response to previous messages.
#5, Robert Pollard, Information Habitat

The World Wide Web
If the energy and resources are available to produce the People's Forum at the People's Summit the bulletins will not only be distributed in Halifax; they will also be made available on the World Wide Web -- at http://www.igc.apc.org/habitat/p-7. Plans are being developed so that a bulletin of this nature can also allow messages to be contributed via e-mail by people who are not able to be in Halifax.
#6, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

Your Voice at the Parliament of World Religions
After a post-Rio dormant period, the Da Zi Bao process was implemented at the Parliament of World Religions, held in Chicago in August 1993 under the name of Your Voice. In its Chicago manifestation, a new variation of the participant interactive message system was developed. Three of the twelve issues of Your Voice were devoted to a "parliament of the people" -- a complementary grassroots forum to the Assembly of Spiritual and Religious Leaders. These issues of Your Voice showed how the process can be used to support a broad-based consultative process.
#7, Robert Pollard, TOES/US & Information Habitat

The People's Forum is an Interactive Process
Unlike many media in which there is a clear distinction between the editors/publishers and the readers, the success of the People's Forum depends on transcending the conventional boundaries between those who provide and those who receive information. To be more direct, the People's Forum depends on you, the participants in the People's Summit, to contribute your observations -- whether on matters of substance or of process -- or your reflections or insights pertaining to the P-7 and the People's Summit.
#8, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

The Discipline of a 50-Word "Sound Bite"
There are several reasons for setting a 50 word limit on messages in the People's Forum, not the least of which is to allow for easy publication of many messages, from many participants. One important aspect is that it calls for people contributing messages to be as concise and clear as possible - to put their ideas into 20 second "sound bite" form. In the context of what will surely be an overload of words in the People's Summit and in the G-7 meeting, any skill in presenting ideas concisely for the People's Forum can have valuable implications in other realms.
#9, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

A Manual for Participant Interactive Message Systems
In order to make participant interactive message system such as the People's Forum process available on a "do it yourself" basis, a manual is being developed in conjunction with the Brussels-based Union of International Associations. For more information about the manual, which will be made available on-line, contact Robert Pollard.
#10, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

The People's Forum Needs Your Help
The People's Forum is being offered to the People's Summit as a way by which Summit participants can share their ideas with other participants. However, the People's Forum can only happen if there are people willing to work on it -- to contribute ideas, to help with collecting messages, to type them in the computer, and to help with layout and production. If you are interested in helping, please contact Robert Pollard; you might be able to find him in Room 211, the computer lab, or leave a message at the Information Centre.
#11, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

Keyword Classification of Messages
When the original Da Zi Bao was produced in Paris, the messages were recorded in a relational database; each message was classified by one or more "keyword", making it possible to generate a cumulative report of the messages by subject. To see a compilation of the messages from the Paris conference organized by keyword, contact Robert Pollard during the People's Summit.
#12, Robert Pollard, TOES/US & Information Habitat

World Wide Web Access at P-7
Have you heard about the World Wide Web and wondered what all the fuss is about? Come to the computer lab in room 211 at the Community College, and get a chance to find out for yourself.
#13, Robert Pollard, TOES/US & Information Habitat

Ready for the Information Revolution?
Will the information superhighway allow transnational corporations to strengthen their control or can it offer people-centred and progressive groups a tool to develop an alternative to the corporate model. What are the political choices that must be faced in relation to the information revolution? Come to the Economic, Political, Social and Ecological Implications of Information Technologies workshop on Friday morning.
#14, Robert Pollard, TOES/US & Information Habitat

Habitat II - City Summit
June 3-14 1996, Habitat II -- the Second United Nations Conference on Human Settlements -- will take place in Istanbul, twenty years after the first Habitat conference in Vancouver. Habitat II will focus on sustainable communities, and is the final event in a major series of U.N. conferences including the Earth Summit in Rio, the Cairo Population and Development conference, the Human Rights conference in Vienna, and the upcoming World Conference on Women in Beijing. For information on participating in Habitat II, contact Robert Pollard.
#15, Robert Pollard, TOES/US & Information Habitat

We The Peoples / UN 50
Does the 184-member United Nations provide a better hope for the world than the exclusive G-7? Can the expanding role of non-governmental organizations, of civil society, at the U.N. bring to life the opening words of the preamble to the U.N. Charter "We The Peoples"? Come to San Francisco June 21-24, call 415 989-1995 for more information, or go to http://lh.com/un50sf on the World Wide Web.
#16, Robert Pollard, TOES/US & Information Habitat

How This Bulletin Works
If this were a "real" issue of the People's Forum, the messages would be from different participants here at the People's Summit. A new issue of the bulletin would be published as soon as there are enough messages have been collected and typed into the computer.
#17, Robert Pollard, People's Forum

Share Your Message
Your message can appear in the People's Forum bulletin. Fill out one of the People's Forum forms with a brief 50 word message. Then bring it to the Information Centre, give it to Robert Pollard, or send it via e-mail to infohabitat@igc.apc.org.
#18, Robert Pollard, People's Forum