Today - I am the JAM

LOCAL COMMUNITY JOIN IN UNPRECEDENTED GLOBAL EVENT:

CITIZENS UNITE ONLINE TO DEBATE URBAN SUSTAINABILITY ISSUES DECEMBER 1-3, 2005

(Cape Town) — Issues of key interest to the south Africa region, including Cities, Shacks, Alternative Housing and Sustainable development will be part of the Habitat JAM, an unprecedented online global conversation and collaboration. Local residents and experts are joining together to ensure the western Cape is heard during this global 72-hour Internet event to be held December 1-3, 2005.

This revolutionary form of democratic discussion was introduced as part of the preparations for the third session of the World Urban Forum, which will be held in Vancouver, Canada in June 2006. The Habitat JAM will help forge a holistic view on some of the most urgent and controversial urban issues, to turn ideas into action.

The Habitat JAM will connect tens of thousands of academics and students, planners and builders, politicians and ordinary citizens from across the globe in real time, all contributing ideas and expertise to the global problem solving session. Moderators will include government leaders, celebrities, royalty, and key thinkers. The purpose of this Internet discussion is to find actionable ideas to solve key urban issues, such as:

· Improving the lives of people living in slums

· Sustainable access to water in our cities

· Environmental sustainability in our cities

· Finance and governance in our cities

· Safety and security in our cities

· Humanity: the future of our cities

“By organizing local events and providing access to internet technology, we hope to include as many local points of view as possible to bring into the Habitat JAM,” says Andre du Plessis from InternAfrica. “To solve these urgent and controversial issues which affect our region’s cities, we need to ensure the World Urban Forum hears from us directly.”

This unprecedented 72-hour internet event needs your point of view.

Imagine the results that could be achieved.

Go to http://www.habitatjam.com/ to register and take part.
The World Urban Forum is an initiative of the United Nations Settlements Program (UN-HABITAT), and is held every two years. World Urban Forum 3 will bring together as many as 100,000 people to debate ideas and issues about urban development in a global context of rapid change. “We all need the technology and the information to enable us to participate in the process of lifting up our living environment,” adds Dr. Anna Tibaijuka, Executive Director, UN-HABITAT.

Tell your friends and colleagues about the Habitat JAM!