On Culture in a Worldwide Information Society

report26 that describes the achievements of panels and contributions on this topic. The report distils over three years of activity in this area, will enable us to outline some of the critical issues and policy needs that must be addressed and to make recommendations about pilot projects that should be launched to fully demonstrate the role of culture in development and poverty reduction. The report outlines how the members of the G8 can include a cultural agenda in their efforts to promote global participation and empowerment in order to advance the development goals of poverty reduction, economic growth, educa- tion, health, sanitation, and global e-commerce. The Okinawa Charter on Global Information Society, created at the July 2000 G827 meeting in Okinawa, Japan, affirmed the importance of using ICT in for developmental purposes: Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is one of the most potent forces in shaping the twenty-first century. Its revolutionary impact affects the way people live, learn and work, and the way government interacts with civil society. It is fast becoming a vital engine of growth for the world economy. The essence of the IT-driven economic and social transformation is its power to help individuals and societies to use knowledge and ideas. Our vision of an Information Society is one that better enables people to fulfil their potential and realize their aspirations 28. The recommendations of the report are structured into four main sections: • Cultural content • Standards and good practices • Access and information policies • Frameworks and intellectual property rights.