Querid@s Mistic@s,

En la reunión en Caracas el EDT se decidió que una de las Unidades de Gestión (UdG) sería la UdG para Diversidad Cultural y Lingüística/Multiculturalismo y que yo seria coordinadora, contando con la ayuda de Javier Pinzón y de Daniel Pimienta.

Ahora es necesario preguntar a Mistica para contar con su aprobación y ayuda. 

Hay entonces una propuesta sobre este tema que ofrezco para su consideración. 

Espero que algun@s de ustedes se interesen en este proyecto.

Saludos de

Deirdre

Nota: Los documentos son originalmente en ingles, pero por lo pronto hemos traducido al español.  Quedan pendientes las versiones al francés y portugués.

--------
index

- Nota introductoria
I Importance of Diversity
III One love – Un amor – Un amour
IV  Alcances deseados

--------

I-

Importance of Diversity

Diversity was selected as a best practice area since changing demographics make it more important to select, retain and manage a diverse workforce. According to the IPMA/NASPE Benchmarking Committee, “diversity efforts in the workplace facilitate the exchange of new perspectives, improve problem solving by inviting different ideas, and create a respectful, accepting work environment, all of which make good business sense.” … The key for employers is to make diversity an asset within the organization. … Diversity management has been described as looking at: 1) the mind set of an organization; 2) the climate of an organization; and 3) the different perspectives people bring to an organization …

Best practice organizations value people and cultivate an environment where cultural awareness, sensitivity, fairness and integrity prosper. All employees believe that they can progress if they are qualified, motivated and work hard….these organizations shared some common practices that made them best practice organizations. These practices included: 
The development of a formal process that is contained in laws, rules or procedures. Both human and financial time and resources are devoted to the program. In best practice organizations, diversity is a process that is an integrated, ongoing and measurable strategy.
- Diversity efforts are primarily decentralized with a central governing body outlining the requirements of the plans with individual agencies and departments developing their own plans that are tailored to their specific needs. This reinforces a sense of ownership and ensures that managing diversity has both top level support and is a reality throughout the organization.

- In best practice organizations diversity training is provided to the workforce. The training is not limited to managers, but is extended throughout the workforce. Successful organizations incorporate diversity into mentoring efforts, leadership training and management-by-results programs. 

- Best practice organizations utilize workforce data and demographics to compare statistics reported for the civilian labor force. Occupations with under-utilization are identified and goals are established to reduce the under-utilization. All of the best practice organizations use affirmative action models, but each adds creative innovations that get results and set their programs apart.

- Best practice agencies have found that requiring affirmative action efforts through law,
executive order, or other mandates compels agencies to establish serious goals and to
make earnest efforts toward meeting those goals.

- Best practice organizations have established a review committee that is responsible for
establishing policies, providing technical assistance, reviewing/approving plans, and monitoring progress toward the achievement of goals.

- Effective diversity programs also link recruitment, development and retention strategies to organizational performance. They integrate employee development processes and map career paths to see what critical skills are necessary to advance; then communicate these skills to employees and provide training.

- Accountability for the results of diversity programs is another attribute of best practice organizations. Accountability is determined through the use of metrics, surveys, focus groups, customer surveys, management and employee evaluations, and training and education evaluations. 

Best Practices in Diversity Management UN
un diversity management.pdf

II-
 
[version español mas abajo]
Perhaps I need to explain myself. I was born on a very small island in the Thames estuary near London. When I was four years old we moved to Northern Ireland. Ever since then I have been a stranger.
In Ireland I belonged to a different religion and spoke with a different accent. Then I moved to the West Indies where I am a different colour and a different nationality.
I know a lot about difference, about being in the minority. And so I fight for minorities.
In CIVIC [http://www.dgroups.org/groups/icacaribbean] which is majority Anglophone I fight for Spanish and French; in MISTICA I fight for Portuguese and French and English.
I know that Spanish has a bad time in international forums, and I admire and support the determined efforts of Spanish speakers on behalf of their language.
I deplore the domineering and bullying attitude of the English language and its (often American) exponents on the Internet.
I would like to help to ensure that Mistica stays the sort of place where most people speak Spanish, but where other languages are also welcome as equal partners. We are laying the foundation for a new Mistica which will be “running itself”. I think that the time has come for a very clear written statement on language policy to assist Mistica to embrace all of the individuals in the region LAC who are interested in and have contributions to offer about ICT4D.

Quizás necesito explicarme. Nací en una isla muy pequeña en el estuario del río Thames cerca de Londres. Cuando tenía cuatro años nos trasladamos a Irlanda del Norte. Desde entonces he sido extranjera. En Irlanda tenía una religión diferente y hablaba con un acento distinto. Luego me trasladé a las Indias Occidentales donde soy de un color diferente y de otra nacionalidad. 
Sé mucho sobre diferencia, acerca de pertenecer a la minoría. Y por tanto lucho a favor de las minorías. 
En CÍVIC [http://www.dgroups.org/groups/icacaribbean] donde la mayoría es anglófona lucho por el español y el francés; en MISTICA lucho por el portugués, el francés y el inglés. Sé que el español pasa un mal rato en los foros internacionales, y admiro y apoyo los esfuerzos resueltos de los hablantes españoles a nombre de su lengua. Deploro la actitud dominante y
suficiente de la lengua inglesa y de sus exponentes (a menudo norteamericanos) en el Internet. Quisiera ayudar a asegurar que Mistica permanezca como la clase de lugar en donde la mayoría de la gente habla español, pero donde otros idiomas son bienvenidos al mismo nivel. Estamos poniendo los cimientos para una nueva Mistica para que "funcione por sí misma". 
Pienso que ha llegado el tiempo de escribir una declaración muy clara sobre la política de diversidad lingüística para ayudar a Mistica a abrazar a todos los individuos en la región LAC que esten interesados y tengan contribuciones sobre el tema TICpD.

III-

One love

      Um amor

              Un amor

                         Un amour

Deixe-nos começar junto e sentir bom. 
Let's get together and we’ll feel alright.
Reunámonos y sintámonos bien.
Réunissons-nous et sentons-nous bien. 

Bob Marley

4 of 6 requirements for the new Mistica which touch on the issue of language
Cuatro de los seis requisitos para la nueve Mistica que se relacionar con el asunto de la lengua.
•	Crecimiento y enriquecimiento de la audiencia
•	Autonomía
•	Descentralización
•	Cooperación

Mistica issues which are also language issues:
Asuntos de la Mistica que son tambien asuntos de la lengua.
•	ampliación de la audiencia, especialmente en el Caribe y en Brasil
•	Fortalecer la identidad propia de Mística mediante una imagen y un dominio propio en lugar de un subdominio 
•	La actividad cooperacional está presente en la mayor parte de las actividades de Mística. Es, en gran medida, su razón de ser. 
•	el crecimiento y promoción del intercambio Sur-Sur.
•	nivel de desarrollo de la navegación en los 4 idiomas
•	conceptos básicos  en la CV (Metodología, Impacto Social, Tecnologías de Información y Comunicación, América Latina y el Caribe)
•	traducción automática
•	Olística: el primer proyecto hijo de la CV ya implementado (Observatorio Latinoamericano y Caribeño del Impacto Social de las TIC en Acción)

“If the real problem we face, of ending the legacy of the past, persists, and with it the conflict inherently generated by the power relations which that past represents, it will not be because we are cursed with the gift of diversity. 
Si el problema real que nos confrontamos eso de acabar con la herencia del pasado sigue existiendo junto co el conflicto intrinsecamente producido por las relaciones de poder que ese pasado representa, no sera a causa de que suframos la afliccion del obsequio de la diversidad.

The fault will express itself in conflict because we would have failed to find the intelligent ways and means by which we would organise ourselves to unite as a people, around common national aspirations and a common identity, while we honour and respect our diversity.” 
La falla se la expresa en la forma del conflicto porque no lograriamos encontrar las medidas y maneras inteligentes de organizarnos para reunirnos como una gente con communes aspiraciones nacionales y una identidad comun, mientras que honoramos y respetamos nuestra diversidad.
 “We must therefore pose the question to ourselves as to whether the diversity of which we speak, with seeming pride, is a blessing or a curse; whether the fact of a heterogeneous society makes for an easier achievement of the goal of a better life for all, or whether we would have been better served if we had a more homogeneous society.” 

Por lo tanto debemos preguntarnos si la diversidad de la cual hablamos co un orgullo aparente es una benediction o una maladicion; si el hecho de una sociedad heterogenea allana el camino para la realizacion facil de la meta de obtener una vida major para todos, o si seria major tener una sociedad mas homogenea.
Thabo Mbeki http://www.info.gov.za/speeches/1998/98805_0x9829810724.htm

Mbeki  expresses our problem, Mistica’s problem, as well.
Mbeki expresa nuestra problema, que tambien es el problema de Mistica.

Does Mistica wish to be
•	       heterogeneous (ie LAC, multi-lingual)
or
•	       homogeneous (hispanophone)

???
Dalberto and I believe that we have to choose

Mistica quiere ser:
Heterogenea (LAC, pluringue)
o
homogenea (hispanophona)
Dalberto y yo creemos que debemos escoger

 “As a result of our work, we have identified what we call "Internet rights" as a special dimension or subset of human rights as they apply to the specific field of ICTs. APC recognizes that the effective exercise of Internet rights requires policies that will promote those rights or at least will not interfere with their full enjoyment.” Roggiero – IDRC 
Como resultado de nuestro trabajo hemos identicado lo que llamamos los”Derechos de la Internet” como una dimension especial o una sub-seccion de los derechos humanos como se refieren a las areas especificas de los TIC. La APC reconoce que el ejercicio efectivo de los derechos de la Internet require principios que van a promover esos derechos, o por lo menos que no van impeder su fruicion total.

The question is – is language a “right”?

Is not to have a language/the majority language –

A disability? A special need??

Is the situation of the mono-lingual person who wishes to be part of a multi-lingual community addressed by the following document?

La pregunta es: el lenguaje – c’es un derecho?
No tener un lenguaje/el lenguaje de la mayoria –
Es una incapacidad? Una necesidad especial?
La situation de la persona monolingue quien quiere parte de una comunidad plurilingue se la considera en el documento siguiente?

The Inter-American Institute on Disability (IID) and Sidar Foundation comments to WSIS on the WSIS Draft declaration of Principles and Draft Action Plan.

[14] The Information Society is one where every citizen has the opportunity not only to access information but also to produce it and exercise their creativity.

[17] Universal access to information and communication technologies … shall be an objective of all the stakeholders involved in building the information society, in accordance with the legal framework in force in each country.

[IID/Sidar] would add:
 “taking action to render its contents accessible to citizens with special needs.”

http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs/pcip/misc/iid_sidar.pdf

El Instituto Interamericano del minusvalido (IID) y la Fundacion Sidar – comentarios a CMSI sobre la declaracion preliminary de los Principios y el Pna preliminary de Accion de CMSI..

14 La Sociedad de Informacion es una que da a cada ciudadano la oportunidad no solo del acceso a la informacion sino tambien al acceso de producirlo y de  ejercer su creatividad.

17 El acceso universal a la informacion y las technologies de communicacion … sera un objetivo de tod@s l@s person@s interesad@s e involucrad@s en edificar la sociedad de informacion, dentro del marco legal que existe in cada pais.

IID/Sidar andirian:
“tomar medidas para hacer asequible su contenidos a la ciudadanos co necesidades especiales.

In MISTICA the language problem is largely a problem of languages.

We need to begin seriously to consider the content as most important, and to be pro-active in scrambling over the barrier of languages in both directions – to speak and to understand

“Can we speak of language 'rights' without there being a policy on rights? Does it make a difference in outcomes?”

(Schiffman)

En Mistica el problema del lenguaje es en gran parte un problema de lenguajes.

Tenemos que comenzar a considerar en serio el contenido como lo mas importante, y a ser pro-activo en tartar de eliminar la barrera linguistica en ambas direcciones – hablar y comprender.

Es posible hablar de los “derechos” del lenguaje sin tener una politica sobre los derechos? Tendra resultados diferentes?”
(Sciffman)
 
“Overt and Covert policies are like an iceberg:  the tip of the iceberg is the overt part; the underwater part is the covert part.
To continue this metaphor, the whole thing is immersed in a sea that is the linguistic culture  in question”         
(Schiffman)

Los politicos/principios disimulados y los evidentes son como un iceberg (Montana de hielo): la punta del iceberg es la parte evidente; la parte submarina es la parte disimulada. Para continuar con esta metafora lo todo esta sumerzido en un mar que es la cultura linguistica.
(Schiffman)

Policies can be:

promotive;

tolerance;

mixed

Los politicos principios pueden ser:
Promtivos;
De tolerancia;
Mezclados.

“Promotive policies encourage the use of (a) particular language(s) by constitutional, administrative and legal guarantees.
Tolerance Policies allow the use of certain language(s) usually without explicitly devoting resources, time, space etc. to them
Mixed policies…may still tolerate language(s) of minority in order to ensure smooth functioning of polity/bureaucracy”

(Schiffman) 

Los principios promotivos fomentan el uso de un lenguaje/lenguajes particular(es) por garantias constitucionales, administrativas y legales.

Los principios de tolerancia permiten el uso de ciertos lenguajes normalmente sin darlos explicitamente los recursos, el tiempo, el espacio, etc.

Los principios mezclados pueden todavia tolerar los lenguajes de la minoria con el fin de asegunar el funcionamiento suave liso del estado/de la burocracia

(Sciffman)

“De facto vs. De jure policies: Related to overt/covert distinction

Policies may  de jure promote one language but in actuality the  de facto use of some other language is tolerated.”

(Schiffman)

Politicos de facto vs los de jure. Se relacionan a la distinction evidente y disimulada.

Los politicos pueden de jure promover un language, pero en realidad el uso de facto de otro lenguaje es tolerado.

(Schiffman)

Territoriality is a crucial issue

pero/mais/mas/but

The territory of Mistica is cyberspace, so, in the conventional sense, without boundaries 

La territorialidad es un asunto critico
Pero/mais/mas/but
El territorio de la Mistica es cibernetico, pues en el sentido convencional es sin barreras.

“France has long been a polity denying the rights of linguistic minorities, since at least the French Revolution
France is now the ‘great defender’ of linguistic minorities in the European Union”          (Schiffman)
Agence de la Francophonie (AIF) has given and continues to give generous support to multi-lingualism initiatives at least for the Caribbean region.

“La Francia ha sido por largo tiempo un estado que niega los derechos de minorias linguisticas, desde por lo menos la Revolucion Francesa
Ahora Francia es el gran defensor de minorias linguisticas en la Union Europea.
(Schiffman)
Agence de la Franophonie (AIF) ha dado y sigue dando el apoyo generoso a las iniciativas plurilingues, por lo menos en la region Caribena.

Some questions that we should ask ourselves

“What happens when policies don’t work the way they’re supposed to?
What happens to linguistic rights when the policy is faulty?
Is it possible that some policies are just unworkable?”
(Schiffman)
Debemos preguntarnos:
Que pasa cuando los politicos/principios no funcionar como se deberen?
Que pasa con los derechos linguisticos es imperfecto?
Es posible que algunos principios simplemente no puedan funcionar?
(Schiffman)

Some issues we must consider:
“Trying to be egalitarian when it’s not feasible to put every language on an equal basis.”          (Schiffman)

Will we realistically undertake the obligations necessary so that Mistica can truly call itself “multi-lingual”, LAC?

Debemos considerer algunos asuntos:
Tratar de ser igualitario cuando ne sea posible dar a cada lenguaje una base igual.

Podriamos de modo realista emprender las obligaciones necesarias para que Mistica pueda llamarle verdaderamente pluringue? LAC?

Implementation:

“In study after study of language policies, various scholars point out that no matter how benign or enlightened a language policy may be in its form, it needs to be implemented carefully or it will certainly fail to achieve the outcome its planners intended. 

•	Implementation of language policies is often overlooked, downplayed, underfunded.
•	Implementation may also be highly dependent on funding, which is always a sticky issue. Funds may be available when the policy is first promulgated, and then may dwindle, as other priorities come to the fore.”
•	(Schiffman)

Ejecucion
En estudio tras studio de politicos de lenguajes, varios sabios indican que no importa si un politico de lenguaje es benigno o ilustrado en su forma, tiene que ser ejecutado cuidadosamente o si no, no va a alcanzar las metas que tengan sus planificadores.
La ejecucion de politicos de lenguaje frecuentemente es pasada por alto, minimizada, insuficientemente financiada.

La ejecucion puede depender sumamente de fondos algo que siempre llega a ser dificil obtener. Los fondos pueden ser disponsibles al principio pero se reducen cuando lleguen otras periodes.
(Schiffman)
“Carefully constructed policies may also involve evaluation, i.e. a way to check periodically to see if the policy is being implemented as planned.  And if not, what measures can be taken to rectify the shortcomings.”

(Schiffman)
Principios/politicos que son cuidadosamente desarrollados, tambien pueden merecer evaluacion; eso es una manera de averiguar periodicamente si la politica se ejecutada de la manera deseada. Y si no, que medidas se pueden tomar para corregir los fallos.
(Schiffman)

In this paper I was helped a lot by:

Harold F. Schiffman,
Language Rights and Language Policy 
in a Multilingual World, Keynote Address, UCLMRI, San Francisco, May 2005 

lmri.ucsb.edu/profdev/2/lmri_conferences/05_conf/05conf_handouts/schiffman.ppt 

Para preparer esta presentacion me ayuderon mucho :

And my son tells me that I must explain the sea.

In the Caribbean the sea is what separates us, but the sea is also a means of bringing us together.

The sea at the back of the slides is my metaphor for language.
Y my hijo quien me dijo que debiera explicar el mar.
En el Caribe, el mar es lo que nos separa, pero tambien ese mismo mar es lo que nos reune.
El mar al fondo de los diapositivas es mi metaforo para el lenguaje.

Me ayuda tambien a tartar de presenter en espagnol la profesora de Espagnol en el Colegio Sir Arthur Lewis, Santa Lucia, Meuris Raymond..

IV-

Unidad de Gestión de Multiculturalismo

El EdT desea ver que la UdG de Multiculturalismo 
provide a focus for the part of Mistica’s identity
which addresses cultural and linguistic diversity,
supporting  this quality in the other three UdGs and
reinforcing the status of Mistica as serving Latin
America and the Caribbean
 	
Sería ideal que la UdG de Multiculturalismo:	
14	Achieve an active multi-lingual multi-cultural dialogue in which content is of more importance than language.	
13	Begin to reach beyond Spanish, Portuguese, French and English to the minority languages of the region, with the particular intention of including indigenous populations.	
12	Work with the other UdGs to create equal access  to material of the CV in all four of the official languages	
Sería positivo que la UdG de Multiculturalismo:	
11	Create a translation team who will advise on and facilitate all those areas in Mistica where translation is an issue; arrange by consultation with Mistica a database of available resources for translation	
10	Actively lobby for the inclusion of more Caribbean Mistic@s, through mutually beneficial links and cross-fertilisation with other groups eg CIVIC	
9	Find a means to augment the number of lusophone (Brazilian) Mistic@s, using Dalberto’s ideas about web content in Portuguese	
8	Continue to create awareness among Mistic@s of the multi-cultural nature of Mistica (publication of statistics etc.)	
7	Encourage regular discussion in the CV on issues related to language and culture	
6	Begin to work with UdG Web on the translation for the meta-site and the ciberlibrary	
Se espera que la UdG de Multiculturalismo:	
5	Have the draft discussed, edited and accepted by the CV	
4	Create a draft language policy for Mistica	
3	Create a plan for the continuing inclusion/involvement of the CV	
2	Establish the UdG Multiculturismo	
1	Persuade the CV of the need to be pro-active on the issue of multi-culturalism