English OPEN LETTER TO THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF UNESCO REGARDING THE APPOINTMENT OF MRS. BUSH AS AMBASSADOR OF THE UNITED NATIONS LITERACY DECADE (2003-2012) Dear Mr. Maatsura, UNESCO is recognized throughout the world for its long and active support to education, culture and peace. Within this framework, UNESCO enjoys special recognition for being the organisation that has always defended literacy and the dream of a literate world. Therefore, the announcement of a United Nations Literacy Decade (2003-2012), launched and coordinated by UNESCO, was received with joy and hope by the world education community, and especially by those of us who acknowledge the importance of reading and writing, both among children, young people and adults, within and outside the school system, as advocated in the "renewed vision of literacy" proposed by the background document prepared for this decade. This vision is coherent with an educational project that aims at social justice, democracy, cultural diversity, and peace. We were thus surprised to learn that UNESCO has appointed Mrs. Laura Bush, the First Lady of the United States of America, as Honorary Ambassador for this Literacy Decade. Such decision contradicts UNESCO’s mission and objectives, and dismisses the meaningful theoretical and practical contributions to the literacy field by many outstanding people throughout the world. Moreover, it may be viewed as official support to an administration that is questioned worldwide for its authoritarianism and bellicosity, and that ignores international institutions and regulations. In fact, the Bush Administration ignored the resolutions of the United Nations in relation to the Iraq war. All this happened in these past few months, in this very same year 2003 that marks the beginning of the Literacy Decade and the appointment of Mrs. Bush as Ambassador for such Decade. We cannot understand the reasons that led UNESCO -- a member of the United Nations system, which promotes democracy and transparency -- to choose Mrs. Bush for this very sensitive and delicate responsibility, and at this particular moment in time. We are unaware of the consultation process with Member States in oder to take such decision. Moreover, the information about the appointment of Mrs. Bush did not reach the community of professionals who are engaged in education, literacy and human development in the various regions of the world. The majority of signatories of this letter come from Latin America and the Caribbean, but many people not only from the South but also from the North have added their voices to ours. What unites us is the belief that another world is possible and that education -- an education rooted in the realities and utopias of our own people -- plays a fundamental role in the building of this alternative world. What also unites us, in this particular instance, is the conviction that we do not feel represented by Mrs. Bush in this important and noble mission of literacy. Latin America is a prolific and well-known region for its contribution, creativity and sustained efforts in making literacy an instrument for people's liberation and social transformation. We are proud of educators such as Paulo Freire, and have given birth to visions and movements engaged not only in the fight for literacy and education for all, but against all forms of oppression and subordination of our peoples. We kindly expect from you, Mr. Maatsura, a response to our concerns. We ask from you and from UNESCO respect and support for our own struggles and for our own legitimate efforts to make of this Literacy Decade a decade that effectively contributes to breaking the submission and impoverishment of our people, assisted by our own Literacy Ambassadors, and based on our own complex realities and our own dreams. We thank you in advance for your reply to this letter to the following e-mail address: pronunciamientolatinoamericano@yahoo.com Yours sincerely. Nearly 2,000 signatures follow -- by November 2004. We continue to receive signatures from many parts of the world). To adhere send your message to pronunciamientolatinoamericano@yahoo.com Indicate your full name, function/position, organization or institution (optional), city and country.		To adhere please send your message to pronunciamientolatinoamericano @yahoo.com Indicate your full name, function/position, organization or institution (optional), city and country. Español Français Português
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