Invited participants of the 2005 Brain Trust are being welcomed May 6, 7, and 8th 2005 as guests at the University of California Los Angeles hosted by the IHRC/CIDH (International Human Rights Consortium) as a thematic focus group in preparation for the (WSIS) World Summit on the Information Society, Phase II being hosted in Tunisia in November 2005.

Only once every ten years, the world meets to focus on a specific topic at a World Summit sponsored by the member States of the United Nations, i.e. Beijing-Women, Rio-Environment, The Hague-World Peace, etc. Sadly, the academic, business, cultural, and community development worlds are often very under-represented either by actual attendance or via electronic links—especially minority groups or others who are often marginalized in society, (i.e. persons with disabilities, etc.) The IHRC/CIDH leadership has been working to change this since the earliest years when suggestions were being made at the international leadership level that a world ‘conference’ should be held to address the ‘digital divide’. Over the years, the call for a comference, emerged as a World Summit on the Information Society which now address not only the issues of the ‘digital divide’ but includes a serious focus on the contents and mores of communication within societies around the world, in all of its forms. This year’s summit (WSIS Phase II, see www.itu.int/wsis) and was born from concerns about the digital divide, intellectual property rights, information content, ethics, and the impact of the media, education, and much more now also in relationship to the UN Millennium Goals (www.un.org/millenniumgoals). The IHRC/CIDH 2005 Brain Trust seeks to serve as a model for the intergration of academic, business, cultural, and diplomatic citizen leadership that links commitment to the community’s education and growth to real global influence for positive change.

WSIS Phase II presents a unique opportunity for faculty, researchers, and students in the fields of education, communication, media, international relations, international business, political science, IT, and more. After many years of preparation at the global level with authorities of the WSIS Phase I and II in Geneva, the World Summit (WSIS) has agreed to the holding this Thematic Symposia in Los Angeles to substantively assist in the preparations for the World Summit Phase II. Repsonding to a request from the UN Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues the dates of 6, 7, and 8 May were chosen so that results from the Brain Trust could be presented at their sessions at the UN in New York the following week. A delegation from the Brain Trust will also submit them to the Working Group on Indigenous Populations in Geneva in July, at the final Prep Con for the Summit in September (in Geneva), and at the WSIS Phase II in Tunisia in November.

If ever there were a time when both academics and society as a whole would be greatly enhanced by the active engagement of the broad spectrum of citizen leaders in the world, it is during such a Summit and its preparations. The ‘theoretical’ of the classroom and research project is powerfully transformed into the practical and achievable. The ‘achievables’ of responsible business can be more effectifely integrated in their annual ‘tripple bottom line’ (fiscal, environmental, social) strategic develop. Cultural dignity through diversity of expression has a unique opportunity to flourish. And the citizen diplomats commited to inclusive, respectful, positive social development for all have a unique opportunity to demonstrate the fruits of non-controntational solution-creating. The Brain Trust as a contributor to the World Summit brings to life the most creative and innovative thinking that professors, researchers, students, innovators, and social ecologists thrive on. It is a tremendous opportunity to demonstrate ‘thought leadership’. The layers of benefits will permeate local community enrichment while also reaching into clear, positive global influencet. Behzad Tabatabai, publisher and CEO of NAMAK magazine, is to be profoundly thanked for developing and hosting the temporary WEBsite for the 2005 Brain Trust so that the general public can have a way to interact with this process as well. The following WEBpages give more of an in-depth outline of the working plans for the 2005 Brain Trust which will last only two and a half days but undoubtedly will have years of positive impact both for those attending, those submitting thoughts through the site, and for the subsequent meetings at the UN in Geneva and at the Summit. Helping to form international public policy always has a special connection to the individual lives that it affects. You are welcome to this site and your positive input is deeply valued. Thank you for your participation.

Sincerely yours,