The Associated Humans

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The Associated Humans (Les Humains Associés in French) is a non-profit association devoted to the awakening of individual awareness and to the promotion of humanist and ecological values through creative and hands-on consciousness-raising.

‘We invite one and all to reflect upon the human condition, the fact that we make up part of an indivisible whole; let us not be stopped by what divides us but look for what unites us.’ (extract from the Global Manifesto, founding text of the Associated Humans)

‘Solidarity is the only solution to ensure the survival of humanity.‘ (Tatiana Faria, founding president)


Contents

[edit] History

To begin with the Associated Humans, founded in 1984 in Paris (France) by Tatiana Faria, brought together journalists, artists, psychologists, scientists and advertising executives.

[edit] Objectives and values

The association comprises sympathizers from around the globe who disseminate information and work to bring about philosophical and cultural awareness in a humane way in areas relating to solidarity, respect for human dignity, environmental science, improvements in North-South, East-West relations and the rights and duties of man.

The Associated Humans' approach has its roots in Renaissance humanism, in line with those individuals who have toiled for centuries to further the realization of a more humane and fraternal humanity. These humanist values are promoted in a variety of media and other structures - national poster campaigns, paper publications, virtual community networking on the internet - actions and free happenings that give greater importance to a creative and poetic approach.

The Associated Humans encourages each individual to be responsible for him/herself with the simple message ‘Think for yourself’, convinced that ‘a change in situation is dependent on the awakening of consciousness in each individual in particular’ (excerpt from the Global Manifesto).

They were the first in the world to inaugurate a new way of doing things with the launching in the 1980s of a series of humanist counter-publicity campaigns posted free-of-charge on 3mx4m billboards all over France. They have been in the forefront of the Francophone Internet movement since the early 1990s. Familiar with the manner and way of functioning of the Web since its creation, the Associated Humans naturally became a part of it in its early stages (beginning 1995). They were the first in France to use the new medium in an associative and collaborative manner by offering free content and laying the foundations of their virtual community.

[edit] Principles and modus operandi

The Associated Humans is an independent and non-partisan movement whose actions are predicated on personal initiative and the giving of one's time; sympathizers contribute their know-how on a volunteer basis with discretion; the association rejects all offers of subsidization and sponsorship and refuses to endorse a cult of personality. Given the complete gratuitousness of the operation, they intend to show that it is possible to take action and work together thanks to a common goodwill.

Since its creation it has possessed a spirit of collaborative networking founded on humanist values and ethical principles but with an unconventional mode of operation. It is an on-line community of thought and action which, putting behind old differences, is searching in a pragmatic way for a viable alternative.

Ideas and in-depth reflections are put forward to sympathizers as a source of inspiration so they in turn will become involved in their immediate environment in a deeply committed way, take part in associations or local initiatives and propose projects unaffiliated with the Associated Humans. Their network is made available to others on a regular basis; they participate in numerous causes and actions initiated by collectives and associations most everywhere, disseminate information, provide substantial help and contribute manpower as much as possible.

A great deal of time and commitment is devoted to current news and questions pertaining to society and citizenship. Reactive by nature, the association compiles news dossiers, available on-line, participates in demonstrations or petitions, when the need arises, and supports humanitarian actions — human rights and women's rights defence groups, social actions and the fight against antisemitism, racism, etc, etc. Six months before the second war in Iraq in 2002, the Associated Humans played their part in the worldwide antiwar movement [1] through the dissemination of information and topics for reflection and the coordination of various actions throughout the Francophone community [2] with a dynamic local network that extended to over 80 French cities. This gave rise to Pax Humana, a quadrilingual theme-based site, the fruit of a network of collaborators spanning multiple continents.

[edit] Actions

The actions undertaken by the Associated Humans since 1984 have been numerous and varied. Here are some of the more memorable ones:

[edit] Consciential happenings

In 1984 they organized a Human Chain for Tolerance in the heart of Paris [3]. They have also launched big cultural events, concerts and celebrations like the one held in the Champs de Mars in Paris for Earth Day 1990 and 1992.

In the context of pre-war Iraq in March 2003, a free concert for peace [4] was put on for more than 3,500 people at the Cathedrale Notre Dame de Paris with the gracious participation of conductor John Nelson and 150 musicians and instrumentalists from the main orchestras of Paris.

[edit] Free Humanist ‘publicity' campaigns

Because posters are the most direct way to propose topics for consideration to a wide audience without intermediaries, philosophical 'publicity campaigns‘ were organized over a period of several years.

  • In 1987 a message was posted on 1,000 billboards measuring 4mx3m : ‘Man is unique, let's not spoil him’ (‘L’Homme est unique, ne le gâchons pas’) ; the first in a series of four humanist counter-publicity campaigns staged free-of-charge between 1987 and 1990 in France. Using advertising space made available to them at no cost, the purpose of the campaigns was neither to sell, promote or recrute but simply to encourage thoughts of a humanist and ecological nature for an awakening of consciousness.
  • ‘What if we were to talk about Love’ (‘Et si on parlait d’amour’) (1988), interactive campaign, first of its kind, 600 3mx4m billboards in the Parisian subway, inviting passers-by to write as they saw fit on big white posters transforming them into a space for poetic expression completely gratis, open to one and all. People of all ages participated enthusiastically and poetically. Similar to the Chinese dazibaos (free expression), each poster was original and unique. The national media responded well (television, radio, written press). The Revue Intemporelle (Timeless Journal), a free publication that pursues the humanist reflections begun in the campaigns, was launched the same year.
  • ‘Aux Âmes Citoyens’ (1989) [5], the Associated Humans national poster campaign, undertaken the same year as the commemoration of the bicentennial of the French Revolution and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
  • ‘Aimé soit qui Terre y pense’ (‘Beloved he who thinks of Earth’) (1990), national ecology counter-publicity campaign (with visual image of Earth as seen from space). Simultaneous publication of Gaïa bleu blues, an issue of the Revue Intemporelle (Timeless Journal) also devoted to Earth.

The association accomplished this series of messages with no outside financing, no sponsors and with no intent of taking on new members. Advertisers accepted to open up publicity space for what amounted to free messages that were selling nothing and gave a resounding yes when the Associated Humans put the following question to them: Advertising enslaves man, would you agree to open up space in the service of man? The campaigns met with great public acclaim, were seen by millions of people over several consecutive weeks (in métros and city streets) and received favorable coverage in the national press and abroad.

[edit] La Revue Intemporelle (Timeless Journal)

First published in 1988 during the humanist publicity campaign period, this large format publication (also gratis) was the fruit of a collaborative effort by sympathizers: journalists, graphic artists, distinguished illustrators, photographers, authors, writers, philosophers, specialists, etc, with the participation of printers, paper manufacturers and photoengravers. The journal was created to fulfil a request by those who sought a means to remain connected to this community of the spirit.

La Revue Intemporelle (Timeless Journal) proposes poetry, in-depth interviews, articles and pieces by journalists, diverse personalities, artists, scientists and writers. Another of its distinguishing characteristics is the high quality of the edition (elegant paper, original layout, large format illustrations, full page photographs).

With 4,500 copies printed, the journal is distributed all over France and travels to other parts of the world, as well. The publication of each issue is the occasion for great celebration uniting as many as eight hundred to one thousand sympathizers all of whom hail from many different backgrounds.

[edit] Internet pioneers since 1995

In the early stages of the Web, the Associated Humans were invited onto the INA Mediaport server [6] created and officially launched by Philippe Quéau at the Imagina trade fair in Monaco. They were among the first 15,000 in the history of the Internet when they created their Web site in January 1995 (as of December 1994 there were 10,022 sites) diffusing the electronic version of their paper journal as well as a discussion list. Theirs is a 'cyberhumanist' approach that questions man's place in an era of new technologies and globalisation. They recognize that Internet can also function as a channel for planetary consciousness and as means of raising awareness as to the future importance of the Internet (through associations, intellectuals, media, citizens, hands-on actions) and to the risks involved (the digital divide) and the possibilites for the 21st century.

[edit] Citizen Web 2.0

With the same will and determination to put new technological tools in the service of knowledge and Man and to further social networking, the association has developed an approach and ideas for a non-profit-making Web 2.0.

Aware that the expansion and success of the Web entails the need for new learning as well as the risk of going adrift, the association launched Nethique in 2006 : a reminder of the rules of savoir-vivre and also of the responsibilities and duties adapted for blogs and inspired by the Netiquette, in use in the early stages of the Internet. The sensitisation campaign is conducted on a blog and a wiki ; 160 blogs have adopted the Nethique charter [7]..

In August 2006, the Associated Humans created HumaNews, a humanist website for social bookmarking, devoted to humanist, citizen, ecological and cultural news [8]. The site is based on the functionalities and collaborative spirit of Web 2.0 and uses Pligg, an open source content management system that allows users to submit content (bookmarks) and to vote for those articles deemed pertinent (similar to Digg).

As of January 2007 the Associated Humans is the first French NGO to set up shop in Second Life. Meetings, conferences and discussions will be held on the island of Île Verte - a 65,000 square meter virtual island they own - with humanists, scientists, artists, poets, philosophers, etc., on themes suggested by the association.

The first conference on the island of Ile Verte was held in March 2007 with an astrophysicist, professor of physics at Paris VII University, speaking on the topic of Second Life and physics : 'Reality and Virtuality'. More than forty avatars participated.

Several media reports have been made on the creation of the island, property of the Associated Humans and of activities held there. Among others those by TF1 [9], France’s most watched television station, France 2 [10], Radio France International [11] , PureBlog [12], Europe 1 [13] (to listen to the broadcast : [14]), etc.

In conjunction with the la Cité des sciences et de l’industrie de Paris, the Associated Humans co-organised a Nethiquette symposium : ‘Living together on the net’ (Vivre ensemble sur le Net).

Apart from a handful of writer-bloggers specialised in on-line political debate, those present included the head of the Internet Freedom Desk for Reporters Without Borders and the internet representatives of the three main political parties on the voting lists in the French presidential elections to be held in 2007. The symposium was broadcast in audio and video on the Web and in Second Life. The AFP (French Press Agency)[15] reported the event in a dispatch.

iPol, report on the Netiquette symposium : ‘Living together on the Net’ [16]

These days a very reactive Associated Humans network functions according to the movement's philosophy and has three sites, two blogs, a wiki, several forums, a discussion list and the digg-like Humanews which unites a virtual and human community. The sites have been visited by several million internet users since their creation.

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ The Guardian: The anti-war movement
  2. ^ France Info radio: Dossier spécial Irak
  3. ^ Le Monde: Human Chain for Tolerance in Paris (1984)
  4. ^ United for Peace and Justice: Events - A concert for peace at the Cathedral of Notre Dame and AFP news agency: Concert pour la Paix
  5. ^ ‘Aux Âmes Citoyens’ is call to action similar to the call to arms (‘Aux armes citoyens’) found in the first line of the chorus of the French national anthem, La Marseillaise. The similar sounding armes (arms) and âme (soul) create an obvious play on words and strengthen the sharp contrast in meaning, the latter being a cry for battle, the former an appeal to the soul.
  6. ^ Médiaport, early websites (1995)
  7. ^ A code of good conduct for the presidential elections on the internet?
  8. ^ Pointblog.com: HumaNews
  9. ^ TF1
  10. ^ France 2
  11. ^ RFI
  12. ^ PureBlog
  13. ^ Europe 1
  14. ^ Europe 1 Broadcast
  15. ^ AFP
  16. ^ Living together on the Net


[edit] External links

Websites

Reading matter


[edit] See also

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