INFORMED OR NOT, PANAMANIAN YOUTH THINK ABOUT SUMMIT Via NY Transfer News * All the News That Doesn't Fit Prensa Latina - DIRECT FROM CUBA INFORMED OR NOT, PANAMANIAN YOUTH THINK ABOUT SUMMIT BY LISET SALGADO, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT PANAMA, Nov 17 (PL) The 10th Heads of State and Government Ibero-American Summit was a matter of indifference to most Panamanian minors, but the Summit's interruption of classes Thursday caused more than one of them to express their opinion on this event. "I will use my day off to play and help at home," Rodrigo Lopez told Prensa Latina. Rodrigo is a ten-year-old boy, who did not hesitate to talk while his roguish smile spread from ear to ear. This is something rare in these places, where children evoid strangers. In spite of his loquacity, Rodrigo, as other children, could not explain why Panamanian authorities decided to interrupt classes in Ciudad de Panama until Monday, "a lot of people will come here, is that it?" he asked, almost in a whisper. Political leaders participating in the Summit began arriving in Ciudad de Panama today. This time, the event's slogan is "United for Childhood and Adolescence, Base of Justice and Equality in the New Millennium." The situation of Ibero-American children, the topic proposed last year by the 10th Summit's host Mireya Moscoso, will be discussed until Saturday by the leaders, who have the challenge of agreeing upon positions in favor of childhood. Analysts consider that publicity about the Summit has been poor, except for some announcements on local television and placards placed along main Panamanian streets. This event could pass unnoticed for most Panamanians. High school student Kida Espinosa said she was informed about the meeting, and declared that presidents should take advantage of this meeting to defend the rights of children and young people, whom -she said- they do not take into account "because they are always concerned about other things." During the short break, Kida will take walks and go to the movies with her friends, who ignored the theme that will occupy Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese presidents from Friday, in Ciudad de Panama. According to Kida and her friends, governments are like parents, "they are always worried about us, but they never listen to us." A poll Thursday published by the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) revealed that the level of misinformation among Latin American, Spanish and Portuguese children and teenagers is alarming, and they consider themselves ignored by government entities. "The Voice of Ibero-American Children and Teenagers" poll has a margin of 95 percent confidence and represents the viewpoints of half the 9-18 year olds (some 100 million) from this region. UNICEF's survey shows a predominant perception of negative news about local happenings. Twenty-five percent of Latin American children knew about natural disasters, while 39 percent of them were aware of African children's hunger. Wars, infant maltreatment, delinquency and violence were other negative news mentioned in the poll, and a difficulty talking about happy news, except sports success or scientific achievements. Information access on sexual education, AIDS, and drug abuse prevention is poor or nil, 66 percent said they knew little or nothing of their elemental rights. The right to education was spontaneously mentioned for one of every two children, while the right to be loved, to have a healthy environment, to select what they like and to access information was not even mentioned. AJS/CCS (c) 2000 Prensa Latina, NY Transfer News. All rights reserved. ================================================================= NY Transfer News Collective * A Service of Blythe Systems Since 1985 - Information for the Rest of Us 339 Lafayette St., New York, NY 10012 http://www.blythe.org e-mail: nyt@blythe.org ================================================================= nytcamer-11.19.00-00:45:53-6623