Citizens Voice

During the IAP2 Conference three films will be shown that will demonstrate different methods of citizen's voice. A short film called Nothing Short of a Miracle tells the story of local people in an outer metropolitan suburb in South Australia making their own future through community management - and having more success that the US President did when he was a community organiser if you read his own account in Dreams of My Father. You will also be able to hear from Prof James Fishkin directly and view his film on deliberative democracy : Europe in One Room. Jim will be there to take your questions and his new book about this project is on its way! Finally, Issues Deliberation Australia/America will be showing their award winning film Beyond Beliefs, using the deliberative poll method invited by Jim on an issue of national importance in Australia - Muslims and non-Muslims in Australia. The matters raised in this part of the world also have international ramifications for many Western democracries as well. And for good measure there will be popcorn too!

The White House's Office of Public Engagement launched earlier in the year the results of their collection of the Citizen's Voice in the Citizen's Briefing Book and many of the ideas and issues will be interest to IAP2 members worldwide -it is another way of listening into the citizen's voice. Around the world more and more leaders are recognizing that "government does not have all the answers, and that public officials need to draw on what citizens know " (US President Obama).

These films and this resource give you the chance to hear first hand what everyday citizens are saying to government and saying to one another.