<nettime> APCNews - May 2005 - No. 52 (fwd)

["Frederick Noronha (FN)" <fred@bytesforall.org>]

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              *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
         Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                      - May 2005 No. 52 -
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- NEWS FROM APC --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- BUILDING CAPACITY & STRATEGIC USE OF ICTs --
-- WOMEN & ICTs --
-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --
-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -
-- SITES OF INTEREST --
-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC NEXT MONTH --

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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --

RITS, BRAZIL: Wireless-connected communities in Amazonia

In June, APC member Rits will return to Para, in northern Brazil, to start
the second phase of the project of leading wireless internet connectivity to
riverside communities down the Tapajos river. This is a partnership with
local NGOs Projeto Saude and Alegria, with the support of Avina Foundation
and The Institute for Connectivity in the Americas (ICA). This second phase
means a low-cost, high social-impact experience of digital inclusion in
remote spots in Amazonia, using creativity, clean technology and
internet-telephony technology. Now the challenge is to get financial support
to keep it going, considering that the investment in research and
implementation has been already done. More in Portuguese:
http://arruda.rits.org.br/notitia1/servlet/newstorm.notitia.apresentacao.ServletDeSecao?codigoDaSecao=4&dataDoJornal=1114032467000
And more in English next month.


SANGONET, SOUTH AFRICA: Commons-sense: Public money for public knowledge?

Should publicly-funded knowledge remain easily accessable and sharable? In
May 2005 -- which saw the launch of Creative Commons South Africa -- that
country discussed important issues related to the production and consumption
of knowledge. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=33161


NODO TAU, ARGENTINA: ICTs as a passport to the job market

Rosario -- one of Argentina's three most-populous cities -- sees computer
literacy as one of the passports its citizens can deploy to access the
job-market. Residents of its western district voted to finance a computer
training project, and APC member Nodo TAU was handed the challenge of
training the trainers. -- APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=33103


ARABDEV, EGYPT: Taking FOSS to the disadvantaged south of Egypt

APC member in Cairo, ArabDev, is taking free and open source software to the
disadvantaged south of Egypt. Thinking of programmers as normal people, not
masters of some secret magical lore, can make a difference to the thinking
of these citizens of tomorrow. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=33299


CHANGENET, SLOVAKIA: Slovak public WiFi networks seen to be in danger

The Slovak Telecommunications Office has published a draft of its new
general licence for operating radio devices in the public 2.4 GHz frequency
band. But if the wordings of this new policy remain unchanged, it could
effectivelly put ban on thousands of devices around that country, warns the
Bratislava-based Changenet.sk network. - ChangeNet
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=32626


BYTESFORALL: Issues and news from South Asia

South Asia-based member BytesForAll.org focuses on the issues that came up
for discussion recently at its online forum. Issues range from open access
and open archives, Ubuntu CDs, a discussion on the information needs of
villagers, more Indian attempts to produce affordable computing devices, the
potential of community radio, and more. See summary and links
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/bytesforall_readers/message/5929
Or check the sites at http://www.bytesforall.org and
http://www.bytesforall.net


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-- NEWS FROM APC --

2005 APC HAFKIN PRIZE WINNER TRAINS KENYAN YOUTH FOR BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES

For young people living in poverty in coastal Kenya, in east Africa, surfing
the internet and learning how to use computers make most sense when these
skills directly spell economic opportunities and work-readiness. In
recognition of this, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)
named the *Global Education Partnership - Wundanyi* in Kenya on May 26 as
the winner of the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize for 2004-5.

Global Education Partnership - Wundanyi (GEP) is a not-for-profit
organisation located in the Taita Taveta District of Kenya. It has created a
12-week comprehensive training programme that focuses on "entrepreneurship
and work-readiness skills" for local youth from 15 to 24 years. Taita Taveta
is one of the poorest areas of Kenya with a poverty rate of 66%, which is
10% higher than the national average. In recognition of their vision and
implementation, a six-member international jury awarded the Kenyans the USD
$7,500 award which is named in honour of Nancy Hafkin, a pioneer of
networking and development information and communications in Africa.

In addition to recognising GEP, the judges awarded an honourable mention to
*BorgouNET* in Benin. BorgouNET has provided a number of towns in North
Benin with their only means of sending and receiving email to and from the
outside world, owing to the absence of telecommunications infrastructures
and the non-digitalisation of telephone lines. This biennial award
recognises outstanding examples of African initiatives in information and
communications technology (ICTs) for development. The theme in 2004-05 was
community initiatives that use the internet and other digital communication
networks to access markets, skills and opportunities to derive real economic
benefits.

More about the prize finalists and winner:
http://www.apc.org/english/hafkin/2004/winner.shtml (English)
http://www.apc.org/francais/hafkin/2004/winner.shtml (French) The Hafkin
Prize is supported in part by the International Development Research
Centre (IDRC).


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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

Catalysing access to ICTs in Africa (CATIA):

APC is the lead implementer of the CATIA project's component on policy
advocacy.
The overall developmental objective of the component is to achieve increased
access to affordable ICTs in Africa, particularly for the poor and those in
rural under-serviced areas. It aims to stimulate and support accelerated ICT
policy and regulatory reform in seven African countries through supporting
existing initiatives and developing the capacity of informed advocacy groups
(and individuals) from the private sector, consumer groups and civil
society, and the media.

New CATIA report: 'Absent voices, missed opportunity: the media's
silence on ICT policy issues in six African countries'

This new report notes that the journalists in the six countries surveyed
are lucky to enjoy conditions of media freedom in greater or lesser
degrees. But what this study shows is little sign of media deepening its
democratic role by becoming a vital link in the processes of public
policy with regard to the African Information Society, says Guy Berger
in the report's preface. The report evaluates the nature of ICT
policy coverage in policy-influential media in Kenya, Mozambique, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Nigeria, Ethiopia and Senegal. -
Highway Africa

CATIA is at http://www.catia.ws/ This report (in .doc format) is
available for download at
http://www.catia.ws/Documents/Indexpage/ICT%20coverage%20report%20final.doc
Also at http://rights.apc.org/documents/absentvoices.pdf (in pdf)


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-- BUILDING CAPACITY & STRATEGIC USE OF ICTs --

Multi-Media Tool Kit found 'meeting unmet needs'

First released two years ago, a toolkit created by a partnership initiative
led by UNESCO and coordinated by APC, has been found by 87.4% of users
questioned to be useful in "meeting a previously unmet need". It focusses on
the needs of those working in grass-roots communication and information
activities. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=32855


APC's new 'Community Wireless Connectivity' project

APC's latest initiative is looking to connect communities who don't yet have
internet access, by skilling them to build their own wireless networks. The
project covers the development of training materials in English, French and
Arabic and workshops that will be adapted for different environmental,
regulatory and climatic conditions. Four regional workshops are planned in
Africa in 2005, and APC will be training up to 100 possible future trainers.
Plans are also afoot in Latin America and Asia-Pacific. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=32071


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-- WOMEN & ICTs --

Gender Evaluation Methodology - GEM sparkles  in Cairo

Where does gender intersect with information and communication technologies
(ICTs)? Such issues are far less theoretical and abstract than they first
seem, if you go by how participants responded at a Cairo workshop on a
methodology called GEM. A report from APC WNSP at
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=33304


GenderIT.org gets a new site

GenderIT.org -- a new gender and ICT policy website helps women make ICT
policy a priority. Information and communications technologies (ICTs) can
assist in bringing food to the table or promoting a reproductive rights
agenda and more women need to be involved in the drafting of technology
policy. GenderIT.org is a new portal for women and policy-makers launched in
recent weeks by the APC WNSP, APC's women's programme. GenderIT.org is a
practical tool for women's organisations so that ICT policy meets their
needs and does not infringe on their rights.  http://www.genderit.org


ONLINE DISCUSSION: In more ways than one, ICTs do also help to harm women

By itself, the internet itself isn't creating new forms of crimes against
women and children. But, it is sure generating powerful new ways and means
for these crimes to be perpetrated. Women's movements are now having to deal
with the issue of cyber-stalking, pornography on the internet, SMS
harassment, and what one research paper calls 'teledildonics'. Can the
intersection point between ICTs and violence against women be redefined, or
at least better understood? Join this three-week online discussion -- which
runs from May 29 to June 12. -- APC WNSP
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=32772


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-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

SOFTWARE, FOR DIAGNOSIS: Isabel is a tool that helps in getting a more
precise diagnosis of patients. Isabel is a clinical decision support and
knowledge mobilising system. Isabel delivers as a web-based standalone
system and has been interfaced with electronic patient/medical record.
http://www.isabelhealthcare.com/info/emrintegration.jsp Demo version
http://www.openclinical.org/sp_isabel.html

SOFTWARE, FOR DIGITAL LIBRARIES: Greenstone is a free software for building
and distributing digital library collections. This UNESCO supported suite of
software is meant for building and distributing digital library collections.
The reader's interface is available in nearly three dozen languages --
ranging from Arabic to Vietnamese. http://www.greenstone.org/cgi-bin/library
Read the Greenstone Fact Sheet for more information
http://www.greenstone.org/cgi-bin/library?e=p-en-home-utfZz-8&a=p&p=factsheet

ARTICLE ON OPEN ARCHIVES: This article explains the concept of open
archives, an idea which can be of immense use to the information-poor world.
See "Why open archives will win"
http://mediacenter.blogs.com/morph/2005/04/the_oracles_pas.html

ONLINE TIPS, BLOGGING: Founder of Geek Corps (www.geekcorps.org) Ethan
Zuckerman, of the Berkman Centre at Harvard, has a deep insight into the
world of blogging. See his thoughts on blogging, how to get started, and
some useful examples, etc.
http://www.ethanzuckerman.com/osiworkshop.html

BOOKS AND ONLINE MATERIAL: ICT books and online materials for self-education
for women, put together by Christina Haralanova. This article contains a
list of downloadable versions and book titles, which the writer sees as
important for the self-education in the area of ICTs.
http://www.witt-project.net/article51.html

REPORT: Bridge's Cutting Edge Pack from 2004 on "Gender and ICTs" opens
with an overview from Anita Gurumurthy. ICTs have been used by many as
tools for social transformation and gender equality. But existing power
relations in society determine the enjoyment of benefits from ICTs;
hence these technologies are not gender neutral.
http://www.bridge.ids.ac.uk/reports_gend_CEP.html#ICTs


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-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -

EVENT, SOFTWARE: Software Freedom Day is being organised this year on
September 10, 2005. Promoters describe this event as a "global grassroots
effort to promote the use of free and open source software". Everyone
interested is welcome to form their own teams, whichever part of the globe
your in, and join in this event. http://www.softwarefreedomday.org


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-- SITES OF INTEREST --

Prix Ars Electronica
International Competition for CyberArts 2005, from Linz, Austria. Some
interesting and innovative projects from the world over came up for
evaluation here. This year's Prix Ars Electronica winners have just been
announced in end-May 2003.  http://www.aec.at/en/prix/index.asp

Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR)
The oldest non-profit, mass membership organization working on social
impacts of computer technology. To learn more, go to http://www.cpsr.org

Cybersociology message board allows users to  more easily join in the
discussion without everyone on the list getting spammed.
http://www.cybersoc.com

ReliefWeb. Recently-launched new site, designed to help the international
aid community improve the speed and effectiveness of relief efforts by
making it easier for decision makers to access critically-needed information
on global emergencies and natural disasters on a 24/7 basis. It is updated
by a team of 16 staff spread across the globe. http://www.reliefweb.int


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-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC IN JUNE? --

You can meet up with APC and/or APC WNSP (APC women's programme)
representatives at the events below during June 2005. Write to
events@apc.org to obtain contact information. See you there!

May 29-Jun 2: Teheran (Iran)
WSIS Asia Pacific Regional Meeting
http://www.unescap.org/icstd/events/wsis_2nd_phase/index.asp

June 2-3:  Quito (Ecuador)
ICT4D workshop for Latin American and Caribbean community/popular radio
technicians organised by ALER/Nuevared.org
APC's Latin American ICT policy monitor will run the ICT Policy
units of the workshop based on the APC ICT Policy Curriculum
http://www.apc.org/english/capacity/policy/curriculum.shtml

June 2-5: Umag (Croatia)
APC Europe meeting for all APC members based in Europe
http://www.apc.org/english/about/members/index.shtml#Europe

June 6-7  Hilton Hotel, Jakarta (Indonesia)
Increasing Access to Rural Information and Communication Technologies in
Indonesia: Focus on issues and options

June 8-10: Rio de Janeiro (Brazil) WSIS Phase II: Latin America and the
Caribbean regional meeting http://www.riocmsi.gov.br/english/cmsi

June 12-14 Baltimore, Maryland (US)
Women and ICT: Creating Global Transformation
http://www.wtci.org/CWIT/WomenandICT_CreatingGlobalTransformation.htm

June 13: Geneva (Switzerland)
Friends of the Chair open meeting
http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc2/off3.html

June 14-17: Geneva (Switzerland)
Fourth Meeting of the Working Group on Internet Governance (WGIG)
http://www.iccwbo.org/home/e_business/Internet%20governance.asp

June 16-17: Amsterdam (The Netherlands)
Incommunicado Work Conference
http://incommunicado.info/conference

June 24-25: Seoul (Republic of Korea)
Forum on ICTs & Gender for WSIS 2005
Sookmyung Women's University, Seoul
http://www.ww05.org/english2/program_03.htm

June 28-Jul 1: Geneva (Switzerland)
Data protection commissioners input to Working Group on
Internet Governance (WGIG), http://www.wgig.org/About.html

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APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are distributed monthly by
APC -- a worldwide network supporting the use of internet and ICTs for
social justice and sustainable development since 1990.  APCNews Archive:
http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/

Some rights reserved: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Licence
2.0 - 2005 Association for Progressive Communications (APC)


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