[Africa-ir-public] [APCNews] APCNews - September 2004 - No. 45

Thu Sep 30 23:31:19 SAST 2004

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           *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
      Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                - September 2004 No. 45 -
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- NEWS FROM APC --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- BUILDING CAPACITY & STRATEGIC USE OF ICTs --
-- WOMEN & ICTs --
-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -
-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC IN OCTOBER? --
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -

Computer Aid International, UK: Partnership will provide 1000s of
low-cost computers for development work in East African dry lands

APC members ALIN-EA and Computer Aid have come together in order to
extend low cost PCs to not-for-profit community development groups
working in the rural dry lands across East Africa.

The partnership has already shipped 450 fully refurbished Pentium II and
Pentium III computers to Nairobi for distribution by ALIN-EA to its
member organisations and to wider civil society structures. The
intention of the partnership is to be able to provide literally
thousands of quality refurbished PCs at the lowest cost possible backed
up by a first class technical support service and one year guarantee. –
Computer Aid
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26319

c2o, Australia: Forum for independent media-makers - Media, convergence
and mouse-clicks

‘Upgrade available’ is a mini-forum taking place in Fitzroy, Australia
in October that will discuss how independent and community-based media
practitioners can engage with communications technologies. It will
investigate the challenges faced in the areas of funding and
distribution and provide some models for organisations and networks that
can assist media-makers to reach their audiences. Speakers include
representatives from APC members from Australia and South Korea. – c2o
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26283

FMA, Philippines: Communications rights activists from across Asia plan
actions and solidarity

A workshop held in Manila focused on pressing communication rights
issues in the Asian region including attacks on freedom of expression
and independent media. Activists issued a statement in support of a Thai
colleague present who returned home to face a million-dollar lawsuit for
speaking out in the press against government corruption. – FMA
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26285

Colnodo, Colombia: Youth network in Colombian capital puts young people
in touch with their communities

“I learned a lot and changed my way of thinking not only about computers
and the internet, but about working for the community”. “I didn’t just
learn to write and upload news to a website, I learned about leadership
and how to build projects.” “In the RIJ we are bringing about positive
change for young people. We help get their message out.” This is how
some of the teenage participants feel about RIJ, a communications
network for Bogota youth. Now the project is over, the network is still
very much alive and kicking. – Colnodo
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26286

Green Spider, Hungary: Resistance in Hungary to EU proposals on software
patenting

A crowd of about four hundred turned out to demonstrate against proposed
European software patents legislation. It was the first "geeky", free
software-related demonstration in Hungary, said APC member Green Spider,
organised by groups not typically used to leaving their computer screens
to get their voices heard. – Green Spider
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26293

SANGONeT, South Africa: South Africans celebrate World Development
Information Day with special event

The United Nations instituted World Development Information Day in
December 1972 to draw the public’s attention on an annual basis to
development problems and the importance of strengthening international
cooperation to solve them. To celebrate World Development Information
Day this year, APC member, the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT),
is hosting a special one-day event on Thursday, 21 October 2004. - SANGONeT
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26299

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-- NEWS FROM APC -

NEW APC MEMBER: South Asian network “Bytes for All” joins APC

South Asia has 23% of the world’s population but less than 1% of the
internet users. Bytes for All -a Southern Asian network promoting ICT
for development- has just become APC’s newest member. Bytes for All is
active throughout South Asia with volunteers from numerous countries
including India, Pakistan, Bhutan, Nepal and Sri Lanka. – APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26279

South African policy activist becomes APC's new Communications and
Information Policy Programme Manager

Willie Currie joined APC as our policy programme manager in early
September. Currently based in New York, from 1999-2002 Willie was a
councillor with the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa
(ICASA) and the South African Telecommunications Regulatory Authority
(SATRA).

In the mid ‘90s, he co-ordinated the telecommunications policy process
that led to South Africa's first post-Apartheid telecommunications
policy document. Prior to this, as general secretary of the Film and
Allied Workers Organisation, Willie was involved in the development of
broadcasting policy during the transition to democracy in South Africa
and a public campaign to 'free the airwaves'. APCNews talked to Willie
about his new role. -- APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26276

European Forum on Communication Rights to precede European Social Forum

Following the successful World Forum on Communications Rights held in
Geneva in December, communications activists including the APC aim to
bring together those working at different levels on communication rights
- from grass roots activists working on practical projects and street
level campaigns, to those engaged in lobbying and advocacy, to
researchers and academics for a European Forum on Communication Rights.
- EFCR
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26195

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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

WSIS Update: APC reports on recent and upcoming meetings on internet
governance and the financing of ICTs in developing countries

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process continues and
two issues on which governments were unable to reach consensus during
the first phase in 2003- 'internet governance' and 'financing
mechanisms'- are under the microscope. Last month saw the first open
consultation on the 'working group on internet governance'. APC briefs
you on the discussions taking place. – APC
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26306

ALERT: US$10 million libel suit against media advocate in Thailand

Last month, APCNews highlighted the case of a young Thai journalist is
being taken to court for around $10 million dollars after she alleged a
major corporation was benefiting financially from its connections to the
Thai prime minister. The story is gaining significant attention around
the world.

Find out more about the case:
http://www.wacc.org.uk/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=1673 (WACC)
Visit the Shin Corporation Vs Supinya weblog:
http://www.shincorpvsupinyaklangnarong.blogspot.com/

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-- BUILDING CAPACITY & STRATEGIC USE OF ICTs --

African journalists trained in how to communicate securely online

Online security and privacy should be of concern to anyone who uses the
internet. But for journalists and human rights organisations operating
under repressive political conditions or in situations of conflict,
online security can become a matter of life or death. The challenge is
to gather, protect and disseminate information in a way that minimises
risk to activists. APC is offering workshops on "Secure Computing and
Online Communications", most recently at Highway Africa, the world's
largest conference for African journalists.  -- APCNews and Toni Eliasz
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26309

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-- WOMEN & ICTs -

Neighbourhood telecentres in Argentina’s second city to ensure women and
girls make full use of technology

Report from an awareness-raising workshop held in Rosario, Argentina to
introduce local social activists to GEM – the APC’s gender evaluation
methodology tool for ICT initiatives. – APC WNSP
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=26311

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-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -

PANOS-GKP Journalism awards 2004: ICTs and accountability

"Transparency, good governance and democracy: Do ICTs increase
accountability?" is the theme of this year’s prize. Four awards of
$1,000 each will be made for the best journalism on this topic produced
by journalists in developing and transition countries. Print, radio, TV
and web journalism are all eligible.

To submit a piece of work for consideration, send a clipping, audio or
video tape, transcript or web reference by email to
award2004 at panos.org.uk. The work submitted must have been
published/broadcast between 1 January and 15 October 2004. Deadline for
submissions: 15 October 2004.
http://www.panos.org.uk/global/Rprojectdetails.asp?ProjectID=1045&ID=1002&RProjectID=1061

GKP/Open Knowledge Network: Yeomans Award for Local Content 2004

This new award aims to encourage and bring to international recognition
projects and experiences which demonstrate the transformative nature of
local content, and the methodologies which are used to achieve this in
different contexts.

Four awards of USD $2,500 each will be made under the Yeomans Award in
2004.  The decision on the winners of the Award will be made by an
international panel of judges. Applications to the Award should be made
by filling out an application form, available from
http://www.globalknowledge.org or by email from
yeomansaward at globalknowledge.org. Deadline for submissions: 31 October 2004

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

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

World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Working Group on
Financing Mechanisms
Oct 4-5, New York, USA
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory/events_calendar.html

WALC 2004 -  Latin American and Caribbean Workshop on Internet Technology
Oct 4-8, Cusco, Peru
http://www.walc2004.cepes.org.pe/index_en.shtml

Beijing+10 African Regional Meeting Seventh African Regional Conference
on Women, Decade Review of the implementation of the Dakar and Beijing
Platforms for Action
Oct 6-14, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
http://www.uneca.org/beijingplus10/Seventh_African_Regional_Conference.htm

Diversity and Minority Reporting
Oct 6-10, Zagreb, Croatia
http://www.fpzg.hr/student_voice/

Grace Hopper Conference of Women in Computing and Anita Borg Awards
Oct 7-9, Chicago, USA
http://www.gracehopper.org/agenda.html

Society for International Development (SID) Governing Council Meeting
Oct 9-10, Rome, Italy
http://www.sidint.org/

Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) South Asia Regional Meeting 2004:
Dimensions of poverty and how we can use technology to achieve poverty
reduction
Oct 13, Chennai, India
http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/index.cfm?menuid=417

Latin American Workshop on Internet Governance
October 13-15, Cusco, Peru

European Social Forum and European Forum on Communication Rights
Oct 14-17, London, UK
Unofficial: http://esf2004.net/en/tiki-page.php?pageName=home
Official: http://www.fse-esf.org
EFCR: http://www.efcr2004.net

Communication Policy of the EU and Turkey
Oct 18-19, Ankara, Turkey

Outcome Mapping Users Conference
October 18-20, Lima, Peru

Global Partnership in Rural Development Conference: Promoting ICT and
Gender
Oct 18-19, Vienna, Austria
http://www.vidc.org/vidc/ict/

Women and ICT: Challenges and Opportunities on the Road to Tunis 2005
Oct 20-22, Arusha, Tanzania
http://www.aitecafrica.com/events/2004/WomenICT/womens-ict.htm

APC/Panos Media Workshop
Oct 28, Kampala, Uganda

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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/

CopyLeft. 2004 Association for Progressive Communications (APC).
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