[APC Africa-ICT-Policy Monitor] [APCNews] APCNews - September 2005 - No. 55
Karen Higgs
khiggs at apc.org
Thu Sep 1 19:40:59 SAST 2005
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*APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
- September 2005 No. 55 -
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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 -
-- IMPORTANT DATES --
-- SITES OF INTEREST --
-- COUNTDOWN TO THE WSIS --
-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC NEXT MONTH --
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--SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT--
TRIBUTE TO OUR FRIEND, COUNCIL AND BOARD MEMBER, CHRIS NICOL
On Monday 29 August 2005 the APC network lost someone who was a
colleague, a leader and a friend. Chris Nicol, member of the APC council
and also of the APC executive board, died in Barcelona after more than a
year of struggling against cancer. For much of the time during this
battle Chris was winning, continuing to work, travel and network when
the difficult cycle of surgery and treatment left him with any spare time.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=1175647
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
FANTSUAM FOUNDATION, NIGERIA: Fighting heat, dust and the digital divide
What do you do when challenged with difficult conditions that make your
computer repeatedly crash in rural, tropical conditions? Fantsuam
Foundation of Nigeria simply converted this into an opportunity.
Computers in wooden boxes, minus spinning disks that get clogged in dust
and crash in high temperatures, and desktops that consume a fraction of
power other computers need are some of their solutions. Read on for some
unusual and interesting ideas from West Africa. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=1129563
COMPUTER AID INTERNATIONAL: Crossing the 50,000 PCs mark
Being the world's "largest non-profit supplier of computers" to the
South may not rake in the millions; but APC member Computer Aid
International's chief executive Tony Roberts believes it saves millions.
– APCNews http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=1130535
WOMEN'SNET AND UNGANA AFRIKA, SOUTH AFRICA: Technology planning for
non-profits
Two APC members in Africa -- Women'sNet and Ungana Afrika -- have shared
resources and skills to work in the area of technology planning for
non-profits. They are shortly expected to share their work with other
APC members. The process aims to enable organisations to make
better-informed decisions about technology, and thus promote their
organization's mission and objectives through its use. - Women'sNet
http://womensnet.org.za/newthisweekftnews.shtml?cmd[96]=i-103-e8a6f651e03e1fd2fbe5a4412eda2b13
RITS, BRAZIL: Franco-Brazil civil society exchange notes
When civil society from Brazil and France got together recently, they
focussed on exchanging "experiences in digital solidarity". Their
mid-July meet in Paris saw them also look at the possibility of
cooperation in fields like Free and Open Source Software (FOSS). - RITS
Brazil
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=973524
TAU, ARGENTINA: Women too look at wireless networking, to bridge the gaps
Wireless networks are attracting growing attention across the globe, as
a plausible way of providing internet access in marginal areas or in
cases where costs are prohibitive. Cristina Ojeda was sponsored by
ESLARED and the APC women's programme to join a workshop on wireless
networking in Mérida, Venezuela and narrates her experience. - TAU
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=957720
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-- NEWS FROM APC --
APC members from four continents to join Tunis conference
APC, the network of civil society organisations pushing for a pro-people
thrust to the internet and ICTs (information and communication
technologies), is gearing up for participation in the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS). This UN-sponsored conference about
information and communication gets underway in November. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=1013145
APC Betinho Prize 2005: Community connectivity for economic development
in Latin America and the Caribbean
We are looking for online technology initiatives that:
* make a positive economic contribution to the community
* are driven and developed in Latin America and the Caribbean
* can demonstrate a sustainable use of technology
Find out more the APC Betinho Prize:
http://www.apc.org/english/betinho/index.shtml
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-- WOMEN & ICTs --
Women science and technology advocates claim action is long overdue
The First International Symposium on Women and ICT took place in
Baltimore, Maryland, USA in mid-June. There are different priorities
coming up. For instance, the US is concerned about support for women in
the information technology sector, the need for attracting more women to
higher education, and having better slots open to them. From the South,
the priority is still infrastructure and access. At Baltimore,
meanwhile, the APC's women's programme (APC WNSP) offered experiences in
its Gender Evaluation Methodology for information and communication
technologies (ICTs), to shared tools for participants to measure
progress achieved on the gender front. - APC WNSP
http://www.apcwomen.org/news/index.shtml?x=91635
Last month, APCNews began to feature news articles written for
GenderIT.org a new ICT policy and gender portal supported by the APC
women’s programme (APC WNSP). This month we continue. Contributing
journalists are based in Africa, Latin America, Central and Eastern
Europe and Asia.
GenderIT.org Special: Albania, working towards a gender-focussed ICT policy
Albania's national ICT (information and communication technologies)
strategy is one of its kind in Central and Eastern Europe, with a marked
effort to include women's needs and views. Gender incorporation in ICTs
was part of Albania's attempt to address growing disparities in income,
gender and geographical location. What can we learn from their
experience for future gender-sensitive ICT policy framing? - GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=91489
GenderIT.org Special: Media impacts women's work, but Beijing + 10 stays
silent
There's a contradictory silence surrounding Section J of the Beijing
Platform for Action that relates to issues of women and the media at
this year's Beijing + 10. What are the possible reasons for the lack of
vocalisation on this issue, even as women's movements working on various
issues recognise the impact and power of the media in their work? -
GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=91500
GenderIT.org Special: Berlin meeting in September to look at women in
the information society
Sunday, September 11, 2005 will see a one-day conference bring together the
feminist media, information and communication technology (ICT) researchers
and gender activists, to access the crucial challenges faced by European and
North American women in the information society. The conference outcome is
expected to feed into relevant political processes, including the upcoming
World Summit on the Information Society scheduled for later this year in
Tunis. - http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=91489
NEW PAPER: Computers, Africa and women... links waiting to happen
ICTs, or information and communication technologies, offer immense
possibilities to reduce poverty, improve governance and advance gender
equality in Africa. But, cautions an APC-produced paper on the role of
ICTs in the development of African women, this will happen only if these
technologies are made more accessible and consciously applied to achieve
these objects. - APC-Africa-Women
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=974834
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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
REPORT: Internet governance, what does it really boil down to?
How's this huge, influential and potentially-useful beast called the
internet to be governed? Who is to call the shots? Carlos Afonso,
strategy director at APC member RITS and member of the UN-convened
working group on internet governance takes a close look at how control
of the internet is sought to be transformed, before a crucial crossroad
comes up in the next few months. This 50-page paper in PDF format,
commissioned by APC member Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM) as part of
its WSISpapers series, also provides useful historical background on the
current internet global governance system. - Choike.org
http://wsispapers.choike.org/internet_governance.pdf
NEWS: ICANN meeting takes place in the shadow of US tough talk
Just after the United States made clear it intention to retain control
over the internet's root-servers, an ICANN meeting took place in
Luxembourg. ICANN, the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers, is a California-based non-profit corporation created in 1998 to
take over a number of Internet-related tasks earlier performed on behalf
of the US Government by other organizations, notably the IANA. - RITS
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=973254
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-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -
PANOS-GKP JOURNALISM AWARDS 2005: ENTRIES INVITED
Panos and GKP are inviting submissions for the 2005 'Reporting on the
Information Society' awards. The topic for this year is 'Where is the money
for bridging the digital divide?' Four awards of $1,000 each will be made
for the best journalism on this topic produced by journalists in
'developing' and transition countries. The winners will also be invited to
participate in the World Summit on the Information Society, in Tunis, in
November 2005. Deadline for submissions: 15 September 2005 See details
about the submission criteria and instructions at:
http://www.panos.org.uk/global/Rprojectdetails.asp?ProjectID=1045&ID=1002&RProjectID=1080
OPEN SOCIETY INSTITUTE OFFERS INTERNATIONAL POLICY FELLOWSHIPS
The Open Society Institute has announced its International Policy
Fellowships in Open Information Policy 2006-2007. Application deadline
is September 20, 2005. Applicants should carefully complete the online
application form found at http://www.soros.org/initiatives/ipf, which
includes a project summary, research proposal (maximum 4 pages), and a
CV including a list of publications. Applicants may also include a
letter of reference from an affiliated organization and a writing sample
on the chosen topic. Or email fellows at osi.hu to discuss alternate
application solutions.
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-- IMPORTANT DATES --
SEPTEMBER 1-4, 2005 (Siam Reap, Cambodia): Free/Open Source Software
Asia Pacific 2005. The Free and Open Source Software Asia-Pacific
Consultation (FOSSAP II) will provide an effective policy level platform
for the exchange of information and experiences in the use of Free and
Open Source Software (FOSS) for development. There is a growing need for
raising awareness on the benefits of FOSS, assistance with formulation
of national policies, and case
studies of FOSS implementation. The consultation will primarily target
policy-makers who can influence national ICT policies.
http://www.iosn.net/events/fossap-2005
SEPTEMBER 11, 2005 (Berlin, Germany): Women claiming the information
society (WOCTIS) One-day conference bringing together feminist media,
ICT researchers and gender activists to assess crucial challenges faced
by European/North American women in the information society.
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=91489
SEPTEMBER 10, 2005 (Global): Software Freedom Day. This is the second
annual Software Freedom Day. A range of events will be staged around the
world to raise public awareness of Free and Open Source Software.
http://www.softwarefreedomday.org
SEPTEMBER 28, 2005 (Recife, Brazil): LACFREE 2005 - II Latin American
and the Caribbean Conference on Free and Open Source Software
Development and Usage Conference. Continues till October 1, 2005. Aimed
at promoting knowledge on the usage of free and open source software
(FOSS), exchanging experiences and new implementation practices, as well
as analyzing the impact of FOSS on the evolution of knowledge societies
in the context of developing countries.
http://www.lacfree2005.org/
NOVEMBER 14-16, 2005 (Tunis, Tunisia): World Forum on Information
Society -Digital Divide, Global Development and Conference. The Forum is
organized in view of the United Nations World Summit on the Information
Society with the intention of contributing to the Tunis Summit and its
Preparatory Process.
NOVEMBER 16-18, 2005 (Tunis, Tunisia): WSIS II Summit. The second phase
of the WSIS will review the implementation of the Action Plan and will
set new (and more detailed) targets for the period 2005-2015. It will
also deal with the important unfinished business of the first phase,
e.g. the governance of the internet and the question of financing
mechanisms.
http://www.itu.org/wsis
NOVEMBER 24-27 (Bali, Indonesia): The First AMARC Asia Pacific Regional
Conference will be held from November 24 to 27, 2005. More than 150
people are expected to attend the seminars, training for trainers'
sessions and the first founding general assembly of the AMARC Asia
Pacific region.
http://www.asiapacific.amarc.org
NOVEMBER 28-29, 2005 (Helsinki, Finland): International conference
"Women & Information Society". The target of the Conference is to gather
together the experts of the field: the researchers, developers, actors,
officials and politicians; that is, everyone starting from the
grassroots actors to the decision makers.
DECEMBER 5-9, 2005 (Bangalore, India): OURMedia/NUESTROSMedios. 5th
International Conference Democracy and the Media. A transnational
network with over 400 academics, activists, researchers, practitioners
and advocates working across every continent and in more than 40
countries. Its aim is to research, strengthen and support media and
information/ communication technologies (ICTs) that support social
justice, human rights, community autonomy and grassroots empowerment.
Presentations will be mainly in English, with Spanish translation.
http://www.ourmedianet.org/
MAY 25-26, 2006 (Berkeley, California): First International Conference
on Information and Communication Technologies and Development (ICTD).
May 25-26, 2006 Berkeley, California, U.S.A.
http://sims.berkeley.edu/ictd2006 Deadline for abstracts and intent to
submit: October 15, 2005
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-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --
SOFTWARE FOR NON-PROFITS
NGO-in-a-Box is a set of tools for non-profits wanting to explore the
world of Free Software. http://www.tacticaltech.org/ngoinabox/contents
ICT FOR EDUCATION IN SOUTHERN AFRICA
The second issue of The International Journal of Education and
Development using Information and Communication Technology (IJEDICT) is
now available at http://ijedict.dec.uwi.edu/viewissue.php This special
issue on "ICT for Education and Development in Southern Africa" is
edited by guest editors Laura Czerniewicz and Tony Carr of the Centre
for Educational Technology at University of Cape Town. IJEDICT is an
e-journal that provides free and open access to all of its content.
WYSIWYG WEB AUTHORING TOOL
The Free/Open Source Software cross-platform alternative to proprietary
software web-authoring tools is called Nvu (pronounced as N-view). You
can download it for free from; http://www.nvu.com
DRAFT PRIMER ON OPEN STANDARDS
UNDP-APDIP's International Open Source Network has produced a draft
primer on Free/Open Source Software: Open Standards. Many public
institutions like government agencies and civil society organizations
are obliged by new
legislation to place information in the public domain. Unfortunately
many of them are using proprietary formats which require members of the
public to purchase or illegally copy proprietary software. This primer
provides an
overview of standards setting bodies and FOSS software and tools to
create new content as well as migrate to solutions based on Open
Standards. This primer also covers current patent and licensing issues
with Open Standards implementations. Available for free download:
* Open Document format (111KB)
http://www.iosn.net/open-standards/foss-open-standards-primer/foss-openstds-v01-1.odt
* PDF format (485KB)
http://www.iosn.net/open-standards/foss-open-standards-primer/foss-openstds-v01-1.pdf
WIKIPEDIA, IN THE NEWS
Free to use and free to edit, Wikipedia is growing fast. Now its founder
has announced a series of new projects. See this article by Sean Dodson.
In less than five years, what started out as a small side project with a
budget of a few thousand pounds has grown into one of the web's greatest
success stories. Wikipedia, the open, editable encyclopaedia, and its
sister projects have gone from absolutely nothing to 22m entries in less
than half a decade. In doing so, Wikipedia - the centrepiece of the
Wikimedia empire – has become the most detailed encyclopaedia in
history. And its breathtaking pace has yet to show any sign of slowing.
Wikipedia in English is http://en.wikipedia.org while in Spanish it is at
http://es.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portada This article is at
http://www.guardian.co.uk/online/story/0,3605,1546162,00.html
Check out the entry covering APC, on the Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Association_for_Progressive_Communications
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-- SITES OF INTEREST --
SCIDEV, SCIENCE FOR THE MAJORITY GLOBE: The Science and Development
Network is a leading electronic source of news, views and analysis about
science, technology and the non-affluent world. http://www.scidev.net
GLOBAL VOICES ONLINE: Launched from the Berkman Center for Internet and
Society at the Harvard Law School, this site's aim is "to call attention
to the most interesting conversations and perspectives emerging from
citizens' media around the world by linking to text, audio, and video
blogs and other forms of grassroots citizens' media being produced by
people around the world." http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/
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-- COUNTDOWN TO THE WSIS --
APC PLANS FOR TUNIS: The APC network stand will be part of the Building
Communication Opportunities village in Tunis, during the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) meeting in November. APC is working to
set up the stand with multi-media facilities.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=1013145
FREE SOFTWARE FROM AFRICA: FOSSFA -- www.fossfa.net/ -- in
collaboration with OSIWA is developing FOSS tools relevant for Africa
that can be show-cased during the WSIS Meeting in Tunis. For more
information and to
participate please visit the FOSS+ Project Blog at
http://www.fossfa.net/tiki-view_blog.php?blogId=5 Participation is open
but you have to register to post comments on the blog. (Left side of the
blog page). Tools include a 'quick migration kit', a hospital management
system (Care2x localisation), telemedicine (Open YaLim), Care2x Public
Health Management System and HIV/AIDS Monitoring System, Open Digital
Educational Content, School Human Resource Management System, SMS Help
Desk, National Registration Management System, and more.
LINKS TO NGOs: A fairly useful listing of some 50+ pages of
not-for-profit organisations, mostly dealing with ICT-linked issues,
across different countries. This listing is from among participants at
the upcoming WSIS. Most carry URLs too.
http://www.itu.int/wsis/participation/accreditation/lists/civil-society.pdf
WIKIPEDIA ON WSIS: Wikipedia has some interesting background information
and links to the WSIS.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Summit_on_the_Information_Society
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-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC THIS MONTH -
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 at apc.org to obtain contact information. See you there!
Sep 5-6: Dakar (Senegal)
UNECA African Ministers on Internet Governance
http://www.uneca.org/
Sep 5-7: Pretoria (South Africa)
CODATA
http://stardata.nrf.ac.za/html/workshopInvitation.html
Sep 6-7: London (UK)
Building Communications Opportunities (BCO) Partners meeting
http://www.bco.org.uk/
Sep 7-8: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
PICTA
http://www.uneca.org/aisi/picta/
Sep 8-17, Africa Source II, Uganda
http://www.tacticaltech.org/africasource2
Sep 9-10: Ethiopia
GKP Africa facilitation training
http://www.globalknowledge.org/gkps_portal/
Sep 11: Berlin (Germany)
Women claiming the information society
http://www.boell.de/woctis
Sep 12-14: Grahamstown (South Africa)
Highway Africa
http://www.highwayafrica.ru.ac.za/docs/2005_programme.pdf
Sep 14-16: New York, (United States)
MDG+5 Review
New York
NGLS: http://www.un-ngls.org/mdg
Sep 19-30: Geneva (Switzerland)
WSIS PrepCom III
http://www.itu.int/wsis/preparatory/prepcom/pc3/
Sep 24-29: Costa Rica
Radio Fire Endeavour
http://www.fire.or.cr/
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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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