[APCPress] APCNews - September 2003 - No. 36

[Karen Higgs]

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          *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the 
     Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
               - September 2003 No. 36 - 
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- WOMEN & ICTs --
-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --
-- IMPORTANT DATES --
-- SITES OF INTEREST --
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -

Pro-Poor Satellite Broadcasting, Myth or Reality?

ALIN-EA (Arid Lands Information Network - East Africa), provides email,
Internet and digital satellite broadcasting in collaboration with the
WorldSpace Foundation. This technology allows users out in remote areas
to receive information from the Internet from a small radio which
receives signals from a satellite. By tuning special radios to track the
nearest satellite, people can receive over 40 channels of development
information, news and entertainment. When connected to a computer via an
adapter card, the radio receiver can be used to download information
that can later be stored, printed out or shared, using the electronic
mail. 

ALIN-EA has just published their research to assess the impact of, and
potential, for using this technology to enhance the sustainable
livelihoods of poor people in isolated rural communities in Kenya,
Uganda, Tanzania and Ethiopia. We republish some of the report here. -
ALIN-EA
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14072


Internet comes to rural Nigeria 

APC member in rural Nigeria, Fantsuam Foundation, has recorded yet
another first in rural ICT programs. Earlier this year, Fantsuam
launched a rural internet service. This is the first rural-based
internet access in Kaduna State, if not in Nigeria. This service is the
only one of its type available to hundreds of people who have to
otherwise undertake hours-long journeys to major cities, Jos, Abuja or
Kaduna in order to access the internet or their emails. - Fantsuam
Foundation
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14076


Bulgarian NGOs launch Website to save precious environment 

A new Website has been launched to save the unique nature of the Kresna
Gorge in Bulgaria by diverting the proposed Struma Motorway. The
Bulgarian government plans to build the motorway, as part of a
trans-European corridor connecting Sofia and Athens, directly through
the valuable natural riches of Kresna Gorge and the town of Kresna. -
BlueLink/Save Kresna Gorge 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=13383


Technical training for unemployed Mexican youth

In the face of growing youth unemployment and school desertion, LaNeta,
APC member in Mexico, LaNeta, launched a technical training course for
under-privileged young people who have been unable to complete their
high-school education. The programme offered by LaNeta will train eighty
17-26 year olds over seven-months in basic computer training and a
specialisation such as web design. LaNeta's supporters include Mexico
City's National Institute for Adult Education. -- LaNeta
http://www.apc.org/espanol/news/index.shtml?x=13366 [Spanish] 


Thematic World Social Forum in Colombia on Democracy, Human Rights, War
and Drug Trafficking 

More than 4000 people from Colombia and abroad participated in
Colombia's first thematic world social forum. APC member in Bogota,
Colnodo, is the internet service provider of the Forum. - APCNews 
http://www.fsmt.org.co/presentation.htm


"Free Software and Digital Inclusion", a new book published in Brazil 

Two of the directors of APC member in Rio de Janeiro, RITS, are
co-authors of "Free Software and Digital Inclusion" which was published
in Brazil in August. "The book is an interesting project," says RITS
information coordinator, Graciela Baroni Selaimen, "and it's part of an
even more interesting much larger digital inclusion initiative by the
Sao Paulo e-government which is setting up community telecentres in
marginal and often violent neighbourhoods throughout the city." RITS is
administering the telecentres and providing training in the use of free
software. - APCNews 
RITS: http://www.rits.org.br

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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

WSIS Paris Intersessional: Political will for a more just world was just
not there

In the eighteen-month run up to the recent Intersessional meeting of the
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), governments have
grappled to reach consensus on the basic principles in the final WSIS
Declaration. The Intersessional proved a watershed of sorts, where the
political will of governments to ensure that the process contributes to
a fairer and more just world failed significantly. The objective of the
Intersessional for governments was clear - shorten the document, shunt
anything contentious off to other agendas (WTO, WIPO, ICANN etc), and
ensure a clearer and greater role for the private sector in an
unhampered free-trade environment, says APC. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14097


New training pack helps civil society organisations understand how ICT
policy decisions affect their work 

APC and the Commonwealth Telecommunications Organisation (CTO) are proud
to announce the release of the "ICT Policy for Civil Society" training
pack. The pack includes a curriculum and accompanying materials to build
the capacity of civil society organisations to understand and engage
policy and regulation related to information and communication
technologies.

Leopold Rwevemamu from Tanzania found the curriculum module on 'How laws
and policy are made' particularly useful. "The whole process was clearly
mapped out as to where to lobby to change and or make policy," he told
APC. "I feel confident to do lobbying at any level now." - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=13474


Report on APC's third "ICT Policy for Civil Society" workshop: bringing
together East Africans to promote better ICT policy 

The third APC-lead 'ICT Policy for Civil Society' training course was
held in Kampala from 16 - 19 June 2003, predominantly for civil society
organisations in East Africa. Developed by APC through the support of
the CTO, the course is designed to build the capacity of civil society
organisations to understand policy and regulation related to information
and communication technologies so that they can begin to engage and
influence policy processes affecting ICT adoption and implementation at
national, regional and global levels. - APCNews 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=13400

Hadijah Namumbya, participant observer, reports on the course:
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=13402


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-- WOMEN & ICTs -

APC WNSP and GKP Gender and ICT Awards

ICTs play a growing role in the world's societies, and have the
potential to help disadvantaged groups increase their participation in
the civic, social, political, and economic processes critical to
achieving change. However, women - particularly women in developing
countries - often don't benefit from these new technologies, a
reflection of the existing unequal power relations in societies as a
whole. 

The APC WNSP and GKP Gender and ICT Awards aim to honor and bring
international recognition to innovative and effective projects by women
to use ICTs for the promotion of gender equality and/or women's
empowerment and are open to projects from all around the world. A prize
of US$8,000 will be awarded to one winner in each of the following four
categories: Outstanding Multi-stakeholder Initiative; Outstanding
Individual or Community-Based Initiative; Advocacy/Networking; and
Capacity building.

The Gender and ICT Awards are sponsored by APC Women's Networking
Support Program (WNSP) and the Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP). 
Submissions are open until: 20 September 2003
Further details: http://www.genderawards.net


APC-Africa-Women: Special on access and control of ICTs

The second edition of APC-Africa-Women's newsletter, Pula, explores the
concepts of access and control in relation to ICTs. In this edition, we
look at the convergence of radio and new media through an initiative in
Sierra Leone called 'Development Through Radio'. In our policy section,
we are taken through the major challenges that face African women's
effective use of ICTs. In 'ICT Champions', Karine M'Bengue talks about
an investigation into an ICT capacity development project for women's
organisations in Senegal. [English, French]
http://www.apcafricawomen.org/pula2.htm [English, French]


More than eighty men and women trained in the Andean region of South
America to plan gender-sensitive ICT initiatives

Six organisations are pilot testing GEM - the Gender Evaluation
Methodology developed by APC's Women's Programme (APC WNSP) to evaluate
ICT initiatives - in Latin America. In August four workshops were held
for the groups implementing GEM in the Andean region, to complement
three training workshops carried out in May. - APC WNSP
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14086 


Latin American women debate gender, technology and the World Summit on
the Information Society in online forum

Over ten days in July, Latin American experts in gender and activists
debated and shared information online on "Gender, technology, the World
Summit on the Information Society and beyond". Participants underlined
that the WSIS draft declaration and action plan that have been worked on
by governments and commented on by other sectors -including women's
groups- over the last year STILL do not include gender concerns as a
cross-cutting issue that will allow the integration of women's concerns
and needs into the adoption and implementation of ICT policies
worldwide. 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14090 


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-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

Beta release of Urdu-language font 

The Centre for Research in Urdu Language Processing at the National
University of Computer and Emerging Sciences has announced the beta
release of the character-based Nafees Naskh Open Type Font for writing
Urdu in Naskh script with full aerab support based on Unicode standard.
Nafees Naskh allows Urdu computing on multiple operating systems
including Microsoft 2000, Unix and Linux platforms. This font enables
desktop and internet publishing, and electronic communication in Urdu
using existing software (without any plug-ins) supporting OTF
specifications, e.g. MS Word, MS Excel, MS Outlook (email), Internet
Explorer, Netscape Navigator, Mozilla, MS PowerPoint. 

Nafees Naskh is freely downloadable from http://www.crulp.org and
http://www.nu.edu.pk.


Bridges.org: IICD Case Study Series on ICT-Enabled Development

Latest case study: The UUNET Bandwidth Barn - The Barn provides
infrastructure support to small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
focused on information and communications technology (ICT) products and
services in the Western Cape Province of South Africa.  The Bandwidth
Barn offers shared office space for these SMEs to reduce their overhead
costs for services like Internet connectivity, telephone, and reception,
and brings the benefits of "clustering" to the budding ICT sector in
Cape Town. 
http://www.bridges.org/iicd_casestudies/citi/

 
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-- IMPORTANT DATES --

First African Conference on the Digital Commons
January 11-15 2004, Cape Town, South Africa

Organised by the Free Software and Open Source Foundation for Africa
(FOSSFA), the African Virtual Open Initiatives and Resources (AVOIR)
project at the University of the Western Cape and the United Nations
Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), the conference will address the
challenges and opportunities of the creation and use of free / open
source software and open content and their development potential for
Africa. 
http://idlelo.uwc.ac.za


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-- SITES OF INTEREST --

Civil Society and the United Nations Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS) 2003 - coverage from APC

The rapid spread of ICTs, and the convergence (combined use) of
different media, is resulting in the emergence of new policies and
regulation. Policy decisions being made today will impact on the peoples
of the world's ability and potential to use ICTs as tools in their work
tomorrow. At the United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS), to be held in December this year, governments will sign a
declaration that will enhance or hinder access to ICTs for the vast
majority of the world's population. Visit APC's new web section on WSIS,
read civil society news, find resources and guides, and get involved! 

Civil Society at the WSIS: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/
Detailed coverage in Spanish comes from APC's Latin America and
Caribbean ICT Policy Monitor site: http://lac.derechos.apc.org/wsis/


Africa Civil Society Caucus on WSIS

The Caucus website has been created to share and disseminate information
around the World Summit on Information Society (WSIS) and especially of
direct relevance to Africa civil society organisations. On the site you
will the latest news and information including a list of civil society
organisations active on the caucus. Find mailing lists with information
on how to join current debates on the process and to contribute. 
The website was created by the APC Africa ICT Policy Monitor Team and
APC member Econnect. http://www.wsis-cs.org/africa


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APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are 
distributed monthly by APC, the Association for Progressive 
Communications (APC), the international Internet community 
for peace, human rights, development and the environment.
APCNews Archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/

CopyLeft. 2003 Association for Progressive Communications
(APC). Permission is granted to use this document for personal
use, for training and educational publications, and activities
by peace, environmental, human rights or development
organizations. Please provide an acknowledgment to APC.