[APCPress] APCNews - November 2003 - No. 37

[Karen Higgs]

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          *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the 
     Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
               - November 2003 No. 37 - 
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- NEWS FROM APC --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --
-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -
-- IMPORTANT DATES --
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -

TAU, Argentina: One year weaving webs for Argentinian communications
activists

On October 19th, APC member in Rosario, Argentina celebrated the first
anniversary of the launch of their community information portal
Enredando. "Endredando" means "I'm part of a network" as well as
"weaving a web". In addition, TAU has recently been honoured by their
city government - their networking and ICT activities have been declared
'of municipal interest' in an official decree. APCNews covered
Enredando's launch last year and we spoke to coordinator, Luis "Pipo"
Martinez about how Enredando has evolved since 2002.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15520


GreenNet, UK: A legal Opinion of Communications Data Retention in the
United Kingdom commissioned by Privacy International questions the
legality of Home Office plans to spy on the phone and Internet activity
of British citizens

Privacy International reports: "The Opinion, which relates to the EU
framework directive on the retention of communications data, has
ramifications for ten EU states that have implemented, or are planning
to implement, measures to place communications users under blanket
surveillance. The UK is in the early stages of implementing such
measures." The Opinion, provided by a prominent global law firm, has
unequivocally concluded that the government's plans would be unlawful.

The Internet Service Providers Association (ISPA) maintains its
recommendation to Internet Service Providers that they do not subscribe
to the voluntary code of practice under the Home Office's data retention
proposals, says APC member, GreenNet.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15417


Econnect, Czech Republic: Ambitious online catalogue maps civil society
issues in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

At the beginning of October, Econnect launched a long-awaited internet
project called "Kormidlo" - a directory-type comprehensive information
source on the civic society sector, how it works, activities and topics
of interest. Kormidlo is attempting to map all internet-based
information resources on environment, human rights, culture, social
development and aid, and the non-profit sector in general. -- Econnect
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15524


Web Networks: Canadian institute for the blind gets accessible news 

The Canadian National Institute for the Blind (www.cnib.ca) launched an
innovative service for its members, allowing them to access articles
from daily newspapers on the day of publication. The CNIB chose APC
member in Toronto, Web Networks, to produce and host their site to
ensure newsfeeds were automatically fed to a private website page, and
that visually-impaired users could easily convert the text to voice
using standard software. Find out more about Web Networks. - Web
Networks
http://www.web.ca


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-- NEWS FROM APC -

THE WINNERS OF THE APC BETINHO COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE 2003
Recognising people-centred technology initiatives in Latin America and
the Caribbean

CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA, November 3 2003 - At a ceremony held in Colombia
last night, APC announced the winners of the 2003 Betinho Prize - three
remarkable information and communication technology (ICT) initiatives
that are improving the lives of people and communities in Latin America. 

The Betinho Prize winners in 2003 are:
-ICTs as Tools of Sustainable Development in the Cotahuasi Basin, Peru
-Indigenous Information Network (Red de Información Indígena), México
-Tiflolibros - First Electronic Library for the Visually Impaired
Spanish-Speakers, Argentina
Each receives $2,500 USD.

Honourable mentions were given to two Brazilian networks:
-Cyberela Network - Digital Inclusion of Women
-Rede Jovem de Cidadania (Young Citizenship Network)

Over 140 projects applied for the prize which was offered in Latin
America and the Caribbean only for the first time. The stories from the
twelve winners and finalists have now been translated into Spanish,
Portuguese and English so that more people can find out about these
outstanding ICT initiatives.  

Find out more about the winners: http://www.apc.org/english/betinho/


APC's Latest Annual Report: Strategic use of ICTs by civil society and
engaging civil society in ICT policy 

The use of ICTs by civil society has been central to APC since our
founding and we have been working on ICT policy issues since 2000 when
APC members identified ensuring internet rights for civil society as a
priority. But in 2002 we started to delve beneath the surface of the
challenges our communities confront and instead of responding to the
symptoms, find ways to help civil society anticipate and plan for the
challenges in their policy environment at home or in their use of ICTs
in their workplace. 

Highlights covered in the 2002 APC annual report include: APC in the
run-up to the first-ever United Nations summit on the information
society (WSIS), the APC ICT policy monitors in Africa and Latin America
and the Caribbean, a new training course helped civil society
organisations understand how ICT policy decisions affect their work, the
Africa Hafkin Prize recognised people-centred ICT policy initiatives,
tools development included a free software content management system and
piloting in four continents of the Gender Evaluation Methodology for ICT
and internet initiatives (GEM).

And achievements from APC members on five continents such as: 
- ALIN-EA, Kenya: Information for drought preparedness 
- BlueLink, Bulgaria: Electronic networking begins in a war-torn
province as BlueLink builds bridges in Kosova/o
- Fantsuam Foundation: Local health content in Nigeria blends tradition
and science
- Tau, Argentina: Non-profits and solidarity groups under pressure in
Argentina's second city create an alternative information exchange 
- Jinbonet, South Korea: Campaign against the revision of South Korean
copyright law 

Download the APC Annual Report 2002 from http://www.apc.org/books. The
report will be available shortly in Spanish.


APC face-to-face in Cartagena: Networking and Advocacy for
Communications Rights

The meeting theme was inspired in APC action areas and the preparatory
work for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) to take
place in Geneva in December. Participants were APC members from around
the world, ICT and ICT policy experts, trainers, local partners and the
other representatives from the APC community who took part in intensive
training on ICT policy. In addition, APC membership defined APC's
Strategic Priorities for 2004-6 and elected a new executive board for
the next two years. Out-going chair, Stefan Hackenthal, praised the
"good regional distribution and a much better gender balance (than in
the previous board) with women now making up almost half the number".
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15515


New members: ICT organisations from Cambodia, Egypt, Italy and Peru join
APC

ICTs for development in the Arab World: ArabDev joins APC

ArabDev is a non-profit based in Cairo, Egypt dedicated to spreading
information and communication technology (ICT) knowledge and skills
among poor communities in Egypt, particularly women and youth. ArabDev
aims to help these communities find better livelihood opportunities,
through improved access to information and its use in skill development
as well as small and micro-enterprises. ArabDev joined APC in September
and is APC's first member from both North Africa and an Arab state. 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15498


Unimondo, Italian non-profit media network, joins APC

Unimondo is an independent non-profit media network based in Padua,
Northern Italy and founded in 1998.  Unimondo's more than 300 partners
-most of which are small to medium non-profit organisations from the
centre-north of Italy- include environmental organisations,
international solidarity NGOs, peace groups, women associations, and
human rights advocacy campaigns. "Unimondo wants to be an APC member to
work on common projects and campaigns, to reach, communicate and
exchange with organisations and social movements worldwide," said
Unimondo executive director, Jason Nardi. APC is delighted to welcome
our first member in Italy. 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15500


Peruvian agricultural activists, CEPES, become member of APC

CEPES is a registered non-profit based in Lima, Peru which serves the
economic and social development needs of campesinos and small farmers.
CEPES' most significant current project is a local development project
in a coastal valley -the Chancay-Huaral- near Lima. The project will
eventually directly benefit 6,000 subsistence farmers through the
implementation and operation of a local online agricultural information
system. "CEPES is convinced that to have some sort of political impact,
we needed to become part of a worldwide movement which focuses on ICTs.
The issue demands a global approach, because it goes beyond local and
national boundaries," said Maicu Alvarado, head of the ICT for
development office. "This was one of the primary reasons we sought APC
membership." 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15502


Open Forum of Cambodia, Asian ICT pioneer, joins the APC

The Open Forum of Cambodia established the first connection to the
internet from Cambodia in 1994 and has played a pioneering role in ICT
in Cambodia ever since. They have developed tools to allow Cambodians to
use their native Khmer script -which in unique in Asia- in e-mail and
mailing lists and to read Khmer-language web pages which automatically
download the Khmer font for Cambodian readers. The Open Forum was formed
to provide, as the name suggests, an unrestricted space for
communication amongst people of different backgrounds and opinions - not
an easy task in a complex war-torn society. 
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=15504


New book from APC and CRIS Campaign highlights priorities for UN summit
on info society 

Access to information and communications technologies (ICTs) is
expanding but the majority of people in developing countries are still
excluded, says APC in a new book launched last week in the run-up to the
first ever United Nations world conference on the information society.

At the United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS),
to be held in Geneva in December, governments will agree on a
declaration and action plan that could enhance or hinder access to ICTs
for the vast majority of the world's population. APC and the CRIS
Campaign have been following the WSIS process and our publication -
"Involving Civil Society in ICT Policy: the World Summit on the
Information Society" - highlights some of the principal issues at stake.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14223


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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

T-shirt campaign grabs attention of governments where documents have
failed 

09/18/2003  -- The NGO Gender Strategies Working Group launched a WSIS
t-shirt campaign yesterday which had government delegates craning their
necks to read a message that until now had fallen upon deaf ears. The
t-shirts, which contained the message "WSIS has a missing paragraph" (on
the front) and the text of paragraph 11A (on the back) were worn by a
number of non governmental delegates. Later in the day, some government
representatives approached the delegates to buy their own t-shirts to
wear during the PrepCom. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14125


The World Summit on the Information Society: Disappointments but
Essential Benchmarks Laid Out for WSIS

CHAKULA Issue No. 7, October 2003: WSIS PrepCom 3 - Overview and Issues
for Civil Society Organisations

In October's issue of the APC Africa Internet Rights Newsletter
'Chakula' focuses on the recently held PrepCom 3 (preparatory committee)
of the World Summit on Information (WSIS), highlighting key issues under
discussion and outcomes and make some recommendations for civil society
organisations (CSOs) on how to move forward. PrepCom 3 did not come to a
conclusive closure and fell short of its own objective: to agree on and
finalise the draft summit declaration and the draft action plan to be
adopted at the WSIS in December. Many issues were debated and negotiated
with many differences in opinions between the various stakeholders
(governments, private sector and civil society entities). The meeting
was rescheduled to continue at the 'Resumed Session of PrepCom 3' in
November.
http://www.apc.org/english/rights/africa/newsletter.shtml

Civil society organisations produced two important documents for the
resumed session.

Essential Benchmarks for WSIS
The essential benchmarks reflect work in progress by the civil society
content and themes group of the WSIS process. While there is consensus
on the priorities stated here the document does not represent absolute
consensus, nor does the order of the essential benchmarks constitute a
strict ranking in order of importance.
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/download_en/CS-Essential-Benchmarks-for-WSIS-14-11-03-final.rtf

Civil Society Statement at the End of the Preparatory Process for the
World Summit on the Information Society Geneva, November 14, 2003
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/download_en/CS-press-statement-14-11-03-final.rtf

WSIS Prepcom 3: Civil Society Statement on Declaration
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/456.htm 


WSIS Prepcom III: The CRIS Verdict 
After months of hard work and negotiations, the CRIS campaign can see
some light at the end of a long, dark, eighteen months long WSIS tunnel.
Paragraph 4 of the Draft Declaration reads: "Communication is a
fundamental social process, a basic human need and the foundation of all
social organisation. It is central to the information society." Sean
O'Siochru, spokesperson for the CRIS campaign says: "We welcome the
progress that has been made but call on all governments to ensure that
communication as a central and crucial human activity remains in the
final Declaration that will be presented at the Summit in December
2003." - CRIS
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=14483


Want to see what CRIS people look like after a hard day's work? 
Vous voulez voir de quoi a l'air CRIS apres une dure journee de travail?
Quieren saber a que se parece la campana CRIS despues de un dia de labor
intenso? 
http://patcha.jinbo.net/cris/sep20/9ABE2711.jpg 
>From left to right back row, de gauche a droite dernier rang; de la
izquierda a la derecha segunda fila: 
DeeDee, Valeria, MJ, Bill, Victor, Sean, Chris, Pradip, Olinca, Al. 
>From left to right front row; de gauche a droite premier rang; de la
izquierda a la derecha primera fila:  Myriam, Sally, Marc, Steve


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-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

Mosaic on WSIS 

The World Forum on Community Networking (WFCN) invites you to read the
2nd issue of Mosaic, a newsletter presenting a synthesis of civil
society debates on the information society. This issue covers the
preparation period for PrepCom 3 of the World Summit on the Information
Society: 
http://www.globalcn.org/en/article.ntd?id=1707&sort=1.25

Mosaic is published in three languages (English, French and Spanish). 
It summarises discussions held on a number of lists and sites. Since
most lists are in English, and to a lesser extent, in Spanish, this
initiative was developed to provide a balanced overview from different
cultural and linguistic perspectives on the WSIS process and to
contribute to the exchange of ideas on the information society between
different cultural spaces. 


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-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -

AMARC Africa: Seeking West and Central Africa Coordinator

AMARC Africa will soon be establishing a West and Central African Office
in Dakar, Senegal. The coordinator will spearhead activities and
programmes at the West and Central Africa Office. Duties include
planning, development, implementation, management, communications,
networking, fundraising, reporting, evaluation and monitoring, major
programmes and events. Applicants will need to have a Master degree and
at least 5 years experience in project management, communication for
development sector, development work in Africa, NGO experience,
including at least 2 years working on programmes preferably in the
broadcasting sector. Communication capabilities in both English and
French will be an advantage. Application deadline: December 31st, 2003

For more information contact: comoffier at global.co.za or visit
http://www.africa.amarc.org


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-- IMPORTANT DATES --

NOTE: Next week, APC will send you a special bulletin on our presence at
the World Summit on the Information Society, Geneva in December.


World Forum on Communication Rights
11 December, Geneva, Switzerland

The Forum is a one-day event taking place at Palexpo alongside the World
Summit on the Information Society. Its goal is to explore some key
issues ignored by the World Summit on the Information Society, and to
open the agenda on what "communication rights" really mean on the
ground. A multimedia and multilingual event, the Forum aims to set the
tone of the debate on issues that are real to the majority, from poverty
in the media, to Human Rights, to knowledge, to peace and conflict.
Registration forms are available in English, French and Spanish on the
World Forum Communication Rights website:
http://www.communicationrights.org/form_en.html


16 Days of Activism Against Gender Violence 
25 November - 10 December, Worldwide

For the past ten years the 16 Days of Activism has marked activities
around the world to end Gender violence. The 16 Day campaign has been
used to create a global movement to raise awareness, to address policy
and legal issues, to campaign for the protection of survivors of
violence and to call for the elimination of all forms of gender
violence. APC member in South Africa, Women'sNet is covering events in
South Africa and from around the world. 
http://womensnet.org.za/16DaysofActivism_2003/16DaysofActivism.htm


LaborTech 2004
2 - 4 April 2004, San Francisco, USA

LaborTech 2004, sponsored by APC member LaborNet, brings together labour
video, computer and media people from throughout the world is a valuable
opportunity to exchange information and learn about how labor
communications can build solidarity and power. LaborTech will also focus
on how to challenge the growing repression and corporate information
blockade labor faces. 
http://www.labortech.org or http://www.labornet.org or email
lvpsf at labornet.org


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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.