From khiggs at apc.org  Wed Apr 28 21:03:37 2004
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Wed Sep 20 17:45:31 2006
Subject: [APCPress] APCNews - April 2004 - No. 41
Message-ID: <40900E19.2050507@apc.org>

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
           *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
      Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                - April 2004 No. 41 -
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-- 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 --
-- WHAT'S NEW ON THE APC WEBSITE --
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -

ArabDev, Egypt: No computers means no alternatives for victims of
domestic violence in Egypt

Local traditions in Upper Egypt prevent battered women from seeking
refuge in shelters so finding a job is often the only way out of a
violent family home. APC member, ArabDev, has carried out a survey to
identify the skills needed for potential employment and a training
project is ready to go, but there's one problem - lack of computers. The
Egyptian Ministry of Telecommunications has been promising ArabDev ten
computers for the project for the last two years but due to red tape
none have arrived. "We are in dire need of hardware to improve the harsh
circumstances of these women," says ArabDev director, Leila Hassanin. --
ArabDev
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18647


ArabDev, Egypt: IT skills for an alternative living for Cairo's former
underclass

Living on the fringes of society, the Zabaleen have been making a living
from recycling what Cairo's more affluent throw away for generations.
However, the government is now contracting foreign waste-disposal
specialists and the Zabaleen have found their traditional source of
livelihood cut off. The young Zabaleen often have high-school diplomas
but lack the self-esteem necessary to enter the regular workplace. To
build up their confidence and their marketable skills, APC member in
Egypt, ArabDev, has been training young people in computing and
internet. There has been an unexpectedly high demand from young women.
-- ArabDev
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18702


BlueLink, Bulgaria: Business planning for e-networks links Central
Europe with the Balkans

A Mission-Driven Business Planning workshop for environmental civil
society online networks in the Balkans in February was attended by APC
members from the Balkans and six fledgling electronic networking
initiatives from Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Kosovo/a,
Macedonia, and Serbia and Montenegro. -- BlueLink
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18604


Jinbonet, South Korea: We will not obey the Internet Real Name Law

A new law passed in the South Korean parliament on March 9 requires
internet media and press websites to verify the names and identification
numbers of all visitors who post messages on bulletin boards or chat
rooms -and even personal websites- regarding political elections. Civil
society groups, including APC member Jinbonet, held a press conference
pledging to defy the law which they claim is a violation of freedom of
expression. -- Base21/Jinbonet
http://www.base21.org/show/show.php?p_cd=0&p_dv=0&p_docnbr=30205


RITS, Brazil: First anniversary for Brazilian civil society portal

'Citizens Online' (Cidadania na Internet), a Brazilian civil society
information-sharing portal, celebrated one-year online on March 27. A
multi-institution project managed by APC member in Brazil, RITS,
'Citizens online' started out life with twenty organisations on board.
One year later, sixty people and groups work together daily to produce
information to strengthen Brazilian citizenship in all its facets. -- RITS
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18704


SANGONeT, South Africa: CINSA - A new network of community technology
projects in Southern Africa

The Community Information Network for Southern Africa (CINSA) aims to
build a sustainable network of community ICT projects in the 14 SADC
member states -Angola, Botswana, Democratic Republic of Congo, Lesotho,
Malawi, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Tanzania, Seychelles, South
Africa, Swaziland, Zambia, and Zimbabwe- through research, networking,
facilitating training, service brokerage and more. -- SANGONeT
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18707


Women'sNet, South Africa: Elections in South Africa from a women's
perspective

South Africa went to the polls for the third time since the end of
apartheid in the early 1990s. APC member, Women'sNet, provided analysis
and opinions online about the elections and perceptions of men and
women. Articles included "The Dreary Dialogue", a report on interchanges
between the political parties and women in civil society by director,
Natasha Primo.
http://womensnet.org.za/Elections2004/index.shtml


Women'sNet, South Africa: Conference on ICTs in the service of good
governance, democratic practice and development for rural women in Africa

Held just outside Johannesburg, the conference brought together about
fifty participants from women's organisations, government officials, and
gender and development practitioners and researchers, involved in gender
and information and communication (ICT) projects and initiatives tasked
with finding ICT strategies to specifically benefit rural women.  The
Community Information Network for Southern Africa (CINSA) interviewed a
selection of conference attendees including APC-Africa-Women
coordinator, Jenny Radloff.  The regional workshop was organised by
Women'sNet with the support of the Food and Agricultural Organisation
(FAO).
Interviews with Dimitra participants:
http://www.cmfd.org/sections/ruralwomen.html
Dimitra conference: http://womensnet.org.za/dimitra_conference/


Colnodo, Colombia: "avanza", a website for Colombian development

Colnodo, APC's member in Bogot?, in association with the Colombian
Confederation of Non-governmental Organisations, launches "avanza"
(meaning "advance" or "move forward" in English), a website for
Colombian development. - Colnodo
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18142


INTERCOM, Ecuador: Steps forward toward an Ecuadorian information and
communication technology network for development

An "Information and Knowledge Exchange Network on Information
Communication Technology for Development" for Ecuador has been created.
- INTERCOM
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18144


Green Spider, Hungary: Tea and internet security advice come in the same
cup at recent Hungarian green meeting

Once again, at the Annual Meeting of Hungarian Green Non-profits
(OT2004) APC member Green Spider offered herbal teas and sound internet
access, training and advice to participants. Raising awareness of
environmental contamination and in support of free software, Green
Spider collected up visitors' old CD-roms and exchanged them for new
GNU/Linux CDs.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18716


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM APC -

APC elected to the executive committee of the Global Knowledge Partnership

The Global Knowledge Partnership (GKP) is an international
multistakeholder network committed to harnessing the potential of
information and communication technologies (ICTs) for sustainable and
equitable development. Within the GKP framework, governments, civil
society groups, donor agencies, private sector companies and
inter-governmental organisations come together as equals to apply ICTs
for development.

APC takes its place on the committee which oversees the direction of the
GKP together with the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation
(SDC), UNESCO, the M.S. Swaminathan Research Foundation and others. The
Excomm as it is known was chosen by the members of GKP during online
voting in April.
http://www.globalknowledge.org/


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

Global Forum on Internet Governance: Not everyone agrees on what is
broken nor on what fixing might involve

A global forum on internet governance organised by the United Nations in
March was the most open and inclusive platform for addressing internet
governance issues to date but time was too short to disaggregate the
various areas of policy and regulation that are loosely grouped under
?internet governance?. There are fundamental concerns around the
accountability and legitimacy of current internet governance structures,
but at the same time the overall tone is ?if it ain?t broke, don?t fix
it?. But not everyone agrees on what is broken, nor on what fixing might
involve.

The challenges the Global Forum faced will now be faced by the working
group which will take work forward to the next UN World Summit in 2005.
The dilemma lies in having to both expand, and shrink the scope of
?internet governance?, to get to practical proposals that also address
broader concerns. And it has to work in a way that is inclusive of
different stakeholders and perspectives, and actively tackles discontent
instead of glossing over it, says APC.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18720


Positioning for second summit phase has begun

20 March 2004 - The structure as well as the struggles for the second
phase of the WSIS summit process are slowly becoming clearer. One thing
is clear: It will be more complex than the first round, as it has to
deal with many more loose ends. WSIS 2003 only had to deliver two pieces
of paper (the declaration of principles and the action plan). This left
a lot of time for endless discussions, arm-twisting on wording, sorting
out friends or foes in different arenas, and for civil society to start
playing inside the official UN process. Now, the negotiators from Geneva
will meet the real world. And as conflicts remain, the actors are
positioning themselves for the second round. - Ralf Bendrath
http://www.worldsummit2003.de/en/web/609.htm

Read this and some more news on the WSIS in the European Union and
internet governance from the Heinrich B?ll Foundation, Germany:
http://www.worldsummit2005.org


Internet's governing body meets in Rome: The complicated world of ICANN
? part one

Rome, March 2-6 - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN) - the body that's responsible for managing the
registration and distribution system of domain names (eg. www.apc.org)
in the internet - held its first meeting of 2004. More than 600 people
from different countries took part in 27 fora. In attendance was Carlos
Afonso, planning director of APC's Brazilian member organisation, RITS.
His fascinating report is essential reading for anyone trying to
understand internet governance issues and has been translated into
English and Spanish by APC.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18723


Africa: Kenya?s draft ICT policy and strategy negates development goals

Conference-goers at a major multistakeholder event dedicated to
discussing Kenya?s draft ICT policy were outraged to discover that the
most recent government draft was ?confidential? and only being
circulated to a select few. ?Efforts to query the government
representatives present did not bear fruit and incredulous delegates
were advised to contact the relevant ministry and demand a copy as
tax-paying citizens who have the right to access public policy
documents,? informs APC?s Africa ICT Policy Monitor.
This article and others will appear in the latest edition of Chakula,
APC?s African ICT policy newsletter, out in the next week.
http://africa.rights.apc.org/newsletter.shtml


La Ond@ Rural (The Rural Vibe): Workshop on radio, ICTs and rural
development

Quito, Ecuador, 20-22 April 2004 - This Latin American workshop
considered a series of proposals for promoting the effective use of ICT
and radio for rural development so that rural radio stations, networks,
specialists in ICT for development and policy decision-makers, start to
take into account the effectiveness of combining radio and internet.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18727


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- BUILDING CAPACITY & STRATEGIC USE OF ICTs --

Free and open source software sweeps US non-profit tech conference

Looking around at the recent Non-Profit Technology Enterprise Network
conference in Philadelphia, it would have been easy to think that free
and open source software is sweeping the non-profit world. With an
attendance of over 700 people, this year's NTEN event featured a full
track of six workshops on free and open source software (FOSS) topics -
almost all of which were packed. ? Mark Surman for APC
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18729


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- WOMEN & ICTs -

Networking for Change - Conference in Rio will bring together women and
men working in the gender and ICT arena for the last decade

The APC women's programme (WNSP) is gearing up for the exciting
culmination of two years of trials of GEM, a gender evaluation
methodology for ICT and internet initiatives, in Brazil in early June,
as part of a seven-day forum on "Networking for Change and Empowerment".
Representatives from community telecentres, women's networking
initiatives, and community-building and training programmes that
participated as pilot testers of GEM from Asia, Africa, Central and
Eastern Europe and Latin America will meet face-to-face to debate
results and share insights. But that's not all the forum offers. There's
also a gender and ICT policy forum as well as workshops and training
offered. ? APC WNSP
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18731


Are ICTs contributing to women's empowerment in Central and Eastern Europe?

This was an underlying question addressed in the evaluations of six
information and communication (ICT) initiatives from Bulgaria, Croatia,
Lithuania, Poland, Romania and Slovakia, which participated in the
field-testing of the Gender Evaluation Methodology (GEM). Evaluated
initiatives varied from an employment training initiative in Croatia, to
a network of women mayors in Romania, to media campaigns around violence
against women in Slovakia and Bulgaria.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18733


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

TRAINING RESOURCES: New ItrainOnline newsletter announces recent
training additions

Resources for training in the following areas were added to ItrainOnline
during March:
1. Radio
2. Chat and instant messaging
3. Blogging
4. RSS
5. Web site development and promotion
6. Ressources en fran?ais
7. Recursos en espa?ol

The ITO newsletter:
http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/english/newsletter.shtml
To subscribe to the newsletter yourself, send an e-mail message to
subscribe-ito-announce@lists.itrainonline.org

SOFTWARE: APC ActionApps now in Croatian

Thanks to Igor Hrste from ZaMirNET, APC member in Zagreb, APC ActionApps
is now available in Croatian. APC ActionApps is a free software content
management system for building dynamic information-sharing portals,
recently acclaimed ?one of the top 10 open source tools for e-activism?.
http://www.apc.org/actionapps (Find out more about ActionApps)
http://www.openconcept.ca/index.php/Top10 (Top 10 tools for e-activism)

NEW BOOK: "Communicating in the Information Society"

This 235-page volume edited by Sean O'Siochru and Bruce Girard of the
CRIS Campaign was launched on 10th December 2003 in Geneva during the
World Summit on the Information Society. With contributors including
Dafne Plou of the APC women's programme (WNSP) and published by the
UNRISD, this is a must-have for all involved in the debates on the
"information society". Chapters are downloadable for free.
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/231/

DISCUSSION REPORT: Free and open source software in public administration

The ICA web forum on ?Open Source Software in Public Administration?
took place online in November 2003 and a final report on the discussion
is now available which summarises the most important points concerning
the debate on concepts regarding open source software, the adoption of
open source software by the State and some experiences. The objective of
the report is to offer recommendations and elements for making decisions
regarding the incorporation of open source software in public
administration.
http://www.icamericas.net/documents/INFORME%20FINAL%20FORO%20OS.pdf
(final document in Spanish)
Key points and recommendations in English:
http://www.icamericas.net/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=344

DISCUSSION REPORT: Wireless connectivity

Also held in November, the resulting document presents a synthesis of
the most relevant issues raised during the discussion of concepts
related to Wi-Fi, its strengths, opportunities, weaknesses and threats,
as well as experiences described by participants in their respective
countries or in more developed ones. Strategies and policies related to
the issue are also suggested.
http://www.icamericas.net/documents/INFORME%20FINAL%20FORO%20WIFI.pdf
(final document in Spanish)
Key points and recommendations in English:
http://www.icamericas.net/index.php?module=htmlpages&func=display&pid=348

NEW BOOK: "Free Culture - how the media uses technology"

Lawrence Lessig is a leading voice in how computer code creates laws. He
explains in 'Code and other laws of cyberspace' how those controlling
computer code can influence society. Prof. Lessig is a leading member of
the Electronic Frontier Foundation http://www.eff.org/ and is a Stanford
law professor. His latest book "Free Culture" has been released under a
freely distributable license. The book can be purchased from bookshops
or downloaded free of charge.
http://www.free-culture.cc/freecontent/


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -

APC: Vacancy for manager for Communications and Information Programme

APC is looking for a strategic thinker with experience in and
understanding of global and regional level ICT policy issues to run our
'CIPP' programme. The successful candidate will understand how ICT
policy issues relate to development and social justice and have a proven
background in civil society networking.

A minimum five years experience in project management is necessary and
fundraising experience is essential. As APC is a truly virtual
organisation, excellent computer and internet skills and familiarity
with working in an online environment are important as well as sound
academic qualifications. Deadline for applications is May 9 2004. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18526


CRIS Campaign: Sign up to the Communication Rights Charter

"Our vision of the 'Information Society' is grounded in the Right to
Communicate, as a means to enhance human rights and to strengthen the
social, economic and cultural lives of people and communities. Crucial
to this is that civil society organisations come together to help build
an information society based on principles of transparency, diversity,
participation and social and economic justice, and inspired by equitable
gender, cultural and regional perspectives...."

The CRIS Charter has been available in French English and Spanish online
for over a year now, clearly stating CRIS' position, commitment and
areas of action. You are invited to support the campaign by endorsing
the Charter. http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/74


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- IMPORTANT DATES --

FM@dia Forum '04: Connect Free Media
June 10-12 2004, Prague, Czech Republic
June 13-14 2004, Freistadt, Austria

People from a variety of community-, free-, independent-, sovereign-,
civic-, NGO media and social organisations will gather to discuss and
develop strategies for the liberalisation of the information and
communication situation in Europe - with special focus on Central and
East Europe. FM@dia aims to activate communication and collaboration
between different regions, languages and cultures. Representatives from
several APC members will be participating.
URL: http://fmedia.ecn.cz/


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- WHAT'S NEW ON THE APC WEBSITE --

APC ICT Policy & Internet Rights

The APC internet Rights site has been redesigned and revised almost in
its entirety to collect the wealth of policy materials -publications,
training materials and resources- produced since 2002 when the site was
first created.

Take a look at:
What is ICT policy? http://rights.apc.org/what_is_policy.shtml
What are internet rights? http://rights.apc.org/charter.shtml
ICT policy resources from APC: http://rights.apc.org/resources.shtml
Newsletters: http://rights.apc.org/newsletters.shtml
About APC's work in ICT policy: http://rights.apc.org/about.shtml


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
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).
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.
APCNews will next appear in June.



From khiggs at apc.org  Tue May 11 20:10:04 2004
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Wed Sep 20 17:45:31 2006
Subject: [APCPress] APC comments on the first draft National ICT Policy for Zambia
Message-ID: <40A1250C.3010308@apc.org>

APC comments on the first draft National ICT Policy for Zambia

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa -- In a letter to the Zambian ministry for
communications and transport, APC has commended the Zambian government
for its efforts in drafting a holistic national ICT policy and for
disseminating the draft online to make it possible for the public to
submit comments. ?We value the broad definition of ICT adopted early in
the document,? says APC, but ?Some important policy concerns are
mentioned as action points for implementation without a clear enough
policy position that would give direction during implementation. Some
are left out altogether.?

Read the full letter as featured in this month?s ?Chakula? - APC?s ICT
policy newsletter for African civil society.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=19199

Contact APC: africa.rights@apc.org



From khiggs at apc.org  Wed May 12 16:19:36 2004
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Wed Sep 20 17:45:31 2006
Subject: [APCPress] Articles: The complicated world of internet governance
Message-ID: <40A24088.9030807@apc.org>

"The complicated world of internet governance"

APC brings you two recent articles on the sticky issue of how the
internet should be run globally and by whom.


Global Forum on Internet Governance: Not everyone agrees on what is
broken nor on what fixing might involve

NEW YORK -- A global forum on internet governance organised by the
United Nations March 25-27 was the most open and inclusive platform for
addressing internet governance issues to date but time was too short to
disaggregate the various areas of policy and regulation that are loosely
grouped under ?internet governance?. There are fundamental concerns
around the accountability and legitimacy of current internet governance
structures, but at the same time the overall tone is ?if it ain?t broke,
don?t fix it?. But not everyone agrees on what is broken, nor on what
fixing might involve.

The challenges the Global Forum faced will now be faced by the working
group which will take work forward to the next UN World Summit in 2005.
The dilemma lies in having to both expand, and shrink the scope of
?internet governance?, to get to practical proposals that also address
broader concerns. And it has to work in a way that is inclusive of
different stakeholders and perspectives, and actively tackles discontent
instead of glossing over it, says APC.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18720


The Complicated World of ICANN ? Part One

ROME - The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and
Numbers (ICANN) - the body that's responsible for managing the
registration and distribution system of domain names (eg. www.apc.org)
in the internet - held its first meeting of 2004 March 2-6. More than
600 people from different countries took part in 27 fora. In attendance
was Carlos Afonso, planning director of APC's Brazilian member
organisation, RITS. His fascinating report is essential reading for
anyone trying to understand internet governance issues and has been
translated into English and Spanish by APC.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=18723


From khiggs at apc.org  Tue Jun  8 03:05:54 2004
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Wed Sep 20 17:45:31 2006
Subject: [APCPress] Press: 10 new ICT policy sites launched in 10 countries worldwide
Message-ID: <40C51F02.6040209@apc.org>

NO EMBARGO

PRESS RELEASE

JUNE 8 2004



ICT POLICY WORK AT GLOBAL LEVEL SPARKS LOCAL ACTION AND COLLABORATION, 
AS CIVIL SOCIETY POLICY WEBSITES ARE SET UP IN TEN NATIONS


JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA -- APC has spent the last two years 
advocating for civil society involvement in international ICT 
(information and communications technologies) policy-making processes. 
Now 10 APC members have created national ICT policy portal websites in 
their own countries in a joint initiative. The portals which are all 
uniquely adapted to address each country's particular situation all use 
free software that allows content-sharing in different languages and 
between multiple information databases hosted in different parts of the 
world.

The portals have been set up by APC members -organisations who work with 
ICTs for sustainable development, and social and environmental justice- 
locally in Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia, the Democratic 
Republic of Congo*, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, South Africa, Spain, 
the UK and Uruguay.

Using APC's free software content management system -the APC ActionApps- 
APC built a sample portal based on an existing national policy portal 
from the UK. The model was then refined in online consultation with APC 
members around the world. Then each member received a copy and adapted 
it to their own local needs. Trouble-shooting happened online in an 
international workspace.

The shared resources, expertise, information, and the use of free and 
open source software allowed sites to be set up swiftly. Members sharing 
a common language, e.g. Latin American members working in Spanish, also 
helped each other by sharing translation.

"Being part of an international networking initiative was one of the 
crucial arguments for our decision to participate," Elina Racholova of 
BlueLink, Bulgaria, told APC. "The creative spirit of collaboration 
among the APC members enhances common efforts and makes our joint work 
significant worldwide." The APC ActionApps software allows information 
gathered on one portal -using ActionApps' unique cross-server pooling- 
to be fed to other sites and also to APC's central 'ICT Policy and 
Internet Rights' website.

"The methodology of developing a network of inter-linked sites based on 
common templates which can be easily adapted, modified and translated, 
has proved a very powerful one for spread-out community content 
development," said project coordinator, Karen Banks. "It has encouraged 
and inspired over-burdened groups to collaborate quickly and efficiently 
as the bulk of the site planning and production has been managed 
centrally. We hope we can use this methodology again and again because 
it allows activists to focus their energies on the advocacy and not on 
the tools".


How the new sites will be used

The sites will be used in a variety of ways. In Colombia, the national 
site will act as a facilitation and documentation point for discussion 
on three issues including ICT policy and community media. The expected 
result is the generation of three concrete public policy proposals to 
present to the government.

In Italy the new site provides a dynamic online home for a two-year old 
national platform which brings together diverse civil society actors 
involved in media and ICT.

In Mexico, little has been done nationwide to involve citizens in the 
policy debate, and much less in actual decision-making. "There's very 
little information available in the traditional media regarding Mexico's 
national ICT policy," said LaNeta site coordinator, Olinca Marino, who 
has been following regional ICT policy developments closely through her 
participation in the Latin American caucus at last year's World Summit 
on the Information Society. "In general citizens receive very little 
official information from the state, and we hope the new Mexican 
Information and Communication Policy Portal will act as an invitation to 
the government to pay attention to the general public's needs and not 
just to business' needs". LaNeta hopes that Mexican civil society 
organisations will use the site to keep themselves informed of ICT 
policies being planned nationally and also to improve the 
self-organisation of policy advocates.


How this initiative came about

Last year's United Nations' World Summit on the Information Society was 
a watershed in public participation in ICT policy as ICT policy made a 
shift from the world of obscure jargon and elites to a new context. ICT 
policy became social policy not technical policy. Through WSIS new 
voices - people living with disabilities, the education and research 
sectors, the free software movement, children's rights advocates, 
campaigners for the global information commons and more- were heard in 
the ICT policy arena for the first time.

"APC had campaigned actively regionally and globally during the first 
phase of the World Summit and we felt this change was a huge 
break-through and wanted to see how we could take it forward at national 
level. With some financial support provided by the Canadian 
International Development Agency we were able to provide seed funding 
for a small number of national ICT policy sites set up by our members - 
all of whom are 'social techies' in their own right," said APC executive 
director, Anriette Esterhuysen. "We are extremely pleased with the 
positive response which indicates that civil society organisations at 
national level are increasingly taking active responsibility for trying 
to influence the policy and regulatory environments that impact on their 
use of ICTs".

* The initiative participants confront radically different national 
contexts as was regrettably demonstrated by late news from the Congolese 
portal coordinators. APC was informed on June 7 that "Bukavu was 
re-taken by rebels last Thursday and there have been strong 
demonstrations all over the country after that.  The situation remains 
unclear at this time and we might not be in a position to organise 
[their part in the launch]". APC will post updates.


More information

New national policy sites: http://rights.apc.org/policy_sites_list.shtml
APC 'ICT Policy and Internet Rights' site: http://rights.apc.org
Whose information society? - An assessment of the value of the WSIS by 
APC's executive director
APC ActionApps: http//www.actionapps.org


About APC

APC is one of civil society's foremost proponents of the importance of 
involving citizens in information and communications technology (ICT) 
policy-making internationally. APC has consultative status to the United 
Nations agency ECOSOC and is a member of the UN ICT Task Force. We also 
have a world wide membership  and our value and uniqueness comes from 
the local perspectives and contact with grassroots organisations that we 
gain through contact with, and between, our members. Our network of 
members includes civil society organisations who work with ICTs for 
sustainable development, and social and environmental justice in five 
continents. As well as CIDA, APC thanks CTO, DFID, EED, Ford, Hivos, 
IDRC, and OSI for their support of our internet rights and ICT policy 
work. www.apc.org


Contact details

Karen Higgs
APC Communications Manager
Cassinoni 1085
11200 Montevideo
Uruguay
Tel: +598 2 400-6460 (-3 GMT)
Email: communications@apc.org






From khiggs at apc.org  Fri Jun 25 15:59:55 2004
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Wed Sep 20 17:45:31 2006
Subject: [APCPress] WSIS II: APC papers on financing the info society and internet governance
Message-ID: <40DC3DEB.9000301@apc.org>

Discussion papers on the sticky issues of financing ICT initiatives in
developing countries and internet governance feed new WSIS phase

June 24 2004 -- The second phase of the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) -the first-ever UN conference on information and
communication- has started. Delegates are meeting in Hammamet, Tunisia
in the first 'prepcom' of phase two, and APC is amongst them. As input
to the debate of the issues that were most contentious during the first
stage of WSIS -internet governance and the financing for ICT initiatives
in developing countries- APC has commissioned discussion papers written
by civil society experts in the areas. You can download the papers from
the APC site. - APCNews


**Financing**

Financing the Information Society in the South: A Global Public Goods
Perspective
By Pablo Accuosto (ITeM) and Niki Johnson, June 2004

This paper sets out to look at the question of financing the provision
of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the South,
within the context of the United Nations? World Summit on the
Information Society, and advocates adopting a ?global public goods?
perspective on the issue. The paper first examines how the question of
ICT financing has been debated during the WSIS preparatory process and
the first phase Summit (Geneva, December 2003). Particular attention is
paid to Senegal?s proposal for the creation of a ?Digital Solidarity
Fund?, and the reactions to it of the different stakeholders ?
governments, from both North and South, the private sector and civil
society ? participating in WSIS. The following section explores the
potential for addressing the issue of financing ICT expansion from a
global public goods (GPG) perspective. First the authors provide an
overview of what such an approach means in conceptual terms, looking
both at general definitions of GPGs and the applicability of the concept
to ICTs. They then review the debate that has been taking place around
the specific issue of which existing or alternative innovative financing
mechanisms might be used for GPG provision, linking the proposed
strategies whenever possible to the ICT sector. Finally, in the
conclusions the authors offer a concrete proposal with respect to what
we consider to be the most appropriate financing mechanism for funding
expanded ICT access in the South. APC gratefully acknowledges the
funding support of CIDA.

Download in pdf in English
http://rights.apc.org/documents/financing.pdf


**Internet Governance**

Internet governance and the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS)
By Adam Peake, June 2004

The purpose of this paper is to describe our current understanding of
the debate about Internet governance in WSIS, and to examine the main
policy issues that are being considered in that discussion. It also
suggests opportunities for developing nation stakeholders to contribute
to the processes that are defining the Internet governance landscape.
The key message is that there are opportunities for civil society to
engage and we must take them. Internet governance is one of the most
controversial and debated issues to come from the WSIS process. It is
also a moving target in that the UN working group that will help define
what Internet governance is, and identify the public policy issues
involved is only just being set up and we can only make a best guess at
its working methods and the scope of issues it will consider. As such
this paper is very much a work in progress and may be modified over the
coming months. APC gratefully acknowledges the funding support of CIDA.

Download in pdf in English
http://rights.apc.org/documents/governance.pdf

===========================================================
To see other papers in our discussion series visit 
http://rights.apc.org/papers.shtml

To be alerted when new papers appear sign up for APCNews 
http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apcnews



From khiggs at apc.org  Wed Jun 30 21:40:41 2004
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Wed Sep 20 17:45:31 2006
Subject: [APCPress] APCNews - June 2004 - No. 42
Message-ID: <40E32549.1030602@apc.org>

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
           *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
      Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                - June 2004 No. 42 -
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-- 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 --
-- WHAT'S NEW ON THE APC WEBSITE --
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -

ArabDev, Egypt: Children hungry for computer training held back by lack
of PCs in Upper Egypt

"Learning and working on the computer makes me feel that I am no less
than anyone else in the world." "Everyone should learn how to use a
computer, especially the poor." This is how the children of 4th grade
elementary in Abou Korkas, Menia governorate feel about their computer
classes but hundreds of other children are being deprived of classes
because of red tape and computer shortages. ArabDev, APC member in
Cairo, sends us this report. -- ArabDev
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21509


Jinbonet, South Korea: Conflicts Arise between the Government and Civil
Society Organisations Regarding Proposed Privacy Protection Act

A current government proposal to protect Korean citizens' personal
information assigns the responsibility for ensuring privacy between two
government departments - one taking care of information collected by the
private sector, and the other, data held by the state. APC member
Jinbonet reports that civil society organisations are calling for
privacy to be protected by an independent body to deal with both the
public and private sectors. - Base21
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21511


Jinbonet, South Korea: High School Students File Petition Against
Fingerprinting Requirements

Three high school students announced at a press conference that
fingerprinting Korean nationals on their seventeenth birthday in order
to obtain their national ID cards is unconstitutional. This is the first
time teenagers have filed a constitutional petition against the
fingerprinting system, says APC member, Jinbonet.  The system which
enforces fingerprinting was implemented with the revision of the
Resident Registration Act over thirty year ago and civil and social
organizations have repeatedly asserted the fingerprinting system exists
only in South Korea and should be abolished. - Base21
http://www.base21.org/show/show.php?p_docnbr=30440&p_cd=0


Jinbonet, South Korea: Korean Government DNA Database Project Lacks
Legal Guidelines say Human Rights Organisations

On April 7, 2004, the South Korean police announced the commencement of
a project to aid in the search for missing children involving the
collection of DNA in a massive database. Samples of the DNA of children
presently under government care and the parents of missing children will
be collected. Civil organizations have warned the goverment must follow
strict protocols to protect the public from possible abuse of such a
system, says APC member, JinboNet. - Base21
http://www.base21.org/show/show.php?p_cd=0&p_dv=0&p_docnbr=30439


SANGONeT, South Africa: The Thethas go to the provinces in South Africa

In March 2003 the Southern African NGO Network (SANGONeT) launched
Thetha - the SANGONeT ICT Discussion Forum. The forums focus
specifically on the ICT challenges facing the CSO sector, highlighting
and promoting practical benefits, opportunities and lessons learned to
date. Given the success and positive feedback received in response to
previous Thetha forums, SANGONeT co-hosted its fourth provincial Thetha
in the Northern Cape Province and the fifth forum in the Free State
province. - SANGONeT
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21514


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM APC -

ICT policy work at global level sparks local action and collaboration,
as civil society-driven policy websites are set up in ten nations

JOHANNESBURG, South Africa, 08/06/2004 -- Ten APC members have created
national ICT policy portal websites in their own countries in a joint
initiative. The portals which are all uniquely adapted to address each
country's particular situation all use free software that allows
content-sharing in different languages and between multiple information
databases hosted in different parts of the world. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=20966


Why did ten APC members from around the world decide it was time to set
up ICT policy portals in their countries?

10 APC members have created national portal websites tracking
communications and information related policy in a joint initiative. The
portals have been set up in Argentina, Australia, Bulgaria, Colombia,
the Democratic Republic of Congo, Italy, Mexico, the Philippines, South
Africa, Spain, the UK and Uruguay.

APCNews asked some of the site administrators who were still putting
last minute touches to their portals which were launched collectively on
June 8 2004 to comment briefly on ICT policy in their countries and
their hopes for the portals. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21002


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

APC comments on the first draft National ICT Policy for Zambia

In a letter to the Zambian ministry for communications and transport,
APC has commended the Zambian government for its efforts in drafting a
holistic national ICT policy and for disseminating the draft online to
make it possible for the public to submit comments. "We value the broad
definition of ICT adopted early in the document," says APC, but "Some
important policy concerns are mentioned as action points for
implementation without a clear enough policy position that would give
direction during implementation. Some are left out altogether." Read the
full letter as featured in the May edition of "Chakula" - APC's ICT
policy newsletter for African civil society.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=19199


RESOURCES FROM APC: Discussion papers on "sticky issues" support new
WSIS phase

The second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS)
-the first-ever UN conference on information and communication- has
started. Delegates are meeting in Hammamet, Tunisia in the first
'prepcom' of phase two, and APC is amongst them. As input to the debate
of the issues that were most contentious during the first stage of WSIS
-internet governance, financing for ICT initiatives in developing
countries and "e-strategies"- APC has commissioned discussion papers
written by civil society experts in the areas. You can download the
papers from this site. - APCNews

**Financing the Information Society in the South: A Global Public Goods
Perspective
By Pablo Accuosto (ITeM) and Niki Johnson, June 2004

This paper sets out to look at the question of financing the provision
of information and communication technologies (ICTs) in the South,
within the context of the United Nations' World Summit on the
Information Society, and advocates adopting a "global public goods"
perspective on the issue. The paper first examines how the question of
ICT financing has been debated during the WSIS preparatory process and
the first phase Summit (Geneva, December 2003). Particular attention is
paid to Senegal's proposal for the creation of a "Digital Solidarity
Fund", and the reactions to it of the different stakeholders
governments, from both North and South, the private sector and civil
society  participating in WSIS. The following section explores the
potential for addressing the issue of financing ICT expansion from a
global public goods (GPG) perspective. First the authors provide an 
overview of what such an approach means in conceptual terms, looking
both at general definitions of GPGs and the applicability of the concept
to ICTs. They then review the debate that has been taking place around
the specific issue of which existing or alternative innovative financing
mechanisms might be used for GPG provision, linking the proposed
strategies whenever possible to the ICT sector. Finally, in the
conclusions the authors offer a concrete proposal with respect to what
we consider to be the most appropriate financing mechanism for funding
expanded ICT access in the South. APC gratefully acknowledges the
funding support of CIDA.
http://rights.apc.org/documents/financing.pdf

**Internet governance and the World Summit on the Information Society
(WSIS)
By Adam Peake, June 2004

The purpose of this paper is to describe our current understanding of
the debate about Internet governance in WSIS, and to examine the main
policy issues that are being considered in that discussion. It also
suggests opportunities for developing nation stakeholders to contribute
to the processes that are defining the Internet governance landscape.
The key message is that there are opportunities for civil society to
engage and we must take them. Internet governance is one of the most
controversial and debated issues to come from the WSIS process. It is
also a moving target in that the UN working group that will help define
what Internet governance is, and identify the public policy issues
involved is only just being set up and we can only make a best guess at
its working methods and the scope of issues it will consider. As such
this paper is very much a work in progress and may be modified over the
coming months. APC gratefully acknowledges the funding support of CIDA.
http://rights.apc.org/documents/governance.pdf

**The Centrality of E-strategies in the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) Plan of Action
By Willie Currie, May 2004

The term 'e-strategies' has gained widespread use over the last few
years in the debates on the role of information and communications
technologies (ICTs) for development, following the United Nations
Millennium Declaration in 2000. E-strategies have been defined as "plans
based on the selection of scenarios and options for applying ICTs to
national development" . A similar definition sees "an e-strategy as a
shorthand for policies and strategies intended to exploit ICTs to
promote national development. Other terms used to capture the phenomenon
include ICT policy and IT policy". APC gratefully acknowledges the
funding support of CIDA.
http://rights.apc.org/documents/estrategies.pdf

**WSIS Process and Themes Debated
By Valeria Betancourt (APC), April 2004

This fifteen page paper by the coordinator of APC's Latin American ICT
Policy Monitor covers the background to WSIS, stakeholders, the process
(including the Geneva and Tunis rounds), themes discussed in round one,
and looks at results so far.
http://rights.apc.org/documents/wsis_process.pdf

All the papers are collected online and will be added to in the coming
year: http://rights.apc.org/papers.shtml


WSIS: Diary reports from civil society from the first preparatory
meeting in Tunisia, June 2004

Collected on the CRIS Campaign site, reports in English and Spanish
cover the progress of the first 'prepcom' from a civil society
perspective of the second phase of the UN World Summit on the
Information Society (WSIS) held June 24-26. There are reports covering
each day - from Day 1 to Day 4.
http://www.crisinfo.org/content/view/full/49
Official WSIS site: http://www.itu.int/wsis/
Decision of Prepcom 1: http://www.itu.int/wsis/docs2/pc1/doc5.pdf


NEWS: APC is lead trainer at first ICT policy for civil society workshop
in India

A three-day workshop on information and communication technology (ICT)
policy in New Delhi in April brought together thirty participants from
Indian non-governmental organisations, academics, government officials,
representatives from an internet service provider association.  APC was
invited to be the principal trainer for the three-day workshop and
participants and guests presented their experiences and case studies
through the three days. -- APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21517


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- WOMEN & ICTs -

The Rio Networking for Change and Empowerment Forum - A report from the
women's programme

In the first week of June, Rio de Janeiro saw a major gathering of
gender and ICT advocates from all around the world. Over 40 activists,
researchers, members of non-profits, donor agencies, and other
institutions, many of whom have been working in gender and ICT for more
than a decade, arrived in Brazil invited by the APC Women's Networking
Support Programme (APC WNSP) to discuss gender issues in the context of
ICT policy processes and practice.

The aim of the Networking for Change and Empowerment Forum was to
provide a much-needed space to build on the momentum created during the
first phase of the United Nations World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) and prepare a strategic approach and plan for the second
phase of WSIS and other ICT policy arena including the Beijing+10
process (the ten year review of the results of the 1995 United Nations
conference on women), the World and Regional Social Forums (WSF), the
World Trade Organisation and others.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21558


Finding the "GEM" in the haystack - how the women and men are being
affected by Africa's ICT revolution

The International Development Research Centre (IDRC) in collaboration
with regional network, APC-Africa-Women, and the LINK Center, Wits
University, Johannesburg, hosted a pan-African workshop to develop a
multi-country action study in Africa to measure how people -especially
women- are making use of the ICT sector since the popularisation of
cell-phones, telecentres and other communications innovations.
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=21519


APC-Africa-Women: Pula -African women and ICT newsletter- issue number four

In the fourth edition of Pula "Our Voices: Stories from the field"
focuses on women in situations of armed conflict. The regular women and
ICT policy column APC's Alice Munyua looks at trafficking, pornography
and censorship. Sara Hlupekile Longwe, founder of the Zambia Association
for Research and Development is Pula's ICT Champion. In the Events,
Resources and World Corner sections, you'll find information of interest
to African women using ICTs. Pula is an electronic quarterly produced by
APC-Africa-Women.
http://www.apcafricawomen.org/pula4.htm


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

TRAINING RESOURCES: New ItrainOnline newsletter announces recent
training additions

Resources for training in the following areas were added to ItrainOnline
during May:
1. Resources for trainers
2. Internet basics and strategic use
3. Multilingual computing
4. Gender
5. Ressources en fran?ais
6. Recursos en espa?ol

The ITO newsletter:
http://www.itrainonline.org/itrainonline/english/newsletter.shtml
To subscribe to the newsletter yourself, send an e-mail message to
subscribe-ito-announce@lists.itrainonline.org

NEW BOOK: How to Build Open Information Societies: A collection of best
practices and know-how from Europe and CIS

This publication presents a collection of knowledge-based best practices
accumulated by UNDP in Europe and the Commonwealth of Independent States
(CIS). Its main purpose is to identify and share UNDP's know-how by
showing how ICT can promote socio-economic development and good
governance. Case studies and examples from 19 countries illustrate
different e-governance programmes and applications - from a diverse
range of initiatives including support for policy formulation, customs
reform, youth sexual education, rural deployment of ICTs and training,
country database building, and others.
Available free via the online bookstore at UNDP Eastern Europe and CIS
Sub-regional Resource Facility:
http://www.ecissurf.org/index.cfm?module=BookStore&page=Book&BookID=89

ARTICLE: Straight from the Source - Perspectives from the African Open
Source Movement

African software developers face many obstacles as they struggle to grow
professionally in their chosen field.  But these "coders", as a group,
form a community marked less by their frustration and isolation than by
their perseverance and resolve. This theme dominated AfricaSource, a
workshop held in Namibia in March 2004. The meeting of 40 developers
from 25 countries in the small town of Okahandja was the first chance
many of the coders have had to collaborate and compare notes.
Bridges.org, in cooperation with Tactical Technologies, has written an
article airing the views shared by the workshop participants and looking
at ways in which the field of software development could grow in Africa.
The article is based on interviews and contains quotes from many of the
delegates.
http://www.bridges.org/africasource

NEWSLETTER: ICT policy in Portuguese

"Sete pontos" is an electronic newsletter on ICT policy issues,
stimulating the social appropriation of technologies and the
participation of civil society at the World Summit on the Information
Society (WSIS) process. It is distributed to social, academic and
government organisations in Latin America and particularly Brazil.
Subscribe at: setepontos-subscribe@yahoogrupos.com.br or visit
http://www.comunicacao.pro.br/setepontos

NEWSLETTER: Women and Communication in Spanish

Argentinian feminist network RIMA hosted by APC member TAU has launched
a newsletter -Arrimadas- packed with information, analysis and resources
on ICT use, internet, online communities, journalism in its different
guises and policy.
Suscribe to Arrimadas:
http://tau.tau.org.ar/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/arrimadas


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -

FORD FOUNDATION: International Fellowships Program

The Ford Foundation International Fellowships Program provides support
for up to three years of formal graduate-level study leading to a
masters or doctoral degree. Fellows are selected from countries and
territories in Brazil, Chile, China, Egypt, Ghana, Guatemala, India,
Indonesia, Kenya, Mexico, Mozambique, Nigeria, Palestine, Peru,
Philippines, Russia, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Thailand, Uganda,
and Vietnam.
http://www.fordifp.net/index.cfm?PageID=4

HUMAN STRATEGIES FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: Online mentoring for NGOs

On-line human rights questions and answers is a free-of-charge on-line
human rights information and NGO development service that provides
answers to questions specifically related to human rights concepts,
institutions and mechanisms and guidance on strategically addressing
human rights violations that an NGO or activist is working to overcome.
http://www.hshr.org/introduction.html

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- IMPORTANT DATES --

OURMedia IV
July 22-25 2004, Porto Alegre, Brasil

An international conference for activists, academics, researchers and
others who are working with communication media and ICTs to support
social justice, human rights, the autonomy of communities and the
strengthening of grassroots groups. APC will be at the event.
http://www.ourmedianet.org/om2004/


Information Technology Training for Trade Unions
August 23-27 2004, Medellin, Colombia

This course is aimed at training union leaders and workers as advisors
and promoters of IT for trade union administration. The course uses
Spanish-language modules from the APC ICT Policy and Civil Society
curriculum.
http://www.colnodo.org.co/eventos-c.htm?x=28532


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- WHAT'S NEW ON THE APC WEBSITE --

APC ICT Policy & Internet Rights: ICT policy developments around the world

APC members are running ICT policy initiatives in Argentina, Bulgaria,
Colombia, the Congo, and other nations around the world. Their sites are
channeling information onto the APC site, so that you can get a taste of
what civil society groups are doing. But if you're really interested,
then visit the national sites directly.

Take a look at:
About the national policy sites: http://rights.apc.org/policy_sites.shtml
National ICT policy portals, list of:
http://rights.apc.org/policy_sites_list.shtml
Discussion papers on internet governance and more:
http://rights.apc.org/papers.shtml


--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
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).
Permission is granted to use this document for personal use, for
training and educational publications, and activities by peace,
environmental, human rights or development organisations. Please provide
an acknowledgment to APC.




