[APCPress] APCNews - September 2004 - No. 45

Thu Sep 30 22:29:08 BST 2004

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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-- NEWS FROM APC -

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

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

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

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

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

European Forum on Communication Rights to precede European Social Forum

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

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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

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

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

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

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

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

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-- BUILDING CAPACITY & STRATEGIC USE OF ICTs --

African journalists trained in how to communicate securely online

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

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-- WOMEN & ICTs -

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

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

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-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -

PANOS-GKP Journalism awards 2004: ICTs and accountability

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

APC/Panos Media Workshop
Oct 28, Kampala, Uganda

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APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are distributed 
monthly by APC – a worldwide network supporting the use of internet and 
ICTs for social justice and sustainable development since 1990.
APCNews Archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/

CopyLeft. 2004 Association for Progressive Communications (APC). 
Permission is granted to use this document for personal use, for 
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