[APCPress] APCNews - November 2005 - No. 59

Fri Nov 18 23:44:25 GMT 2005

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                     SPECIAL EDITION II
       WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY (WSIS)
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              *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
         Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                 - November 2005 No. 59 -
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-- ON THE ISSUES: FINANCING OF ICT4D --
-- ON THE ISSUES: HUMAN RIGHTS IN TUNISIA --
-- ON THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE --
-- SNAPSHOTS FROM WSIS --
-- APC WSIS BLOGS: WHAT THE OTHERS SAY --
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You have been keeping informed about the WSIS with APC. APC covered 
events on the ground from Tunis and logged it all on our blogs in 
English, French and Spanish.
English blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog
Spanish blog: http://www.apc.org/espanol/wsis/blog
French blog: http://www.apc.org/francais/wsis/blog

Many, many thanks to all the contributors, remote editors, and 
translators who made the coverage possible.
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THE CLOSE OF WSIS: The civil society verdict
By APCNews • 18/11/2005 20:00 •

On the afternoon of Friday, November 18, 2005, one of three stakeholders 
taking part in the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) drew a 
line in the sand. Civil society (CS) representatives from all continents 
lined up to deliver a stark closing statement.

There were civil society thumbs up for:
- the new multistakeholder Internet Governance Forum
- the awareness built that people from all walks of life should be 
involved in ICT policy development, not just technology specialists and 
government officials
- the spotlight shone on state repression and surveillance in the host 
nation, Tunisia

But thumbs down for:
- the UN for choosing a flagrant violator of human rights as the host of 
a UN summit
- wealthier governments which insist that financing for ICT for 
development should be voluntary only
- the vague language on internet oversight
- the fact that WSIS follow-up will probably be assigned to 
technology-focused specialist committee
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2510217

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-- ON THE ISSUES: FINANCING OF ICT4D --

[Guest blog] Africa in internet governance and financing the information 
society * By Eric M.K Osiakwan • 17/11/2005 19:55 • [Internet 
governance, WSIS implementation]

Africa stands at a very unusual threshold of the Information Society 
because it is the least developed continent and seeking to use 
Information Communication Technology (ICTs) to advance its developmental 
cause but at the same time caught in the web of ideas taking position on 
not only Internet Governance but financing of the Information Society.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2492561

[Guest blog] Open access and financing principles for the information 
society By Eric M.K Osiakwan • 17/11/2005 19:45 • [Internet governance]

The second priority from the Geneva phases of the World Summit on 
Information Society (WSIS) was the financing of the Information Society 
but the Internet Governance debate has overshadowed this. Given that I 
have made a submission on the later I feel obliged to contribute my 50 
cents to the former - for me financing the information society should 
take more precedence over the Internet Governance debate.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2492339

Latin America, Caribbean and eLAC2007
By Valeria • 17/11/2005 23:13 • [National ICT strategies, WSIS 
implementation]

During an intense reunion the countries from the region agreed to have a 
temporary regional mechanism to establish the foundations for the 
creation of a permanent mechanism to coordinate and follow up the 
implementation of eLAC2007.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2495473

Africa: divide within the divide
By Michel Lambert • 18/11/2005 19:06 • [ICT for development]

Only 11% of African people have a fixed line telephone, 12% of African 
people questioned have a mobile telephone, less than 3% have an email 
address... Although one of the WSIS's main objectives is to decrease the 
digital divide, 80% of African people today do not have access to any 
form of communication service. A shocking statistic is that 15% of 
African people who were questioned would have preferred to buy a 
cellular telephone than a refrigerator! In Francophone African 
countries, the statistics, with the exception of Senegal, are worse.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2510777

Funding ICTs: where will the money come from?

By Brenda Zulu for GenderIT.org • 18/11/2005 19:36 •

Looking back at the roots of the Digital Solidarity Fund, the responses 
it evoked, and the linked story of missed opportunities and promises 
that can still be worked out.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2510904

World Bank, Alcatel point of view....
By FN • 17/11/2005 05:35 •

infoDev and Alcatel have issued a joint report on Promoting Private 
Sector Investment and Innovation: Addressing the Communication Needs of 
the Poor which is also available here. These are billion-dollar players; 
they can change the face of telecom and computing, if they so choose. 
So, what are we all waiting for?]
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2481422

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-- ON THE ISSUES: HUMAN RIGHTS IN TUNISIA --

Human rights takes centre stage at the Tunis Summit
By APCNews • 17/11/2005 09:35 • [Human rights]

Wednesday afternoon, November 17, the Tunisian Human Rights League 
(LTDH) invited the press and NGOs for what was to become a marathon of 
explicit talks challenging the Tunisian government on its human rights 
record. While heads of states' speeches present at the World Summit on 
the Information Society (WSIS) were pouring in on all TV channels, 
revolution was just around the corner in another district of Tunis.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2484249

Strikes and counter strikes in human rights
By Jac sm Kee • 16/11/2005 08:56 • [Civil society participation, Freedom 
of expression, Gender & ICTs]

Today was a day of cancellation. The GEM (Gender Evaluation Methodology) 
Book launch was scheduled to happen at 2:00 pm, but in a demonstration 
of solidarity, APC decided to withdraw and cancel all of its side events 
scheduled for today.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2466150

Expression under repression - at WSIS and the 'Net
By maxigas • 18/11/2005 09:00 • [Laws & regulation, Local ICT tactics, 
Media & ICTs, Censorship, Communication rights, Freedom of expression]

With this excellent title of Havis, an international NGO promoting the 
freedom of expression organised a whole two-day event, gathering a 
collection of rather interesting people from all over the globe. All 
discussions and presentations focused on the "most extreme cases", the 
exercise of the freedom of communication under hostile regimes - hence 
the title. The Tunisian government has asked the organisers to change 
the topic of the event because they found it irrelevant to the WSIS.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2503009 (includes audio)

US slams Tunisia on human rights
By Pavelan • 18/11/2005 08:46 • [Access, Censorship, Civil society 
participation, Communication rights, Human rights, WSIS implementation]

The US delegation to WSIS expressed disappointment with Tunisia's 
failure to secure rights of expression and assembly.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2502702

Hungarian neo-avantgarde research center on Tunisian IP black list
By maxigas • 16/11/2005 23:51 • [Censorship, Communication rights]

It is a well-established fact that censors in all times in history were 
just stupid. However, the finding that the Tunisian government feels it 
important to censor a Hungarian research center on avantgarde art is a 
surprising discovery.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2477686

Updated list of censored sites
By Neila Charchour Hachicha • 17/11/2005 20:12 • [Censorship]

This is an update on an earlier story about Tunisian websites that are 
currently blocked in Tunis. Please see the list below of additional 
sites. Once again it is not a complete list but it is a very significant 
one.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2492870

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-- ON THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE --

The Tunis Commitment almost signed [By APCNews]

APCNews writing from TUNIS, Tunisia, 16/11/2005 09:15 -- By 10 pm 
Tuesday, the chairperson, ambassador Khan, had concluded negotiations on 
chapter 3 on internet governance and received a standing ovation from 
all attending delegates. The outcome of the internet governance process 
is to have a forum that will take up broad public policy issues on the 
one hand, and a process of cooperation on the narrow principles that 
relate to domain name, numbers and the root zone file on the other.

"This outcome has to be evaluated in terms of the balance of power in 
the community of nations," said Willie Currie, APC's Communications and 
Information Policy Programme Manager. "The U.S. clearly saw that its 
strategic interest with regard to the war on terror and its dominant 
role in the global economy meant that it had to retain its oversight 
over the primary form of communications in the world, which today is the 
internet," Currie added. 
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2466414

WSIS deal... and internet rights
APCNews • 18/11/2005 08:17 • [Internet governance, Communication rights]

What actually brought about the WSIS deal on internet governance, in the 
way it evolved? An explanation from Canada... And, from Italy, a demand 
from the Greens for a Charter of Web Rights.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2502291

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-- WSIS BLOGS --

APC blogs are open to anyone in Tunis or around the world who wants to 
write or comment on the World Summit on the Information Society. While 
the official summit is over, our blogs stay open for comment and 
discussion. Here are some highlights.

Free... as in tee-shirts
By Emmanuel Njenga • 18/11/2005 16:12 •

Free, as in free speech... not free beer -- that's the message of those 
campaigning against free software. But what happens when it becomes 
'free as in tee-shirts'? And, no. We're not talking about the Ubuntu 
approach here --which not only offers you free CDs, but free shipping as 
well... if you know where to get it from.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2509169

For those of you not in Tunis
By Shahzad (Bytesforall, Pakistan) • 18/11/2005 13:20 • [WSIS 
implementation]

Tiring, long walk around the exhibition area. Given the crazy schedules 
here, it is very difficult to spare time and get a comprehensive outlook 
of the exhibition, however, am posting few links which may be of 
interest to some of you. Apologies for not putting these in some order. 
But there are some potentially useful links below...
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2506620

Unesco links... only a little handicap
By FN • 18/11/2005 13:04 • [Access] (0 Comments)

Am sitting in Goa, at one of those fast cybercafes scattered across 
India, that charge about US 50 cents per hour, and am accessing a set of 
links sent across by the Unesco about their webcasts on events held in 
the WSIS at Tunis. It's very slow in downloading, and the speech is 
jerky, but it works. See the links below....The links are to a Workshop 
on ICT and persons with disabilities, Case presentations: ICT and people 
with disabilities, UNESCO High-Level Round Table on the occasion of the 
World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). All of these can also be 
viewed at this site.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2506385

Overview of gender-related language in WSIS documents
By Jac sm Kee • 18/11/2005 17:05 • [Gender & ICTs]

The WSIS process is almost over, and I am wondering about what we have 
achieved in terms of integrating gender as a relevant dimension into the 
building of an 'information society' after seven years. What do we have?
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2509852

eRiding WSIS straight from Africa
By Rudi von Staden • 17/11/2005 20:11 • [Training & education]

One of the focuses of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 
process has been on the cross-cutting nature of technology, and how it 
can act as an enabler of other development objectives. In a workshop 
session on eRiders at WSIS, Toni Eliasz from Ungana-Afrika today 
presented a "replicable and low-cost ICT capacity building and support 
model" uniquely suited to enabling technology within this 
under-resourced sector commonly referred to as civil society.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2492763

The same old strangers
By Dafne Plou, APC women's programme • 17/11/2005 23:05 • [Communication 
rights, Human rights]

Why is that plain-clothes cops look the same the whole world round? Why 
do they cut their hair and comb it the same way? Why do they use the 
same black glasses and same gold chains? Why do they like those tropical 
shirts that in the long run become a uniform? In Buenos Aires, Rio de 
Janeiro, Santiago, Tegucigalpa or Tunisia, you can spot them a mile away.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2495097

Maroon, pink, turquoise and grey
By Shahzad (BytesForAll, Pakistan) • 17/11/2005 20:12 •

There is something very special about WSIS Tunis, which we didn't 
witnessed in Geneva. Yes, very special indeed... Like any other UN 
conference, or we can refer to WSIS Geneva too, this event is also full 
of colors, multi-national, multi-cultured and great mix of men, women, 
old men, old women, young boys and girls and frankly, I have seen a 3-4 
month old baby attending the event with his mother ;)
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2492890

Civil society reporting WSIS, the translation chain
By Valentina Pellizzer • 17/11/2005 20:11 • [Media & ICTs, Civil society
participation, Content & language, Freedom of expression, Human rights]

Oneworld Southeast Europe team choose to contribute to the event 
translating some of the articles, comments, opinion coming from APC WSIS 
Blog, in its language edition: Albanian, Macedonian and South Slavic 
language group. The reason is simply that we believe that what is 
happening in Tunis is about us.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2492759

Off site and in focus: measuring ICT access and use in Africa
By Anriette Esterhuysen • 16/11/2005 11:05 • [Access, National ICT
strategies]

My day started with a failed attempt to check in at the APC stand in 
ICT4all. Crowds of people were queuing to make it inside in time for the 
opening of the Summit. Having read Jac's diversity blog I cast an 
analytical eye over them. Only one category stood out. Suits.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2467680

Everyone leads their own WSIS process
By Milena Bokova • 16/11/2005 10:55 • [Civil society participation,
Environment & ICTs]

There are so many different caucuses and groups and everyone leads their 
own WSIS process. It's a pity that civil society couldn't find its way 
to consolidation for stronger influence on the process. As a result such 
an important issues as environmental sustainability, impact of the ICTs 
on the human health, unification of standards in different parts of the 
world, different systems compatibility are barely covered by the WSIS 
process. For the full text of the BlueLink's impressions from the WSIS 
in Tunis so far see the link below at the Bulgarian ICT policy monitor.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2467613

$100 laptop: hope or hype?
By FN • 18/11/2005 08:49 • [Access, Training & education, ICT for
development]

Prototypes for a $100 laptop for Third World schools are out... what 
does it look like? What can it do? Is there a catch? And, hang on, there 
is still discussion on whether the internet is a friend or foe of 
education....
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2502752

Voices from Africa, HANA
By FN • 18/11/2005 13:25 • [Internet governance, Media & ICTs, ICT for 
development, Civil society participation]

Highway Africa runs the Highway Africa News Agency. (Interestingly, its 
work is put out under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.5 
License.) They've got some interesting stories in their e-dispatch which 
just reached mailboxes earlier today.One story is about African 
delegates boast of ICT success stories. Perhaps the most catchy title is 
No teeth but can still chew the fat and it's a radio script for a radio 
report on the Internet Governance Forum and who controls the 
internet...You need to login to access these stories, but there's no 
commercial barrier (or, involuntary sign-up fee) needed to gain access.
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2506622

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-- SNAPSHOTS FROM WSIS --

Continuing our short on-the-sport interviews with a variety of 
participants in Tunisia.

Felix (Bolivia)

"It is nice to see so many technologies here, but I don't think we will 
ever have this in Bolivia, much less in our communities (pause) This 
summit is incommunicado, in Bolivia people go to telecentres and connect 
to the internet there. Here everyone has a laptop and connects that way. 
Those of us that don't have one cannot connect and send information to 
our radio stations -- which is my case. On the other hand, here everyone 
speaks English, so language is another limitation."
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2508911

Snapshot: Jose Jara (Peru)

"Internet for personal development, that should be the key axis of the 
debate. In Peru, there is still many people who have no access... having 
a laptop like this one is a luxury for most people there..." This 
Peruvian TV journalist finds the debate to be too general, and without 
practical outcomes. There should be less discourse and more action, he 
feels. "Rich countries should state clearly how they will facilitate the 
access of the poor to the internet."
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2487715

Snapshot: Taurai Maduna (Zimbabwe)

"I am not that interested in what governments came to say. They come 
with messages that are not negotiable. On the contrary, it is great to 
listen to people from the NGOs and exchange ideas with them."
http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2481459

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-- APC WSIS BLOGS: WHAT THE OTHERS SAY --

We've seen blog posts picked up and/or translated in Macedonia, Albania, 
Bulgaria, Australia, Finland, Argentina, Chile.. the list goes on. And 
there were recommendations to read us…

"The APC blog is your front row seat to the event [WSIS]." - From Pakistan
http://spiderisat.blogspot.com/2005/11/vignettes-from-tunis-bytesforall-is-at.html
"In addition to the copious news reporting [on WSIS], bloggers are hard 
at work. Be sure to follow WSISblogs.org for the latest. The APC WSIS 
blog is also excellent." - From the USA
http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/globalvoices/2005/11/16/wsis-in-tunisia-governance-issue-settled-free-speech-issue-boils/

"If you are interested in keeping up with the WSIS meeting, there are 
several blogs and news services to watch...* WSIS-Wire: aggregation of 
stories from a range of blog and commercial sources * APC blog: 
commentary on the official meeting's agenda (mostly) * Panos I-Witness 
blog: commentary from Panos reporters * Infosud: commentary in French 
and English * Technorati: search for latest blog content" – From the ICT 
for Development Weblog
http://community.eldis.org/webx?14@472.dUO7aci9hXh.0@.ee802e6!discloc=.eeca384
[LONG URL]

Did you find the APC WSIS blogs useful? Which language did you read 
most? Please tell us by posting to the blog or writing to 
communications at apc.org. It will help us in our future planning. Thanks 
for reading! We hope to hear from you in the future.

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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/

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Licence 2.0 - 2005 Association for Progressive Communications
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