From frederic at apc.org  Wed Apr 11 14:12:19 2007
From: frederic at apc.org (=?UTF-8?B?RnLDqWTDqXJpYyBEdWJvaXM=?=)
Date: Wed Apr 11 14:14:06 2007
Subject: [APCPress] APCNews - April 2007 - No 74
Message-ID: <461CDEB3.8090504@apc.org>

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
                *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
           Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                                 April 2007 No. 74
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-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- NEWS FROM APC --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- STRATEGIC USES & CAPACITY BUILDING --
-- WOMEN & ICTs --
-- ENVIRONMENT & ICTs --
-- APC IN THE NEWS --
-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --
-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES --
-- IMPORTANT DATES --
-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC --
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS ?-

BLUELINK, Bulgaria: Thousands sign an online petition to save Bulgarian 
nature

Is the Bulgarian environment in danger? Does a new threat arise from the 
Balkan republic?s joining the European Union? A petition launched by the 
civil society campaign ?Let Nature Live in Bulgaria!? says yes on both 
counts. Over 14,000 people have already signed. The campaign site, 
developed by APC-member BlueLink, contains information on potential 
threats to protected areas, case studies on violations of environmental 
protection laws and destructive projects in the Bulgarian mountains, 
wetlands and on the Black Sea coast. - BlueLink
http://bluelink.net/en/menu/news.shtml?x=11475


BYTES FOR ALL, South Asia: Pakistan works to joining the Creative 
Commons network

Soon after the launch of the CreativeCommons.org licensing programme for 
India, to the west, neighbouring Pakistan is working to get the same 
moving too. During a two-day workshop in Lahore, Pakistan, entitled 
"Towards an Open Information Society in Pakistan", there was intense 
debate on issues of copyrights, intellectual property rights and 
alternate forms . Will these discussions translate into more content 
sharing in Urdu? Will Qawwali music and music by the renowned Nusrat 
Fateh Ali Khan now trade freely under the double ?c? or any other 
general public licence? ? BytesForAll
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059267


CECS, South Africa: An ICT literacy portal is in the works in South Africa

South Africa-based APC member Community Education Computer Society 
(CECS) is working to build a free knowledge and ICT literacy portal as 
part of its wider goal to promote "ICT Literacy For All". Is it just one 
more internet portal? APCNews has talked to CECS? Arnold Pietersen, just 
to learn that this new online resource could well become the right 
address for finding training material on how the use free software. 
Plus, it?s to be fully collaborative, which means that you can share 
your ICT knowledge with the rest of us. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059293


ECONNECT, Czech Republic: Czech ICT group bets on multimedia for its 
news production

Up until recently, Prague-based Econnect, a civil society association 
facilitating communication through the internet, broadcast news segments 
via its website. Most of these were simple text articles. Some had 
pictures. Now, Tom?? Tetiva of Econnect says his group is changing its 
ways and going for an improved approach to media using video and audio 
clips. But is that all it takes for news to make its way to a wider 
audience? Read a historical overview of media in the Czech Republic to 
see how this fits in. ? Econnect
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059302


FORUM FOR MEDIA ALTERNATIVES, Philippines: Asia pursues a roadmap of 
action to strengthen ?access to knowledge?

"Access to knowledge is both an issue of economic development and an 
issue of individual participation and human liberty" says an article by 
Jack M. Balkin. This buzzword makes reference to a world in which 
information and knowledge are increasingly becoming like products. 
Knowledge is worth money. Knowledge is worth power. Without much 
fanfare, a group of twenty-two Asians sat down in Bankok last March to 
tap into that power. They drew out a roadmap of actions in order for 
that knowledge to stay in the hands of the people. Idealistic? Maybe, 
but the actions are real and timely and might take you further than you 
think. ? FMA
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059252


NODO TAU, Argentina: Native communities connect in Rosario

The Tobas are native people from the Chaco region, one of the main 
geographical entities of Latin America. Many of them have migrated to 
cities and Rosario, in Argentina, has attracted several members of that 
community. News about the recent launch of a community computing 
telecentre in the Toba neighbourhood of that city has been making waves. 
This is because the neighbours do not actually have access to internet 
caf?s and are often discriminated against on the basis of their ethnic 
background. Nodo TAU, APC?s member in Rosario, has been supporting this 
cooperative project since many years. - Nodo TAU
http://www.tau.org.ar/noticia_desarrollo.shtml?x=32788 [in Spanish]


STRAWBERRYNET, Romania: Internet governance awareness in Romania

StrawberryNet, APC?s member in Romania and the Association for 
Technology and Internet held a workshop to raise awareness about 
internet governance in Romania. Supported by APC?s ICT policy programme, 
the February 2007 Bucharest workshop acknowledged that Romania suffers 
from a lack of cohesion among civil society in the ICT field. The role 
of civil society itself is furthermore perceived differently by NGOs and 
the government, reveals the workshop. - Diplo
http://www.diplomacy.edu/ig/Activities/display.asp?Topic=APTI


ZAMIRNET, Croatia: ZaMirNET joins a Croatian free software cluster

The APC member in Croatia, ZaMirNET, has joined an industrial cluster 
working on free and open source software. Read part one (of two) of this 
new adventure that could help transform Croatia?s software sector. The 
full interview in part two reveals the specific role ZaMirNET will play 
in the nascent economic network. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059261


ZAMIRNET, Croatia: ?We want to make free software producers more 
influential, customers happier?

APC member in Croatia, ZaMirNET, has joined an information and 
communication technologies industrial cluster working on free and open 
source software. Interview with Danijela Babic of ZaMirNET in this part 
two (of two) on Croatian software policy. The news article in part one 
provides the details about the orientation and composition of the free 
software cluster. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059263

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-- NEWS FROM APC --

HARAMBEE SMALL GRANT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Harambee (pronounced haram-BAY) means "pulling together" in the most 
widely spoken language of sub-Saharan Africa: Swahili. The word Harambee 
captures the efforts invested to build and maintain communities.

The Association for Progressive Communications not only borrows the 
term, it also celebrated it in March 2007. In releasing the list of 
successful applicants in one of its small grants initiatives, APC's 
women programme in Africa injected some real-life into the motto online. 
  Harambee small grants are offered to better equip Africa-based 
networks to play a lead role in development dialogues and actions 
affecting them. Six applicants out of the original 200+ walked away with 
a grant that highlights their networking activities.

APC's writers will offer you the profiles of the six Harambee grantees 
of 2007 over the next three months. This month, APCNews zooms in on the 
"Diary Project" in Uganda and the "Blogs for African Women" out of Nigeria.
http://wikis.bellanet.org/harambee/index.php/Main_Page


DSI.ORG, Uganda: Overcoming the orphan curse with ICTs

DSI.ORG, a small non-profit located in the western Ugandan district of 
Kabarole, recently created the Diary Project. It assists boys from 
child-headed families affected by HIV/AIDS to cope with grief, stigma 
and discrimination, share experiences and knowledge, and work together. 
But why would boys with hands full of responsibilities even bother 
getting their heads around ICTs asked APCNews writer Katherine Walraven 
in a March interview.  ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059254

BLOGS FOR AFRICAN WOMEN, Nigeria: Getting Nigerian women hooked on 
technology

Blogs for African Women (BAWo) has taken hold of Nigerian creativity to 
strengthen women's activism. Read about Networking for Success, BAWo's 
second initiative getting Nigerian women into the blogosphere. APCNews 
writer Erika Smith has found out that the driving force behind the 
Nigerian blogging spirit is that it ?helps pool knowledge?. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059158


APCNEWS READER SURVEY: 15-minute questionnaire to tell us what you think

In mid 2007, APC is launching a *new APC.org* website in English, 
Spanish and for the first time *French* and  *Portuguese*. We'll also be 
introducing a new French-language newsletter *APCNouvelles*. APC first 
started producing APCNews and APCNoticias -our monthly newsletters in 
English and Spanish- back in 1999 and our newsletter format and 
distribution has not changed radically since it was first introduced. 
It's time to take stock. If you are subscribed to APCNews, we want your 
opinion!

APC wants to find out:
1. What you think about APCNews
2. How you are using our stories and articles in your work
3. If it's time to change how APCNews looks and how often you receive it. ?
This is the last week to tell us what you think. Many thanks!
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=703013452577

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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

INTERVIEW: Internet in Africa: Development first, governance later

?In a nutshell, Africa needs to be concerned about developing internet 
usage first, rather than dwelling on who governs the internet and how,? 
claimed the African non-governmental organisation CIPESA in a research 
paper published right before the Internet Governance Forum (IGF), which 
took place in Athens at the end of 2006. With eye kept on the upcoming 
IGF II in November, APCNews discussed this underrepresented approach to 
internet governance with Vincent Bagiire of CIPESA. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059315


ANALYSIS: Ownership models for fibre cables

There are two distinct business models for providing fibre optic cables, 
namely: purely commercial and partly commercial. ?A third approach, 
which is yet to be tried (as in implemented), but which is highly 
acclaimed in donor and academic communities, is known as the open access 
approach,? explains John Walubengo of the Kenya ICT Action Network. ? 
Fibre for Africa
http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5058919


EASSy SUBMARINE CABLE ANALYSIS: Mapping the players

This paper by APC?s ICT policy researcher for the African region, 
Abiodun Jagun, adopts a stakeholder approach to analysing EASSy. It 
provides a graphical illustration of the hierarchy of power and interest 
among the different groups engaged in the EASSy process and highlights 
how different stakeholder groups are able -through forming coalitions? 
to influence the proposed ownership structure of the fibre-optic cable. 
The paper looks at the current impasse within the EASSy project, which 
has been described as a disconnect between the commercial and political 
ends of the cable and concludes that the powerful position initially 
held by the EASSy consortium has been diluted with the impasse creating 
high levels of uncertainty about the viability of the EASSy project. ? 
FibreForAfrica.net
http://fibreforafrica.net/main.shtml?x=5057715


The following interview is drawn from Chakula, APC?s information and 
communication technology (ICT) policy newsletter for Africa. It is 
published quarterly by APC?s policy programme (CIPP).

INTERVIEW: NEPAD - ?We?re not telling anyone what we do??

Edmund Katiti is the policy and regulatory advisor to the New 
Partnership for Africa?s Development?s (NEPAD?s) e-Africa Commission. 
The e-Africa Commission is charged with the coordinated development of 
NEPAD?s ICT policies, programmes and projects. A top priority is to 
ensure that all African countries will be connected to one another by 
broadband fibre-optic cable systems that will, in turn, link them to 
global telecommunication networks. APC?s Africa ICT policy monitor 
newsletter Chakula asked Katiti some easy, and more difficult questions? 
- Chakula
http://africa.rights.apc.org/en-chakula.shtml?x=5059183#one

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-- STRATEGIC USES & CAPACITY BUILDING --

ARTICLE: An option for online documentation, Newsrack.in, helps NGOs

Subramanya Sastry is an Indian techie who holds a doctorate from the 
University of Wisconsin but chooses to deploy his software skills for 
the development sector back home. A tool he created, called NewsRack.in, 
is drawing rave reviews from the few who have encountered it early. - 
Asia Commons
http://www.asia-commons.net/newsrack

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-- WOMEN & ICTs --

UPDATE: The GRACE research to hold new workshop, launch new website

The Gender Research in Africa into ICTs for Empowerment (GRACE) is a 
research project that APCNews has been covering in the past. APC's women 
programme in Africa (AAW) also engaged with the project over the last 
months. But where is it at? Capacity building workshops were held in 
July 2005 and June 2006, with a third workshop planned for July 2007. 
Here is a short update on GRACE. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059433


ANALYSIS: The following in-depth analysis articles are drawn from 
GenderIT.org, APC?s Women Networking Support Programme?s (APC WNSP) 
gender and ICT policy news source.

ANALYSIS I: Pakistan?s web of censorship

The internet has become a critical space for ordinary citizens in 
Pakistan to speak their minds, and exchange information. These include 
women who sharpen their ICT skills and turn to weblogs as a platform for 
articulation of their concerns of everyday life. But is this relative 
?freedom? under threat? This article presents an overview of the 
country?s internet regulation mechanism, and how a recent banning of the 
Blogspot website has revealed the multiple attempts by the government to 
control content in cyberspace. ? GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=95134


ANALYSIS II: Mommy knows best, or perhaps the church, or maybe the 
school? A conversation about online content regulation

Who decides what we should see and not see online? Should parents decide 
on behalf of their children? Or should it be the church? Or the school? 
Are women and children better left alone? Mavic Cabrera-Balleza was a 
member of the GenderIT blogging team at the first Internet Governance 
Forum (IGF) that took place in Athens in November of 2006. She spoke 
with two IGF participants, Caroline Wamala from Uganda and Itir Akdogan 
from Turkey, about gender issues in internet governance and online 
content regulation. ? GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=95136


ANALYSIS III: Women and the Philippine media: At the fringes of freedom

Where do women stand in the struggle for freedoms to express, create and 
disseminate information through ICTs? Censorship comes in multiple forms 
in the Philippines. The country has one of the highest counts of media 
practitioners killed in the course of their work in the region. Yet, it 
retains a contradictory position as one of the more open media 
landscapes in South East Asia. Whatever the reality, gendered 
expectations and roles seem to play out in this field, from ?old? tech, 
to the new. Female sexuality becomes a site for contestation and 
(re)appropriation. ? GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=95133


BLOGGING FROM THE PHILIPPINES: ?Pinays? discuss Take Back The Tech and 
free software
By Sarah Escandor-Tomas

In a Philippine conference on FOSS and e-governance running on March 7 
and 8, participants talked about advocating free and open source 
software (FOSS) in the government, especially at the local level. Apart 
from the main event, APC-member WomensHub organised a mini-session for 
women to talk about the Take Back The Tech campaign and FOSS 
training/mentoring for girls. ? APC blog
http://blog.apc.org/en/index.shtml?x=5058469


BLOGGING FROM INDIA:  Films, Desire & Digital Spaces
By Jac sm Kee

?It seems almost unreal to engage in conversations about desire at a 
fifteenth century fort in India, but that's exactly what Cheekay Cinco 
and I did from 7 - 10 March,? writes Jac sm Kee. APC WNSP organised a 
panel and workshop at Films of Desire, an event that brought together 
activists, human rights advocates, film makers and academics to engage 
in dialogue around the socio-political dimensions of representation. The 
focus of the event was around sexualities, and how their 
mis/non/positive representations on screen is related to real life 
negotiations on this difficult and shifting terrain. ? APC blog
http://blog.apc.org/en/index.shtml?x=5059040

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-- APC IN THE NEWS --

THISDAY ONLINE, Nigeria: ICT as a development tool
Efem Nkanga, Wednesday March 28 2007

Has any one heard of a small and remote village in Kaduna state called 
Fantsuam? It's the smallest village in that state in the northern part 
of Nigeria. Fantsuam locals are a savvy digitally compliant lot who in a 
few years have become a living example of what ICT can do to usher in 
development where none existed. The digital growth of that village is 
driven by APC-member Fantsuam Foundation, a non-governmental initiative 
that is slowly transforming that locality into a digitally compliant 
village.- THISDAY
http://www.thisdayonline.com/nview.php?id=74167

IDRC, Canada: Grounding GEM for Telecentres: Experiences of Ecuador and 
the Philippines
By Claire Bur?, March 2007

This 19-page comparative study examined how the Gender Evaluation 
Methodology
(GEM) framework was used with telecentres in Ecuador and the 
Philippines, and
outcomes of its use. Findings from this study lead to a set of 
recommendations for the use of GEM within telecentre contexts in the 
future, including a need for GEM for telecentres to be more concrete, 
locally grounded, and participatory. It is also recommended to include a 
feasibility scan before implementation. GEM is an initiative of the APC 
women?s programme. - IDRC
http://www.idrc.ca/uploads/user-S/11722592811Grounding_GEM_for_Telecentres.pdf 


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-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

PRIMER ON FOSS: The ?e-primer on free and open source software (FOSS): 
Network infrastructure and security?, with a foreword by Robert Shaw of 
the International Telecommunication Union, introduces readers to the 
network concepts and architectures, and the major networking functions 
with FOSS. It also discusses network security functions with FOSS, 
including security best practices and ?to-do's?.
http://www.apdip.net/news/fossnetwork

MDGs ATLAS: If you feel like visiting the World Bank, note that their 
new online atlas of Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) is out. It 
offers a visualisation of the Millennium Development Goals. One can 
explore the maps of key indicators for each of the eight MDG goals. It 
intends to make a wide range of data for over 200 economies easily 
accessible.
Available in English, French and Spanish.
http://devdata.worldbank.org/atlas-mdg/  and
http://ddp-ext.worldbank.org/ext/GMIS/home.do?siteId=2

POCKETBOOK ON FREEDOM OF EXRESSION: Freedom of expression organisation 
ARTICLE 19 has released a new publication, the "Central Asian Pocketbook 
on Freedom of Expression" at the Almaty Press Club in Kazakhstan on 
March 13. The 230-page long book, provides a brief but comprehensive 
overview of key thematic areas such as acceptable limitations on freedom 
of expression, regulation of the media, the rights of journalists, the 
law of defamation and privacy, national security and the right of access 
to in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan.
In English: 
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/tools/central-asian-pocketbook.pdf
In Russian: 
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/tools/central-asian-pocketbook-ru.pdf

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

-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES --

MANUAL ON HUMAN RIGHTS: The online version of the Digital Security and 
Privacy for Human Rights Defenders manual has just been launched. The 
website offers an easier way to read the manual, browse through the 
different links and possibly contribute to it. Frontlinedefenders.org 
also provides a much better platform for translation.
http://www.frontlinedefenders.org/manual/en/esecman/

SPECIAL JOURNAL ON WIRELESS: A special edition of the Journal of 
Community Informatics will be devoted to ?Wireless Networking and Social 
Justice?. The journal takes a global perspective on community wireless 
projects, in order to broaden its understanding of the technologies, 
organisational structures, and policy implications of projects developed 
by communities around the world. Abstracts are due on April 15, 2007 and 
must include the author's affiliation and contact information. Full 
paper submissions are due by June 1, 2007. For more information, contact 
Sascha Meinrath: joci@saschameinrath.com
http://ci-journal.net

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

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

APRIL 9-13: Ourmedia conference VI
Sydney, Australia
http://www.ourmedia07.net/

APRIL 15-17: APC Asia member meeting
Sydney, Australia

APRIL 19-20: Second national encounter of women mayors
APC WNSP participating
Buenos Aires, Argentina

APRIL 23-27: FOSSFA media practitioners free software meeting
Accra, Ghana
http://www.fossfa.net/fossfa

APRIL 23-MAY 4: AFNOG/AfriNIC/ISOC Africa meetings
Abuja, Nigeria
http://www.afnog.org/

APRIL 27-29: Yale University access to knowledge II conference
New Haven, United States of America
http://research.yale.edu/isp/eventsa2k.html

MAY 1-4: Computer, Freedom and Privacy 2007
Montreal, Canada
http://www.cfp2007.org/live/index.html

MAY 7-9: APC North American member meeting
Montreal, Canada

MAY 14-25: World Summit on the Information Society action line follow-up 
meetings and World Information Society Day
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/cluster.asp?year=2007&month=0&type='alf'&subtype=0

MAY 14-15: Second facilitation meeting on ?Building confidence and 
security in the use of ICTs? (WSIS action line 5)
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.itu.int/pgc

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
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.

Subscribe to APCNews: http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apcnews
Visit the APCNews archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/
Contact APCNews: apcnews [at] apc.org

Some rights reserved: Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial Licence 2.5
Association for Progressive Communications (APC), 2007

From khiggs at apc.org  Thu Apr 12 22:08:25 2007
From: khiggs at apc.org (Karen Higgs)
Date: Thu Apr 12 22:08:57 2007
Subject: [APCPress] APCNews reader survey: invitation to participate - last
	opportunity
Message-ID: <461E9FC9.5020108@apc.org>

*APCNews reader survey* - closes April 16

APCNews: A monthly e-bulletin on internet and technology for social
justice and sustainable development produced by the Association for
Progressive Communications (APC)

APC wants to find out:
1.what readers think about APCNews
2.how you are using our stories and articles in your work
3.if it's time to change what how APCNews looks and how often you receive it

I would like to invite you to fill in a 15-minute questionnaire to tell
us exactly what you think at
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.asp?u=703013452577

Why now?

In mid 2007, APC is launching a *new APC.org* website in English,
Spanish and for the first time *French* and  *Portuguese*. We'll also be
introducing a new French-language newsletter *APCNouvelles*. APC first
started producing APCNews and APCNoticias -our monthly newsletters in
English and Spanish- back in 1999 and our newsletter format and
distribution has not changed radically since it was first introduced.
It's time to take stock.

Who should fill in the survey?

Any APCNews reader ? campaigners, journalists, trainers, telecentre
visitors, women's groups, policy-makers, geeks, environmentalists,
philanthropists, ICT4D specialists... If you are subscribed to APCNews,
we want your opinion!

We really appreciate your time and thank you very much for your
collaboration so that we can better support the work you do.

All the best
Karen Higgs
______________________________________________________

Karen Higgs, APC Communications Manager
Montevideo, Uruguay
Tel: +598 - 2 - 400 6460 (-2 UTC)
APC: http://www.apc.org
______________________________________________________

APCNews: Civil society's monthly e-bulletin on strategic uses of the
internet to promote social justice and sustainable development. To
receive the news direct, write to: news@apc.org or go to:
http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apcnews
______________________________________________________

APCNoticias: Un bolet?n electr?nico dirigido a la sociedad civil,
enfocado en el uso de internet para promover la justicia social y el
desarrollo sostenible.  Para recibir las noticias directamente, escribe
a: noticias@apc.org o visite:
http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apcnoticias
_______________________________________________
APCNews mailing list
APCNews@lists.apc.org
http://lists.apc.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/apcnews


From frederic at apc.org  Wed May  2 17:33:51 2007
From: frederic at apc.org (=?UTF-8?B?RnLDqWTDqXJpYyBEdWJvaXM=?=)
Date: Wed May  2 17:58:46 2007
Subject: [APCPress] APC Pool of writers: Job announcement -- Pool de
 journalistes d'APC:
 Offre d'emploi -- Pool de periodistas de APC: Llamado a candidaturas
Message-ID: <4638BD6F.6040101@apc.org>

Fran?ais ci-bas
Espa?ol abajo
---

ENGLISH

APC POOL OF WRITERS: Two job announcements, one pool

1. APCNEWS: Freelance writers wanted for APCNews!

APCNews in English, APCNoticias in Spanish, and APCNouvelles in French 
are distributed monthly by APC -- a worldwide network supporting the use 
of internet and information and communication technology (ICT) for 
social justice and sustainable development since 1990.

APCNews writers are:

     * Advocates, journalists, bloggers, researchers, and people with an 
interest in the field of internet and ICTs for social change
     * Proficient in English, Spanish and/or French with excellent 
writing skills
     * Able to report on one or more of APC?s thematic areas: ICT policy 
and policy analysis, the strategic use of ICTs for social justice work, 
environment and ICTs and/or gender and ICTs.
     * Applicants who have an appreciation of social activism, social 
movements and/or the civil society sector
      * Based in any continent. Preference will be given to writers from 
the global south.

Writers should be interested in producing in-depth analysis features, 
interviews and/or short news articles on a freelance basis.

We are interested in working with writers from all continents. APC is a 
virtual network and in general most of our research and interviews are 
done online. The writer rarely meets the subjects of his/her work.

If you're interested in writing for APCNews in English, French or 
Spanish, please submit the following in the language you intend to write 
in*:
-- Your r?sum?
-- A letter of intent which tells us about your experience and the 
challenges faced by a journalist working online, your interest in 
writing for APC, APC thematic areas that you are familiar with, other 
languages you speak
-- Three samples of writings
-- Three story ideas for upcoming APCNews editions.
*If you are interested in writing in more than one language, please 
submit your letter of intent in the languages applicable.

Send your application to jobs.pool@apc.org with the subject line ?Pool 
of writers: APCNews -- Your Name? by May 15 2007.

  Applications which do not contain the information as requested or 
which contain viruses will be disqualified. Only short-listed candidates 
will be contacted by APC.


2. GENDERIT.ORG: Calling for writers on ICT policy and gender in Africa 
and the Arab world

GenderIT.org has been cited by readers as an important, singular website 
that engages with issues around gender & ICT policies.

We are building a pool of writers (in collaboration with APCNews) to 
contribute on a freelance basis. The first call for writers in 2006 
received many outstanding applicants, some of whom have become part of 
our dynamic writing pool.

However, to keep the site relevant to diverse realities, we are now 
issuing a second round of calls, specifically for writers from the 
*Africa region* and the *Arab-speaking world*

The GenderIT.org writers are:

     * Advocates, journalists, bloggers, researchers, and people working
       in the field of gender, development and/or ICT polices;
     * Applicants who are proficient in English, with good writing skills
       and a good grasp of women's and media and/or communication rights
       in their region;
     * Applicants should be able to offer gender/feminist analysis on ICT
       policy issues and processes;
     * Applicants are based in countries within the Africa region and/or 
Arab
       world.

The issues to be covered by the writing team will be collaboratively 
defined with other writers, editors and the GenderIT.org coordinator 
over email and during regular on-line meetings. Payment rates will 
depend on the kind of articles, issues covered and level of analysis.

We'd like to hear about your experiences in the gender and/or ICT 
polices, and the priority areas of focus related to this area. Please 
send a short email in English or Spanish explaining your interest in 
joining us, a sample of your work (article, research or analytical 
writing especially if it is related to the themes covered by
genderIT.org), and your CV to genderit@apcwomen.org with the subject 
line ?Pool of writers: GenderIT.org -- Your Name?. Deadline is May 15, 2007.

---

FRAN?AIS

POOL DE JOURNALISTES D?APC : deux offres d?emplois, un seul pool

1. APCNouvelles : Nous recherchons des journalistes ind?pendants pour 
APCNouvelles !

APCNews en anglais, APCNoticias en espagnol et APCNouvelles en fran?ais 
sont distribu?es mensuellement par APC ? un r?seau mondial appuyant 
l?utilisation d?internet et des technologies de l?information et de la 
communication (TIC) pour la justice sociale et le d?veloppement durable 
depuis 1990.

Les journalistes d?APCNouvelles :

?	sont des militants, des journalistes, des blogueurs, des chercheurs, 
et des personnes qui s?int?ressent ? l?internet et aux TIC pour le 
changement social ;
?	ma?trisent l?anglais, l?espagnol et/ou le fran?ais et sont excellents 
en r?daction
?	sont capables d??crire sur un ou plusieurs domaines th?matiques d?APC 
: politiques de TIC et analyse politique, l?utilisation strat?gique des 
TIC pour le travail de justice sociale ;
?	sont des candidats qui connaissent l?activisme social, les mouvements 
sociaux et / ou le secteur de la soci?t? civile ;
?	sont bas?s sur n?importe quel continent. La pr?f?rence sera donn?e aux 
personnes originaires du Sud.

Les journalistes devraient ?tre int?ress?s ? produire des papiers 
d?analyses en profondeur, des entrevues et/ou des articles brefs sur une 
base contractuelle.

Nous voulons travailler avec des journalistes en provenance de tous les 
continents. L?APC est un r?seau virtuel et en g?n?ral, la plupart de 
notre recherche et de nos entrevues s?effectuent en ligne. Le/la 
journaliste rencontre rarement les sujets de son travail.

Si vous ?tes int?ress? ? ?crire pour APCNouvelles en anglais, en 
fran?ais ou en espagnol, veuillez envoyer le dossier suivant dans la 
langue dans laquelle vous voulez ?crire* :

-- votre CV
-- une lettre d?intention qui d?crit votre exp?rience et les d?fis 
auxquels sont confront?s les journalistes en ligne, votre int?r?t ? 
?crire pour APC, les domaines th?matiques d?APC qui vous sont familiers, 
d?autres langues que vous parlez.
-- Trois ?chantillons de documents ?crits par vous
-- Trois id?es d?articles pour les prochaines ?ditions d?APCNouvelles.

*Au cas o? vous voudriez contribuer dans plus d?une langue, veuillez 
soumettre votre lettre d?intention dans la langue concern?e.

Veuillez envoyer votre demande ? jobs.pool@apc.org avec en objet ? Pool 
de journalistes : APCNouvelles ? Votre Nom ? au plus tard le 15 mai 2007.

Les dossiers incomplets ou infect?s de virus seront disqualifi?s. Seuls 
les candidats pr?s?lectionn?s seront contact?s par APC.


2. GENDERIT.ORG : Appel aux journalistes sur les politiques de TIC et le 
genre en Afrique et dans le monde arabe

GenderIT.org a ?t? cit? par des lecteurs comme un site web important et 
unique qui traite des questions touchant au genre et aux politiques de TIC.

Nous sommes en train de constituer une r?serve de journalistes (en 
collaboration avec APCNouvelles) qui pourront contribuer sur une base 
contractuelle. Le premier appel aux journalistes, lanc? en 2006, a 
attir? plusieurs candidats d?envergure dont certains font maintenant 
partie de notre dynamique ?quipe de r?daction.

N?anmoins, pour maintenir le site pertinent vis-?-vis de diverses 
r?alit?s, nous lan?ons encore un second tour d?appel, ax? sur les 
journalistes de la *r?gion Afrique* et du *monde arabe*.

Les journalistes de GenderIT.org

?	sont des militants, des journalistes, des blogueurs, des chercheurs, 
et des personnes travaillant dans les domaines du genre, du 
d?veloppement et / ou des politiques de TIC ;
?	ma?trisent l?anglais, sont excellentes en r?daction et ont une 
excellente connaissance des femmes et des media et / ou des droits de la 
communication dans leur r?gion ;
?	devraient ?tre en mesure d?offrir des analyses f?ministes sur les 
questions relatives aux politiques de TIC ;
?	vivent dans des pays situ?s en Afrique et/ou dans le monde arabe

Les sujets qui seront couverts par l??quipe de r?daction seront d?finis 
en collaboration avec d?autres r?dacteurs, les r?dacteurs en chef et le 
coordinateur de GenderIT.org par courrier ?lectronique et au cours de 
r?guli?res r?unions en ligne. Les taux de paiement d?pendront du type 
d?article, des sujets couverts et du niveau d?analyse.

Nous serions heureux de conna?tre vos exp?riences dans le domaine du 
genre et /ou des politiques de TIC, et vos domaines prioritaires de 
concentration. Veuillez envoyer un court message ?lectronique en anglais 
ou en espagnol, expliquant votre int?r?t ? vous joindre ? notre ?quipe, 
un ?chantillon de votre travail (article, recherche ou document 
d?analyse, sp?cialement si c?est en lien avec les th?mes couverts par 
genderIT.org) et votre CV ? genderit@apcwomen.org avec en objet : ? Pool 
de journalistes : GenderIT.org ? Votre Nom ?. La date limite est le 15 
mai 2007.

---

SPANISH

Llamado para periodistas en APC

Se buscan periodistas freelance para APCNoticias

APCNoticias en espa?ol, APCNews en ingl?s y APCNouvelles in franc?s son 
boletines mensuales de APC, una red mundial que apoya el uso de internet 
y las tecnolog?as de informaci?n y comunicaci?n para la justicia social 
y el desarrollo desde 1990.

Los colaboradores de APCNoticias:

    * son  activistas, periodistas, bloguers, investigadores/as y gente 
interesada en el campo de internet y las tecnolog?as de informaci?n y 
comunicaci?n para el cambio social;
    * dominan el ingl?s, el espa?ol o el franc?s y poseen excelentes 
cualidades de redacci?n;
    * est?n familiarizados/as con algunas de  las ?reas tem?ticas de 
APC: pol?ticas de TIC y an?lisis pol?tico, uso estrat?gico de las TIC 
para la justicia social, ambiente y TIC o g?nero y TIC;
    * est?n involucrados/as en el activismo social, los movimientos 
sociales o la sociedad civil o siguen de cerca lo que sucede en este sector.
    * viven en cualquier continente. Se dar? preferencia a postulantes 
del Sur.

Los/as periodistas deber?n producir art?culos de an?lisis, entrevistas o 
noticias cortas en una modalidad freelance.

Queremos trabajar con personas de todos los continentes. APC es una red 
virtual y la mayor parte de nuestras investigaciones y entrevistas se 
llevan a cabo en l?nea. El/la periodista pocas veces se encuentra en 
persona sus entrevistados/as.

Para postularse como periodista freelance en ingl?s, franc?s o espa?ol 
en la lengua correspondiente* enviar:

-- curr?culum vitae,
-- carta de intenci?n mencionando experiencia, inter?s en trabajar para 
APC, ?reas tem?ticas de nuestra organizaci?n con las que el/la 
postulante est? familiarizado/a y otras lenguas que domina,
-- tres ejemplos de art?culos,
-- tres ideas de notas para las siguientes ediciones de APCNoticias

a la direcci?n jobs.pool@apc.org con el asunto ?Pool of writers: 
APCNoticias -- Nombre del/a candidato/a? antes del 15 de mayo de 2007.

* Quienes quieran producir art?culos en m?s de un idioma deben redactar 
la carta de intenci?n en todas las lenguas correspondientes.

Postilaciones que no contengan la informaci?n requerida o con virus no 
ser?n consideradas. Solamente se contactar? a las personas 
preseleccionadas.

From frederic at apc.org  Mon May 14 19:47:48 2007
From: frederic at apc.org (=?UTF-8?B?RnLDqWTDqXJpYyBEdWJvaXM=?=)
Date: Mon May 14 20:35:48 2007
Subject: [APCPress] APCNews - May 2007 - No 75
Message-ID: <4648AED4.3090305@apc.org>

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
                *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
           Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                     May 2007 No. 75
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- NEWS FROM APC --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- STRATEGIC USES & CAPACITY BUILDING --
-- WOMEN & ICTs ?-
-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --
-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES --
-- SITES OF INTEREST --
-- IMPORTANT DATES --
-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC --
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS ?-

C2O, Australia: APC.au, sailing with changing times and moving with the surf

Grant McHerron always has a joke and formidable technical skills to 
share. Or so it was when APCNews ran into APC.au's technical director in 
Sydney, Australia, during the APC's Asia-Pacific members meeting, held 
in mid-April 2007. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059880


JINBONET, South Korea: Opposition to draft legislation on "Communication 
Data Retention"

The South Korean parliament is discussing a dangerous revision of the 
"Protection of Communications Secrets Act". The revision would legally 
enforce telecommunications companies and internet service providers 
(ISPs) to retain 'communications data'. Do people agree with this? 
APC-member in South Korea, Jinbonet, thinks not. International civil 
society organisations think not. They endorsed a letter of protest that 
was sent to the South Korean parliament ? Jinbonet
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059742


UNGANA-AFRIKA, South Africa: Team of social techies moving across 
southern Africa

To address the current information and communication technologies 
capacity crisis most development organisations are facing, APC-member 
Ungana-Afrika will be expanding and strengthening the network of 
development sector oriented ICT consultants, eRiders, across the 
southern African region. - Ungana-Afrika
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059645


WOUGNET, Uganda: Ugandan women network launches a book about ICT-based 
entrepreneuship

Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET) launches Women's ICT-based Enterprises 
Handbook and a CD entitled "A Guide to Promote, Initiate and Improve 
Women's ICT Based Enterprises in Uganda". The APC-member WOUGNET 
published the multilingual document in English and two local languages. 
- WOUGNET
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060807

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

-- NEWS FROM APC --

THREE NEW APC MEMBERS: In April 2007, three new members joined the APC 
family. For this occasion, the Association for Progressive 
Communications has grown to 48 members in total. BFES from Bangladesh, 
Prot?g? QV from Cameroon and Metamorphosis from Macedonia are presented 
here succinctly. APCNews will continue covering the APC members so as to 
count on in-depth analysis of their many projects.


BFES, Bangladesh: Bangladesh Friendship Education Society becomes new 
APC member

Bangladesh Friendship Education Society (BFES) is a non-government 
development organisation based in Bangladesh. It was established in 1993 
and its mission is to promote educational projects in rural areas. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060810


PROTEGE QV, Cameroon: PROTEGE QV, the first central african member at APC

PROTEGE QV is a group of people who are passionate about educating and 
promoting youth, women and leaders so that they can play their roles as 
citizens in full. The Yaound?-based APC-member who brings the number of 
francophone members at APC to three, herewith catalyses innovative 
solutions, good practices to those who are in need, rural populations 
and women particularly. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060830


METAMORPHOSIS, Macedonia: Metamorphosis, a think and do tank

Metamorphosis is a think and do tank from Macedonia, gathering experts 
and activists devoted to the development of an information society, 
which we see as crucial element in bettering people?s lives. Most of the 
people currently involved rely on a background in the IT industry and 
the NGO sector, but in general, we favour an interdisciplinary approach 
and broad involvement of stakeholders. APCNews interviewed Bardhyl 
Jashari, director of this newest APC-member. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060819


REMINDER APC POOL OF WRITERS: Two job announcements, one pool, one day 
left to apply!

APCNews and GenderIT.org are building a pool of writers to contribute on 
a freelance basis. We are interested in working with writers from all 
continents. APC is a virtual network and in general most of our research 
and interviews are done online. Read the details and send your 
application before May 15, 2007. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060282


WIRELESS NETWORKING: Technical training scholarships offered

Applications are now being accepted until May 18 for technical training 
scholarships that will cover expenses for attending the first workshop 
of the TRICALCAR project. This community based wireless networks project 
is initiated by APC-members in South America. The workshop will be held 
in Huaral, Peru from July 16 to 21, 2007. ? APC
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059907

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

-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

ACCESS TO INFORMATION ARTICLE: 'All rights reserved? not the only option 
for documentary filmmakers

Documentary filmmakers take note: there are other ways in which you can 
choose to distribute your films. Rather than the all-rights-reserved 
approach of the copyright world, take a look on the creative side. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059877

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

-- STRATEGIC USES & CAPACITY BUILDING --

LOW-COST TECHNOLOGY SERIES: Every month until year?s end, APC offers an 
insight into strategic use aspects of technology. The use of low-cost 
technologies in developing countries should be promoted and implemented 
as a matter of priority. Low-cost technology can be backbone or 
light-weight infrastructure, hardware and software.

APC concentrates its policy advocacy work and strategic use efforts on 
the infrastructural challenges facing ?developing? countries. But, this 
does not mean that hardware and software issues are not important. For 
this reason, we aim at providing you with a comprehensive picture of all 
the facets that enter into play when we talk about low-cost technology.

To explain the different aspects of low-cost technology, we kick the 
series off with a special coverage of cell phone technology in two 
?developing? country contexts. Short messaging services in South Africa 
and the growing use of GrameenPhone in Bangladesh are the topics of the 
month.


WOMENSNET, South Africa: Cell phones in the fight against HIV/AIDS

Considering the demographic overlap between those most affected by 
HIV/AIDS and cell phone users, it only makes sense that a major focus be 
put on how this low-cost technology can fight this deadly pandemic. 
APC-member Women?sNet recently engaged in a UNICEF-driven speed 
assessment of fifteen projects that apply cell phones towards 
development objectives in Africa, with a particular focus on HIV/AIDS 
prevention, treatment and care. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059953


LOW-COST TECHNOLOGY BOOK REVIEW: Gold in the mud unleashed through 
?inclusive? capitalism?

In 1993, Bangladesh was considered a no-go zone by foreign investors. 
Foreign direct investment in the country totalled USD 3 million that 
year. Today, it has multiplied to around USD 1 billion, three quarters 
of which feeds the telecommunications industry. How did foreign 
investment skyrocket in such a short period of time? The answer lies in 
the story of the GrameenBank, if we are to believe Nicholas P. Sullivan, 
author of You Can Hear Me Now: How Microloans and Cell Phones are 
Connecting the World?s Poor to the Global Economy. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059870


LOW-COST TECHNOLOGY INTERVIEW: "IT spreads throughout society at all 
levels, and is not concentrated in the hands of a few"

APCNews interviewed Nicholas P. Sullivan, author of 'You Can Hear Me 
Now: How Microloans and Cell Phones are Connecting the World?s Poor to 
the Global Economy', a book published in February 2007 by Jossey-Bass. 
Sullivan argues that 'inclusive? capitalism, combined with the external 
combustion engine are better approaches to development than foreign aid. 
Do you agree? ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059914


MEDIA & ICT INTERVIEW: Radical question: Can alternative media get a 
push from new technology?

On the sidelines of the OURMedia conference held in Sydney, Australia, 
in mid-April 2007, John D.H. Downing spoke to APCNews. The professor of 
international communications at the South Illinois University in the 
USA, explained where his critique of the media intersects with the 
possibilities opened up by information and communication technologies. - 
APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059866


HARAMBEE SMALL GRANT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Harambee (pronounced haram-BAY) means "pulling together" in the most 
widely spoken language of sub-Saharan Africa: Swahili. The word Harambee 
captures the efforts invested to build and maintain communities.

The Association for Progressive Communications not only uses the term, 
it also celebrated it in March 2007. In releasing the list of successful 
applicants in one of its small grants initiatives, APC's women programme 
in Africa injected some real-life into the motto online.  Harambee small 
grants are offered to better equip Africa-based networks to play a lead 
role in development dialogues and actions affecting them. Six applicants 
out of the original 200+ walked away with a grant that highlights their 
networking activities.

APC's writers will offer you the profiles of the six Harambee grantees 
of 2007 over the next three months. This month, APCNews zooms in on the 
"Diary Project" in Uganda and the "Blogs for African Women" out of Nigeria.
http://wikis.bellanet.org/harambee/index.php/Main_Page


R?seau Sida Afrique, Congo: Fighting HIV/Aids with blogs, wikis and 
electronic mail

Often, people working in prevention of HIV/Aids experience difficulties 
in gaining an overview of successes and failures of HIV/Aids programmes 
in the most affected countries. The key information about vulnerable 
segments of the population who are not yet enrolled in these programmes 
is generally absent. It is around these two reasons that R?seau Sida 
Afrique?s work revolves.  APCNews asked some questions to Lydie 
Diaboungana of the secretariat of the network, located in Brazzaville, 
in the Congo. Chronicle of a tough fight with the help of ICTs. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5062177


ITOCA, South Africa/Zimbabwe: Ever heard of soil health? If not, 
networking is taking it to you front door

The Information Training & Outreach Centre for Africa (ITOCA) is a 
capacity building organisation for librarians, information specialists, 
scientists, researchers and students of sub-Saharan Africa. Better said, 
it assists them in mastering information and communication technology. 
APCNews talked to Gracian Chimwaza, executive director of ITOCA, about 
the organisation?s latest project aimed at groups working on ?soil 
health?. The goal? Help them locate and access information 
cost-effectively. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060900

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

-- WOMEN & ICTs ?-

ARTICLE: "If technology were like shoes...." Take Back the Tech gets 
ready to sprint

Shoes, technology, and violence against women? How do they all get tied 
together? In 2006, Take Back the Tech called on internet users to 
examine the connections between violence against women and information 
and communication technologies (ICTs) and take action during the 16 Days 
of Activism against Gender Violence. ? APC WNSP
http://www.apcwomen.org/news/index.shtml?x=95240


ARTICLE: More women into IT in the Czech Republic

It's hard to find women in the IT sector in the Czech Republic so the 
IBM corporation decided to break with the status quo and bring "Women 
into IT". In partnership with the Association for Progressive 
Communications Women's Programme, IBM aims to attract more women into 
the information technology field through a new project aimed at high 
school girls and women. "Women into IT" features training and gender and 
IT awareness sessions as well as public round table discussions, in the 
cities of Prague and Brno. ? APC WNSP
http://www.apcwomen.org/news/index.shtml?x=95263
	

WORKSHOP REPORT: Women?s networks for effective communication
	
Dafne Sabanes Plou is the regional coordinator for Latin America for the 
APC Women?s Networking Support Programme (WNSP). In mid-March she 
coordinated the ?Building inclusive community networks? workshop in 
Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut Province, Argentina, in which women 
interested in learning about strategic uses of information and 
communication technologies took part. This is an account of the 
experience, prepared exclusively for GenderIT.org. ? GenderIT.org
http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?w=a&x=95201

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

-- ONLINE TOOLS & RESOURCES --

NEW PUBLICATION: APDIP and APC WNSP release publication on Gender and ICT

This publication, with a foreword by Executive Director of UNIFEM, 
Noeleen Heyzer, looks at information and communications technology (ICT) 
for development through a gender lens and discusses ICT within a gender 
equality framework.
http://www.apdip.net/news/gender

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

-- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES --

RE:PUBLICA: re:publica, or the blogger pilgrimage to Berlin
By Fr?d?ric Dubois

Re:publica was on in Berlin! This blogger conference is a first for 
Germany and that might help to explain its success. More than 600 people 
showed up already to discuss what tools to use for blogging, what 
censorship in Egypt implies and what politics 2.0 means. You might want 
to revisit, or participate for that matter, in re:publica 08. ? APC blog
http://blog.apc.org/en/index.shtml?x=5059564

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

-- SITES OF INTEREST --

CAMBODIA MIRROR: The Cambodia Mirror, an interesting publication that 
collates material from the Khmer press, run by Norbert Klein of APC?s 
member in Cambodia is now layed out in an online version.
http://cambodiamirror.wordpress.com/

ALTERNATIVES-INTERNATIONAL: APC?s Qu?bec member Alternatives, has 
engaged in extensive collaborations with similar-minded communication 
NGOs in several countries. These groups, from places such as Niger, 
Palestine-Israel or South Africa are social and political movements 
struggling against neoliberalism, imperialism, social injustice and war. 
Their common website is full with fresh articles on the topics of the day!
http://alternatives-international.net/?lang=en

CRISSCROSSED is a blog that aims to explore and develop social changes 
through communication. It focuses on tools such as internet ? it's 
impact, potential and challenges it faces within different cultures 
around the world. Christian Kreutz is the person behind the blog. He is 
interested in knowledge management and communication and works at the 
GTZ, the German Technical Cooperation agency.
http://www.crisscrossed.net/

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

-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC ?-

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

MAY 14-25: World Summit on the Information Society action line follow-up 
meetings and World Information Society Day
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/cluster.asp?year=2007&month=0&type='alf'&subtype=0

MAY 14-15: Second facilitation meeting on ?Building confidence and 
security in the use of ICTs? (WSIS action line C5)
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.itu.int/pgc

MAY 16: Joint facilitation meeting on action lines on information and 
communication infrastructure (C2), capacity building (C4), and enabling 
environment (C6).
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.itu.int/itu-wsis/implementation/al-c2.html
http://www.itu.int/itu-wsis/implementation/al-c4.html
http://www.itu.int/itu-wsis/implementation/al-c6.html

MAY 16: Press briefing on the World Information Society Report 2007

MAY 21-25: Annual meeting of the Commission on Science and Technology 
for Development (CSTD)
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/Meeting.asp?intItemID=4066&lang=1

MAY 22: Joint meeting of CSTD and the Global Alliance for ICT and 
Development (GAID)
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.unctad.org/Templates/meeting.asp?intItemID=2068&lang=1&m=13496

MAY 22: Global Information Society Watch report launch
Geneva, Switzerland

MAY 23: Second facilitation meeting on the action line on the role of 
public governance authorities and all stakeholders in the promotion of 
ICTs for development (C1)
Geneva, Switzerland

Internet Governance Forum (IGF) consultation meeting
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.intgovforum.org/

MAY 24: Second facilitation meeting on the action line on ICT 
applications (C7): E-government and e-employment (two parallel meetings)
Second facilitation meeting on the action line on cultural diversity and 
identity, linguistic diversity and local content (C8)
Second facilitation meeting on the action line on media (C9)
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.itu.int/itu-wsis/implementation/al-c7.html

MAY 25: Second facilitation meeting on the action line on ethical 
dimensions of the information society (C9)
Second action lines facilitators meeting: all action lines
http://www.itu.int/wsis/implementation/consultations.html

MAY 18: OpenNet Initiative second conference
Oxford, United Kingdom
http://www.opennetinitiative.org/

MAY 18-20: International Summit for Community Wireless Networks
Columbia, Maryland, USA
http://www.wirelesssummit.org/

MAY 21-25: Latin American and Caribbean Internet Address Registry 
(LACNIC) meeting
Isla Margarita, Venezuela
http://www.lacnic.org/en/eventos/lacnicx/

MAY 27-29: APC Europe member meeting
Barcelona, Catalunya

MAY 28-30: Second international conference on ICT4D, education & 
training: Building Infrastructures & Capacities to Reach out to the 
Whole of Africa
Nairobi, Kenya
http://www.elearning-africa.com/
http://www.elearning-africa.com/themes.php

MAY 30: APC Building Communication Opportunities (BCO) Impact assessment 
meeting
Barcelona, Catalunya
http://www.bcoalliance.org/

MAY 31-JUN 2: APC Executive Board meeting
Barcelona, Catalunya

JUNE 3: Reclaim the Web, organised by APC member GreenNet
London, United Kingdom
http://www.gn.apc.org

JUNE 4-6: Regional Workshop 'Communication Public Policies and the 
Popular Radio in LAC' and Public National Forum and Workshop 
'Communication and the Constituent Process in Ecuador'
Quito, Ecuador

JUNE 11-12: Knowledge Management Conference: Influencing Policy and 
Practice (Gdnet)
Cairo, Egypt
http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=1196

JUNE 15-17: i-Commons second Annual Conference
Dubrovnic, Croatia
http://icommons.org/

JUNE 25-29: ICANN meeting
San Juan, Puerto Rico
http://www.icann.org/meetings/sanjuan/

JUNE 28-30: Civil Society Forum
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=events&id=10408

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
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.

Subscribe to APCNews: http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apcnews
Visit the APCNews archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/
Contact APCNews: apcnews [at] apc.org

Some rights reserved: Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial Licence 2.5
Association for Progressive Communications (APC), 2007
From frederic at apc.org  Thu May 17 17:22:24 2007
From: frederic at apc.org (=?UTF-8?B?RnLDqWTDqXJpYyBEdWJvaXM=?=)
Date: Thu May 17 17:22:33 2007
Subject: [APCPress] APC Press release: Global Information Society Watch --
 First report looks at ICT policy's impact
Message-ID: <464C8140.7010305@apc.org>


Fran?ais suit
Espa?ol sigue

------------------------------------
ENGLISH - ANGLAIS - INGLES
------------------------------------

PRESS RELEASE
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

NEW REPORT MONITORS POLITICAL WILL TO MAKE THE INFORMATION REVOLUTION
REALITY FOR ALL

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY, Thursday May 17 -- A new watchdog report monitoring
promises made by governments and the United Nations to ensure that
information technology is used to benefit millions of people, will be
launched in Geneva on May 22.

The fruits of the information technology 'revolution' are unevenly
distributed between countries and within societies. In the Democratic
Republic of the Congo it is claimed that as little as 2.5% of the
population owns a telephone, whereas neighbouring Nigeria has one of the
fastest growing IT markets in Africa. In India, a burgeoning technology
industry has failed to provide phones or internet to vast rural areas.

The gap is not only ?digital?

The reasons for the inequalities are complex but, claim the editors of
the report - the Association for Progressive Communications and the
Third World Institute - ?experience shows that the status quo prevails
unless citizens actively demand change from their governments. A ?Global
Information Society Watch? is needed to make governments and
international organisations accountable.?

Launch of first Global Information Society Watch report

The Global Information Society Watch 2007 report - the first in a series
of annual reports - looks at the state of the field of information and
communication technology (ICT) policy at local and global levels and
particularly how policy impacts on the lives of people living in
developing countries.

Studies of the ICT policy situation in twenty-two countries from four
regions are featured: Africa (Democratic Republic of the Congo, Egypt,
Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and Uganda); Asia (Bangladesh,
India, Pakistan and the Philippines); Latin America (Argentina, Brazil,
Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru); and Eastern Europe (Bosnia and
Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania), with one report from a
Western European country (Spain).

The report concludes that when it comes to ICTs for development, there
are some conspicuous similarities between countries. Excluding Spain,
the other twenty-one countries each show obvious evidence of the
?digital divide? which impacts on the majority of people negatively.
According to Brazilian authors RITS, the absence of a people-orientated
policy framework in Brazil runs the risk of condemning the vast majority
of people to ?eternal disconnection?.

The report also includes provocative, analytical essays on five
international institutions (including the ITU, ICANN and the World
Intellectual Property Organisation) questioning the extent to which they
allow all stakeholders to participate in their processes. There is a
special section on how to measure progress.

  ?This report is an important effort at a critical time,? says Markus
Kummer, executive coordinator of the Secretariat of the Internet
Governance Forum (IGF). ?It is of utmost importance to know the extent
to which the people affected have a voice in the policy-making
organisations. Participation of all stakeholders in policy processes is
a key element of good global governance. In this sense, the report will
also be good input to the IGF in its continuing work on a development
agenda for internet governance and the special emphasis being placed on
capacity building for all stakeholders. More so, while so much attention
is being put on the effort to overcome the inequities in global
information access it is important to make sure that the people who need
this access are actually served by those efforts.?

"There is a lack of ICT-oriented indexes which focus on inclusion and
exclusion in ICT policy decisions. Global Information Society Watch is a
serious attempt to bridge this gap," says Rikke Frank J?rgensen, senior
adviser at the Danish Institute for Human Rights.

Connecting the dots to form the big ICT policy picture

Alice Wanjira Gitau is part of KICTANet, a citizen-coalition that has
worked critically with the Kenyan government to ensure issues of
universal access and consumer rights are being addressed in Kenya?s
first national ICT policy. ?Rather than just publishing statistics,? she
comments, ?this new report provides an opportunity to share examples of
the road travelled in policy-making, which will hopefully reduce the
risk of following inappropriate paths.?
?While international organisations and research institutions regularly
churn out reports packed with data about the diffusion of ICTs and offer
mainstream assessments of policy trends, they generally devote little
attention to what all this means for the global public interest. Global
Information Society Watch [...]  connects the dots between national and
global-level trends and gives readers a ?big picture? understanding of
where we are heading and the risks and opportunities that entails,?
explains Dr William J. Drake, director of the ?Information Revolution
and Global Governance? project, Graduate Institute for International
Studies (Switzerland).

More citizen involvement in policy-making is key

?Increase in access to ICTs will not reduce poverty,? state APC and ITeM
in their introduction to the 2007 report. ?But there is a real danger
that lack of access to ICTs can deepen existing social exclusion and
create new forms of exclusion. In this context we believe it is
essential for civil society networks to participate in and watch over
ICT policy processes at the global, regional and national levels.?

OBTAIN THE REPORT

Download or read online: http://www.GlobalISWatch.org

ABOUT THE EDITORS

In compiling this publication, the APC and ITeM are following up on
their long-term interest in the impact of civil society on governance
processes and their efforts to enhance public participation in national
and international forums.

The APC network has been involved in global, regional and national ICT
policy processes since 2000, with a focus on human rights and social
inclusion in the information society and on promoting ?digital
inclusion?. Association for Progressive Communications (APC):
http://www.apc.org

ITeM has been active in researching and promoting the use of ICTs to
strengthen citizen involvement in decision-making processes. It hosts
international civil society advocacy initiatives such as ?Social Watch?,
which monitors social development and gender policies, and
?IFIwatchnet?, which monitors the activities of the international
financial institutions. Third World Institute (known by its Spanish
acronym, ITeM): http://www.item.org.uy

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Pablo Accuosto
Third World Institute
Paullier 977
Montevideo 11200 URUGUAY
Tel: + 598 2 412 4224 ext. 110
Email: accuosto@item.org.uy

Karen Banks
Association for Progressive Communications
c/o GreenNet, Development House 56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4JX UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7065 0935
Email: karenb@gn.apc.org


--------------------------------------
FRANCAIS - FRANCES - FRENCH
--------------------------------------

COMMUNIQU? DE PRESSE
POUR PUBLCATION IMM?DIATE

UN NOUVEAU RAPPORT FAIT LE POINT SUR LA VOLONT? POLITIQUE DE FAIRE DE LA
R?VOLUTION DE L?INFORMATION UNE R?ALIT? POUR TOUS

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY, jeudi 17 mai?Un nouveau rapport de surveillance qui
suit de pr?s les promesses que font les gouvernements et les Nations
Unies pour veiller ? ce que la technologie de l?information soit
utilis?e au profit de millions de personnes sera lanc? ? Gen?ve le 22 mai.

Les fruits de la r?volution de la technologie de l?information ne sont
pas r?partis ?galement entre les pays et au sein des soci?t?s. En
R?publique d?mocratique du Congo, on estime que pas plus de 2,5 % de la
population poss?de un t?l?phone, alors qu?au Nigeria voisin, le march?
de la TI est un de ceux qui conna?t la plus forte croissance en Afrique.
En Inde, une industrie de la technologie florissante n?a pas r?ussi ?
amener le t?l?phone ou l?internet ? de vastes r?gions rurales.

Le foss? n?est pas seulement ? num?rique ?

Les causes de ces in?galit?s sont complexes, mais selon les r?dacteurs
du rapport ? l?Association pour le progr?s des communications et
l?Institut du tiers monde ? ? l?exp?rience montre que rien ne bouge si
la population ne demande pas activement des changements aupr?s des
gouvernements. Il faut une surveillance de la soci?t? mondiale de
l?information pour que les gouvernements et les organisations
internationales soient tenues responsables ?.

Lancement du premier rapport de surveillance sur la soci?t? mondiale de
l?information

Le rapport Global Information Society Watch 2007 ? le premier d?une
s?rie de rapports annuels ? fait un ?tat des lieux de la politique sur
les technologies de l?information et de la communication (TIC) aux
niveaux local et mondial et examine en particulier la fa?on dont la
politique influe sur la vie des gens dans les pays en d?veloppement.
Le rapport pr?sente des ?tudes sur la situation de la politique des TIC
dans vingt deux pays de quatre r?gions : l?Afrique (R?publique
d?mocratique du Congo, ?gypte, ?thiopie, Kenya, Nigeria, Afrique du Sud
et Ouganda); l?Asie (Bangladesh, Inde, Pakistan et les Philippines);
l?Am?rique latine (Argentine, Br?sil, Colombie, ?quateur, Mexique et
P?rou) et l?Europe de l?Est (Bosnie-Herz?govine, Bulgarie, Croatie et
Roumanie), plus un rapport d?un pays de l?Europe de l?Ouest (Espagne).

Le rapport conclut qu?en ce qui concerne les TIC pour le d?veloppement,
on constate des similitudes marqu?es entre les pays. ? l?exclusion de
l?Espagne, les vingt-et-un autres pays affichent des signes ?vidents de
? fracture num?rique ? avec les r?percussions n?gatives que cela
implique sur la majorit? de la population. Selon les auteurs br?siliens
de RITS, l?absence au Br?sil d?un cadre d?action ax? sur les gens risque
de condamner la grande majorit? de la population ? une marginalisation
?ternelle.

Le rapport contient ?galement des essais analytiques provocateurs sur
cinq institutions internationales (dont l?UIT, l?ICANN et l?Organisation
mondiale de la propri?t? intellectuelle) qui mettent en doute le r?le
qu?elles jouent pour permettre ? toutes les parties prenantes de
participer ? leurs processus. Une section porte sur la fa?on de mesurer
les progr?s.

? Ce rapport repr?sente un effort important ? un moment critique, ?
d?clare Markus Kummer, coordonnateur ex?cutif du Secr?tariat du Forum
sur la gouvernance de l?Internet (FGI). ? Il est primordial de savoir
dans quelle mesure les personnes touch?es peuvent s?exprimer dans les
organes de d?cision. La participation de toutes les parties prenantes
aux processus de formulation des politiques est un ?l?ment fondamental
de la bonne gouvernance mondiale. En ce sens, le rapport contribuera
utilement aux travaux du FGI sur un programme de d?veloppement pour la
gouvernance de l?internet et ? la nouvelle orientation ax?e sur le
renforcement des capacit?s pour toutes les parties prenantes. De plus,
alors que l?on accorde ?norm?ment d?attention aux moyens de surmonter
les in?galit?s en mati?re d?acc?s ? l?information, il est important de
veiller ? ce que les gens qui ont besoin de cet acc?s b?n?ficient
r?ellement de ces efforts. ?

? On manque de donn?es qui portent sur l?inclusion et l?exclusion dans
les politiques de TIC. Le Global Information Society Watch repr?sente
une tentative s?rieuse de combler cette lacune ?, dit Rikke Frank
J?rgensen, premi?re conseill?re de l?Institut danois pour les droits
humains.

Relier les pointill?s pour dresser le tableau des politiques de TIC

Alice Wanjira Gitau fait partie de KICTANet, une coalition citoyenne qui
travaille avec le gouvernement kenyan pour faire en sorte que la
premi?re politique nationale du Kenya sur les TIC prenne en compte les
questions d?acc?s universel et des droits des consommateurs. Elle fait
remarquer que plut?t que de publier des statistiques, ce nouveau rapport
donne la possibilit? de faire conna?tre des exemples de l??volution des
politiques, ce qui devrait r?duire le risque de suivre les mauvaises
avenues ?.

? Alors que les organisations internationales et les instituts de
recherche sortent r?guli?rement des rapports remplis de donn?es sur la
diffusion des TIC et pr?sentent des ?valuations g?n?rales de tendances,
ils ne consacrent g?n?ralement que peu d?attention ? ce que cela
signifie pour l?int?r?t public mondial. Global Information Society Watch
[...] fait le lien entre les tendances nationales et mondiales et donne
au lecteur une vue d?ensemble qui permet de comprendre notre orientation
et les risques et les possibilit?s que cela repr?sente ?, explique
William J. Drake, directeur du projet ? R?volution de l?information et
gouvernance mondiale ?, Institut universitaire de hautes ?tudes
internationales (Suisse).

Il est essential que les citoyens participent davantage au processus
d?cisionnel

? L?am?lioration de l?acc?s aux TIC ne r?duira pas la pauvret? ?,
d?clarent APC et ITeM dans l?introduction du rapport 2007. ? Mais le
manque d?acc?s aux TIC risque fort d?aggraver l?exclusion sociale et de
cr?er de nouvelles formes d?exclusion. Dans ce contexte, nous croyons
qu?il est essentiel que les r?seaux de la soci?t? civile participent aux
processus d??laboration des politiques de TIC et restent vigilants aux
niveaux mondial, r?gional et national ?.

OBTENIR LE RAPPORT

T?l?charger ou lire en ligne ?: http://www.GlobalISWatch.org

AU SUJET DES R?DACTEURS

Pour compiler cette publication, APC et ITeM ont mis ? profit leur
int?r?t de longue date pour l?incidence de la soci?t? civile sur les
processus de gouvernance et leurs efforts pour renforcer la
participation du public aux forums nationaux et internationaux.

Le r?seau APC participe aux processus d??laboration des politiques de
TIC aux niveaux mondial, r?gional et national depuis 2000 en mettant
l?accent sur les droits humains et l?inclusion sociale dans la soci?t?
de l?information et sur la promotion de ? l?inclusion num?rique ?.
Association pour les progr?s des communications (APC): http://www.apc.org

ITeM est un organisme actif dans la recherche et la promotion de
l?utilisation des TIC pour renforcer la participation des citoyens aux
processus d?cisionnels. Il organise des initiatives internationales de
plaidoyer de la soci?t? civile comme ? Social Watch ?, qui surveille les
politiques sur le d?veloppement social et le genre, et ? IFIwatchnet ?,
qui surveille les activit?s des institutions financi?res
internationales. Third World Institute (connu sous son acronyme
espagnol, ITeM): http://www.item.org.uy

POUR PLUS D?INFORMATION

Pablo Accuosto
Third World Institute
Paullier 977
Montevideo 11200 URUGUAY
T?l.: + 598 2 412 4224 ext. 110
Courriel: accuosto@item.org.uy

Karen Banks
Association pour le progr?s des communications
c/o GreenNet, Development House 56-64 Leonard Street
Londres EC2A 4JX UK
T?l.: +44 (0) 20 7065 0935
Courriel: karenb@gn.apc.org


----------------------------------------
ESPA?OL - ESPAGNOL - SPANISH
----------------------------------------

COMUNICADO DE PRENSA
PUBLICAR DE INMEDIATO

NUEVO INFORME CONTROLA VOLUNTAD POL?TICA DE HACER DE LA REVOLUCI?N
INFORM?TICA UNA REALIDAD PARA TODOS Y TODAS

MONTEVIDEO, URUGUAY, jueves 17 de mayo ? Un nuevo informe que monitorea
las promesas realizadas por los gobiernos y la Organizaci?n de las
Naciones Unidas (ONU) de garantizar el uso de las tecnolog?as de la
informaci?n en beneficio de millones de personas ser? lanzado en Ginebra
el 22 de mayo.

Los frutos de la ?revoluci?n? de las tecnolog?as de la informaci?n (TI)
se distribuyen de manera muy desigual entre los pa?ses y dentro de cada
sociedad. En la Rep?blica Democr?tica de Congo s?lo 2,5% de la poblaci?n
tiene un tel?fono, mientras en la vecina Nigeria se registra uno de los
?ndices de m?s r?pido crecimiento del mercado de las TI de ?frica. En
India, la floreciente industria tecnol?gica no ha logrado ofrecer
tel?fonos e internet en vastas zonas rurales.

La brecha no es solo ?digital?

Las razones de la desigualdad son complejas pero, seg?n los editores del
informe ? la Asociaci?n para el Progreso de las Comunicaciones (APC) y
el Instituto del Tercer Mundo (ITeM) ? ?la experiencia muestra que
prevalece el status quo, a menos que la ciudadan?a le exija un cambio a
sus gobiernos. Se necesita una iniciativa de seguimiento de la sociedad
de la informaci?n (Global Information Society Watch -GISW) para que los
gobiernos y las organizaciones internacionales se hagan responsables?.

Lanzamiento del primer informe de Global Information Society Watch

El informe 2007 de GISW ?primero de una serie de informes anuales-
observa el estado de situaci?n de las pol?ticas de tecnolog?as de la
informaci?n y la comunicaci?n (TIC) tanto en el ?mbito local como
mundial, y sobre todo analiza c?mo impacta una pol?tica determinada en
la vida de los/as habitantes del mundo en desarrollo.
Los informes sobre la situaci?n de las pol?ticas TIC que se presentan en
el estudio incluyen 22 pa?ses de cuatro regiones: ?frica (Egipto,
Etiop?a, Kenya, Nigeria, Rep?blica Democr?tica de Congo, Sud?frica y
Uganda); Am?rica Latina (Argentina, Brasil, Colombia, Ecuador, M?xico y
Per?); Asia (Bangladesh, Filipinas, India y Pakist?n); y Europa oriental
(Bosnia y Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croacia y Rumania); adem?s de un pa?s
de Europa occidental (Espa?a).

La conclusi?n del trabajo es que, cuando se trata de TIC para el
desarrollo, existen notorias similitudes entre los pa?ses. Con excepci?n
de Espa?a, los restantes 21 pa?ses muestran pruebas de una ?brecha
digital? que impacta negativamente en la mayor?a de las personas. Seg?n
RITS, organizaci?n brasile?a miembro de APC, la carencia de un marco
pol?tico orientado hacia las personas hace que se corra el riesgo en
Brasil de condenar a la amplia mayor?a de la poblaci?n a una
?desconexi?n eterna?.

El informe incluye tambi?n informes provocativos y anal?ticos sobre
cinco instituciones internacionales (entre ellos la Uni?n Internacional
de Telecomunicaciones ? UIT-, ICANN y la Organizaci?n Mundial sobre la
Propiedad Intelectual ?OMPI) en los que cuestiona hasta d?nde permiten
la participaci?n de los sectores en sus procesos. Asimismo hay una
secci?n especial sobre c?mo medir los avances.

?Este informe es un esfuerzo importante en un momento cr?tico?, comenta
Markus Kummer, coordinador ejecutivo de la Secretar?a del Foro de
Gobernanza Internacional (FGI). ?Es de suma importancia saber si las
personas afectadas se hacen o?r en las organizaciones que elaboran
pol?ticas. La participaci?n de todos los sectores en los procesos
pol?ticos es un elemento clave para la buena gobernanza mundial. En este
sentido, el informe ser? tambi?n un buen insumo para el trabajo
constante del FGI en la elaboraci?n de una agenda del desarrollo para la
gobernanza de internet, con un ?nfasis especial en el fortalecimiento de
las capacidades de los diferentes sectores. M?s all? de la atenci?n que
merecen los esfuerzos para superar las desigualdades en el acceso global
a la informaci?n, es importante asegurar que sean las personas que
necesitan ese acceso las que realmente se benefician?, agrega.

"Hay una carencia de ?ndices orientados hacia las TIC que se centren en
la inclusi?n y exclusi?n en las decisiones sobre pol?ticas de TIC. GISW
constituye un serio intento de superar esa brecha?, sostiene Rikke Frank
J?rgensen, consultora principal del Instituto de Derechos Humanos de
Dinamarca.

Conectar puntos para dibujar el mapa completo de las pol?ticas de TIC

Alice Wanjira Gitau integra KICTANet, una coalici?n ciudadana que ha
trabajado con el gobierno de Kenya para lograr el acceso universal y los
derechos de los/as consumidores/as estuvieran presentes en la primera
pol?tica de TIC del pa?s. ?M?s que limitarse a publicar estad?sticas,
este nuevo informe ofrece la oportunidad de compartir ejemplos sobre el
camino recorrido a la hora de elaborar pol?ticas y es esperable que ello
reduzca el riesgo de internarse en caminos equivocados?, sostiene.

?Las organizaciones internacionales y los institutos de investigaci?n
suelen producir grandes cantidades de informes llenos de datos sobre la
difusi?n de las TIC y ofrecer evaluaciones oficiales sobre las
tendencias pol?ticas, pero le prestan poca atenci?n a lo que significa
todo eso para el inter?s p?blico. GSIW [...]  conecta los puntos entre
las tendencias nacionales y las mundiales, y le ofrece a los/as
lectores/as un mapa general de la direcci?n hacia la que vamos y los
riesgos y oportunidades que eso implica?, explica el Dr William J.
Drake, director del proyecto ?Revoluci?n de la informaci?n  y gobernanza
mundial?, del Instituto de graduaci?n en estudios internacionales (Suiza).

La clave est? en una mayor participaci?n ciudadana en la elaboraci?n de
pol?ticas

?Incrementar el acceso a las TIC no reducir? la pobreza?, afirman APC y
el ITeM en su introducci?n al informe 2007. ?Pero existe un verdadero
peligro de que la falta de acceso a las TIC haga m?s grave la exclusi?n
social y cree nuevas formas de exclusi?n. En este contexto, nos parece
esencial que las redes de la sociedad civil participen en los procesos
de pol?ticas de TIC y realicen un seguimiento en todos los planos
?mundial, regional y nacional?, concluyen.

PARA LEER EL INFORME

Descargar o leer en l?nea: http://www.GlobalISWatch.org

SOBRE LOS EDITORES

Con esta publicaci?n, APC y el ITeM no hacen sino continuar con su
inter?s de larga data en el impacto de la sociedad civil en los procesos
de gobernanza y sus esfuerzos por multiplicar la participaci?n p?blica
en los foros nacionales e internacionales.

La red de APC participa en procesos de pol?ticas de TIC mundiales,
regionales y nacionales desde 2000, con el foco puesto en los derechos
humanos y la inclusi?n social dentro de la sociedad de la informaci?n,
adem?s de promover la ?inclusi?n digital?. Asociaici?n para el Progreso
de las Comunicaciones (APC): http://www.apc.org
El ITeM ha estado activo en la investigaci?n y promoci?n del uso de TIC
para fortalecer la participaci?n ciudadana en los procesos de toma de
decisiones. Alberga iniciativas de cabildeo de la sociedad civil como
?Social Watch?, que monitorea las pol?ticas de g?nero y desarrollo
social, e ?IFIwatchnet?, que realiza un seguimiento de las actividades
de las instituciones financieras internacionales. Instituto del Tercer
Mundo (ITeM): http://www.item.org.uy

POR M?S INFORMACI?N

Pablo Accuosto
Instituto del Tercer Mundo
Paullier 977
Montevideo 11200 URUGUAY
Tel: + 598 2 412 4224 ext. 110
Email: accuosto@item.org.uy

Karen Banks
Asociaci?n para el Progreso de las Comunicaciones
c/o GreenNet, Development House 56-64 Leonard Street
London EC2A 4JX UK
Tel: +44 (0) 20 7065 0935
Email: karenb@gn.apc.org

- 30 -



From frederic at apc.org  Tue Jun  5 16:48:02 2007
From: frederic at apc.org (=?UTF-8?B?RnLDqWTDqXJpYyBEdWJvaXM=?=)
Date: Tue Jun  5 17:14:53 2007
Subject: [APCPress] APCNews - June 2007 - No 76
Message-ID: <466585B2.5080903@apc.org>

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
                *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
           Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                                June 2007 No. 76
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---
-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS --
-- NEWS FROM APC --
-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --
-- STRATEGIC USES & CAPACITY BUILDING --
-- WOMEN & ICTs ?-
-- SITE OF INTEREST --
-- IMPORTANT DATES --
-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC --
--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---

-- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS ?-

BLUELINK, Bulgaria: Local and international freedom of expression 
networks turn up the heat

Amendments to Bulgaria's Access to Public Information Act were passed by 
the National Assembly at the first reading. Many of the proposed changes 
breach established international standards on the right to information 
and appear specifically designed to hinder access to public records. ? 
APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5065090


C2O, Australia: 33 hours of video slam

Ever heard of the Open Channel Video Slam? You say no? Here is the 
answer. It boils down to 22 filmmakers locked up in a Melbourne bar for 
33 hours to produce a ten minute film. The challenge? Use only Creative 
Commons material. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5064998


INSTITUTE FOR POPULAR DEMOCRACY, Philippines: Taking a Sri Lankan 
disaster solution to another level, via Philippines

The Institute for Popular Democracy is one of the APC's newest members 
and its current concerns with shaping an open source disaster management 
software reflect only a tiny but emblematic part of what IPD does. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5065374


FANTSUAM FOUNDATION, Nigeria: Technology provides vulnerable children 
with a support line in Nigeria

In 2006 Fantsuam Foundation launched a vulnerable children's service as 
part of its rural HIV/AIDS programme. This innovative project addresses 
the growing problem of orphans and vulnerable children in the rural 
communities where Fantsuam works. ICT is a central part and has proved 
an effective way of getting access to vulnerable children who are coping 
with poverty and hunger as well as life-threatening diseases. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5065019


FOUNDATION FOR MEDIA ALTERNATIVES, Philippines: From the Philippines, a 
digital arts contest with social dimension

WebSining is the Filipino name for a web-art contest, and this is what 
has been keeping the Manila-based Foundation for Media Alternatives busy 
of late. With its goal of encouraging artistic innovations in the 
intersection of art and technology, websining this year introduced a new 
category: software art. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5066098


JINBONET, South Korea: Poisonous articles on IPR in Korea-US FTA

The full text of the Korea-US free trade agreement (FTA) was made public 
last Friday. "It has many poisonous articles in there," argues PatchA of 
APC's Korean member Jinbonet. Especially the chapter on intellectual 
property rights worry people working on copyright issues. This could set 
a precedent for many other countries. The far-reaching consequences are 
now clearer than ever. ? Jinbonet
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5069137


STRAWBERRYNET, Romania: Open technologies can bring government 
transparency, development

Technology put in the public information and communication domain 
(internet) can bring transparency to government behaviour, argues a 
high-profile forum that has just come to a close in Brasov, Romania. 
eLibretica, organised by the Romanian Open Source and Free Software 
Initiative and Agora Media did not go unnoticed in the new European 
Union member country, reports Mih?ly Bak? of APC?s Romanian member 
StrawberryNet Foundation [in Romanian]. ? StrawberryNet
http://politic.ngo.ro/?cmd[222]=i-223-28702

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-- NEWS FROM APC --

APC PUBLICATION: ?Global Information Society Watch? a new report from 
APC monitors political will to make the information revolution reality 
for all

A new watchdog report from APC and the Third World Institute monitoring 
promises made by governments and the United Nations to ensure that 
information technology is used to benefit millions of people, will be 
launched in Geneva on May 22. Studies of the ICT policy situation in 
twenty-two countries from four regions are featured: Africa (Democratic 
Republic of Congo, Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa and 
Uganda); Asia (Bangladesh, India, Pakistan and the Philippines); Latin 
America (Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Mexico and Peru); and 
Eastern Europe (Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia and Romania), 
with one report from a Western European country (Spain). ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5064143
Global Information Society Watch: http://www.globaliswatch.org

APC ANNOUNCEMENT: APCNews will next be published in August 2007. APC is 
currently focusing on revamping its flagship website APC.org. There will 
therefore be no newsletter in July. In the meantime, we are interested 
in hearing from you. Please send us your comments and stories for 
APCNews 77. Please also note that starting in August, APC will also 
produce APCNouvelles, alongside APCNews and APCNoticias.

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-- ICT POLICY & INTERNET RIGHTS --

GENEVA MEETINGS: UN World Summit on the Information Society: What?s 
going on in Geneva right now?

A cluster of World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) 
implementation meetings is taking place in Geneva from May 14 to 25. 
Part of the APC crew is there, ensuring that ?the strong development 
orientation? promised by organising agencies goes beyond paper. Themes 
and action lines stemming from agreed-upon documents are being 
discussed. Read APC?s input to three action lines that took place as 
part of a meeting on May 16. ? APC
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5064498


GENEVA MEETINGS: Tenth Session of the Commission for Science and 
Technology for Development: APC?s proposals

The Commission for Science and Technology for Development is one of a 
few UN bodies that coordinate the World Summit on the Information 
Society (WSIS) follow-up. The tenth session of the Commission was held 
from 21-25 May 2007 in Geneva, Switzerland. It focused on ?the follow-up 
to the outcome of WSIS at the regional and international level, to 
identify achievements, gaps and challenges, as well as future action 
needed to further implementation?. APC was there, and submitted concrete 
proposals to ensure meaningful inclusion of voices of the people most 
impacted by the digital divide. ? APC
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5069139


GENEVA MEETINGS: The future of the Internet Governance Forum: APC speaks out

Read the APC input to the Internet Governance Forum open consultation 
meeting held on 23 May in Geneva, as well as reactions from different 
stakeholders. APC makes practical recommendations to ensure the 
accomplishment of the IGF's mandate and to strengthen it as a truly 
space for multistakeholder dialogue. ? APC
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5067091


EVENT REPORT: Autonomy, security, identity: Beautiful words, worrying 
ties in the electronic world

What does identity have to do with security? This question and many more 
affect everyone on the face of the earth. Many might not know this or 
are too busy dealing with other less ?virtual? problems of everyday 
life. The seventeenth edition of the Computer, Freedom and Privacy 
conference held in Montr?al, Canada, from May 1 to 4 2007, brought 
together many experts in order to tackle these questions. ? APC blog
http://blog.apc.org/en/index.shtml?x=5069414


EVENT REPORT: OURMedia, looking at media alternatives and beyond

OURMedia calls itself a "network and forum" and is made up of engaged 
academics and media practitioners, activists, artists and policy-makers 
who support the growth of what they term the "democratic potential of 
community, alternative and 'citizens' media". APCNews and several APC 
member groups attended OurMedia 6 in Sydney, Australia, in April 2007. ? 
APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5065135

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-- STRATEGIC USES & CAPACITY BUILDING --

LOW-COST TECHNOLOGY SERIES: Every month until year?s end, APC offers an 
insight into strategic use aspects of technology. The use of low-cost 
technologies in developing countries should be promoted and implemented 
as a matter of priority. Low-cost technology can be backbone or 
light-weight infrastructure, hardware and software.

APC concentrates its policy advocacy work and strategic use efforts on 
the infrastructural challenges facing ?developing? countries. But, this 
does not mean that hardware and software issues are not important. For 
this reason, we aim at providing you with a comprehensive picture of all 
the facets that enter into play when we talk about low-cost technology.

To explain the different aspects of low-cost technology, we continue the 
series with a special coverage of wireless technology in both 
?developing? and ?developed? country contexts. Going wireless in 
Canada?s second city, Montr?al, and APC?s Venezuelan member Eslared?s 
long distance internet connections in Venezuela are the themes of the month.


INTERVIEW I: The sky?s the limit: new wireless connection record - 382 
kilometres

?This is a technology that works, a proven technology, and what it needs 
is a bit more promotion,? said Ermanno Pietrosemoli just days after 
reaching a new wireless connection record of 382 kilometres. The 
president of Venezuelan APC member EsLaRed spoke with APCNews by 
conference call about this low-cost solution that is impacting the 
world?s rural communities. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5073706


INTERVIEW II: We killed the previous business models that tried to 
charge for WiFi

With about 90 active volunteers over the years, ?le Sans Fil now has 
managed to install some 130 hotspots all around town, using a nice piece 
of software. Wifidog is an open source solution designed primarily for 
wireless community groups, it is now in use in more than 36 locations, 
including at the municipality of Rosario (Argentina), the Tegucigalpa 
Technical University (Honduras) and libraries in Hull (United Kingdom). 
Can Wifidog work in the developing world? Interview with the key figure 
of the group, Michael Lenczner. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5073722


WIRELESS SURVEY: 53% of participants installed a wireless network

Fifty-three percent of participants to wireless internet trainings in 
Africa have installed one or more wireless networks since the training. 
This is what a survey about the impact of the APC-led ?Capacity Building 
for Community Wireless Connectivity in Africa? project reveals. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5066699

 >>Access previous stories in the low-cost technology series here:

Gold in the mud unleashed through ?inclusive? capitalism?
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059870
"IT spreads at all levels and is not concentrated in the hands of a few"
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059914


INTERVIEW: Taking training online: Computer and internet help in cyberspace

What happens when eight progressive information and communication 
technology organisations come together to share their expertise in 
computer and internet training in the so-called 'developing world'? It 
results in the ?ItrainOnline? initiative, a web-based training resource 
centre. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5065403


HARAMBEE SMALL GRANT WINNERS ANNOUNCED

Harambee (pronounced haram-BAY) means "pulling together" in the most 
widely spoken language of sub-Saharan Africa: Swahili. The word Harambee 
captures the efforts invested to build and maintain communities.

The Association for Progressive Communications not only uses the term, 
it also celebrated it in March 2007. In releasing the list of successful 
applicants in one of its small grants initiatives, APC's women programme 
in Africa injected some real-life into the motto online.  Harambee small 
grants are offered to better equip Africa-based networks to play a lead 
role in development dialogues and actions affecting them. Six applicants 
out of the original 200+ walked away with a grant that highlights their 
networking activities.

APC's writers offer you the profiles of the six Harambee grantees of 
2007 over a period of three months. This month, APCNews completes the 
Harambee series by zooming in on the Mekelle Child Centered Forum in 
Ethiopia and Viva Network Africa of Kampala, Uganda.


MEKELLE CHILD CENTERED FORUM, Ethiopia: A little goes a longer way with 
ICT-based networking

In the former Ethiopian capital of Mekelle, the Mekelle Child Centered 
Forum (MCCF) reaches approximately 5,840 disadvantaged children, youth, 
and women living in the city. The winner of one of this year?s Harambee 
awards, MCCF will use its grant money to expand its reach of service 
towards its target of 20,000 individuals. - APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5064415


VIVA NETWORK AFRICA, Uganda: Harambee small grant helps Viva Network 
Africa put the net into networking

Viva Network sees effective networking among Christian organisations as 
a stepping-stone to making a difference for the children of the world. 
Its focus on networking training, governance, and facilitation makes 
Viva Network a perfect example of the benefits of collaborative effort - 
just what the Harambee Small Grants Facility was founded to support. - 
APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5069367

 >>Access previous stories in the Harambee series here:

Fighting HIV/Aids with blogs, wikis and electronic mail in Congo
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5062177
Ever heard of soil health? If not, networking is taking it to you in 
South Africa
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5060900
Overcoming the orphan curse with ICTs in Uganda
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059254
Getting Nigerian women hooked on technology
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5059158


BOOK REVIEWS: New titles take a serious look at the ICT-for-development 
world and beyond

 From 'cyberprotests' to debates about whether cyberspace can be 
controlled or censored. From studying the long history of the 
collaborative creation of knowledge to looking closely at the social 
impact of mobile communications. These themes are all the focus of new 
books that have been published in recent months. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5066149


ARTICLE: Telecentres reject sporadic development in Congo Brazzaville

The first telecentres in Congo with internet access date back to 
1999-2000, also offer a range of other services such as computerisation 
of documents, printing, photocopying, document scanning, CD burning, 
telephone calls and training in various areas. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5069331

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-- WOMEN & ICTs ?-

ARTICLE: Putting on a gender lens and keeping it on, GEM 2 goes to Kathmandu

The PAN Localization Network pursues a difficult but important cause, 
building local language computing capacity in Asia, the region with the 
most internet users in the world. This group is an ideal partner for 
deepening gender evaluation practice using GEM, an ICT for social change 
evaluation methodology developed by the Association for Progressive 
Communications' women programme. Both groups are partnering for phase 
two of the highly successful GEM project. ? APC WNSP
http://www.apcwomen.org/news/index.shtml?x=95296


ARTICLE: Women in local government: ?Broadening minds? with technology

?The enthusiasm in various government sectors about information and 
communication technologies is incredible, as is the way it is getting 
onto the agenda of women in politics,? remarked Dafne Sabanes Plou, of 
the APC women?s programme, commenting on a national gathering of 
Argentine women mayors and councilwomen held in Buenos Aires at the end 
of April. ? APCNews
http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=5069197

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-- SITE OF INTEREST ?

Upcoming events in the information and communication technologies for 
development field. This group was started by APC collaborator and ICTD 
consultant Rolf Kleef and more and more people are joining daily. Please 
add your events.
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/group/2977/

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-- IMPORTANT DATES --

JUNE 6: Some people think the internet is a bad thing
Webcast organised by Amnesty International
http://www.amnesty.org.uk/events_details.asp?ID=405

JUNE 18: Knowledge management for development
Utrecht, The Netherlands
http://upcoming.yahoo.com/venue/57649/

JUNE 21: Seventh European conference on e-Government
The Hague, The Netherlands
http://www.academic-conferences.org/eceg/eceg2007/eceg07-home.htm

JULY 30: eINDIA2007
New Delhi, India
http://www.eindia.net.in/

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-- WHERE IN THE WORLD IS APC --

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

JUNE 5-6: Global Knowledge Africa meeting III
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso
http://www.globalknowledge.org/

JUNE 7-9: ICT best practices forum
Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso

JUNE 11-12: Knowledge Management conference: Influencing policy and practice
Cairo, Egypt
http://www.gdnet.org/middle.php?oid=1196

JUNE 15-17: i-Commons second annual conference
Dubrovnic, Croatia
http://icommons.org/

JUNE 24-28: Communication public policies and community radios in Latin 
America, followed by Communication and the constituent process in 
Ecuador (organised by ALER and APC)
Quito, Ecuador
http://www.aler.org.ec

JUNE 25-29: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers meeting
San Juan, Puerto Rico
http://www.icann.org/meetings/sanjuan/

JUNE 28-30: Civil society forum
Geneva, Switzerland
http://www.ngocongo.org/index.php?what=events&id=10408

JULY 1: Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers Nomination 
Committee meeting
Toronto, Canada
http://www.icann.org

JULY 4-7: Society for International Development 50th Anniversary World 
Congress
The Hague, The Netherlands
http://www.sidint.org/agenda_zoom.php?id=25

JULY 4-8: World association for community radios (AMARC) Women?s network 
workshop
Managua, Nicaragua
http://lac.amarc.org

JULY 15-19: New Economic Partnership for Africa?s Development ICT conference
Nairobi, Kenya
http://www.nepad.org

JULY 16-19: Freedom of expression: An exploration of the networked 
communications environment in Africa
Nairobi, Kenya

JULY 17-18: Sangonet ICT conference 2007
Johannesburg, South Africa
http://www.sangonet.org.za/portal/index.php?option=com_weblinks&task=view&catid=243&id=29

JULY 19-20: APC Africa member project management training
Johannesburg, South Africa

JULY 21: APC Africa member meeting
Johannesburg, South Africa

JULY 23-25: International Association for Media and Communication 
Research (IAMCR) 50th Anniversary conference
Paris, France
http://www.iamcr.org/content/blogcategory/0/252/

JULY 22-24: APC WNSP gender evaluation methodology facilitators training
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
http://www.apcwomen.org/gem/

JULY 25-27: APC WNSP gender evaluation methodology adaptation workshop
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
http://www.apcwomen.org/gem/

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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.

Subscribe to APCNews: http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apcnews
Visit the APCNews archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/
Contact APCNews: apcnews [at] apc.org

Some rights reserved: Creative Commons
Attribution-NonCommercial Licence 2.5
Association for Progressive Communications (APC), 2007

