[APCPress] APCNews - June 2007 - No 76

Tue Jun 5 16:48:02 BST 2007

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                *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the
           Association for Progressive Communications (APC)*
                                June 2007 No. 76
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-- 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 --
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-- 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 Mihály Bakó 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 Montréal, 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, Montréal, 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, Île 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 at 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