[WSIS CS-Plenary] The Economist on the 'real digital divide'

[Nabil El-Khodari]

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I agree with Rik Panganiban and have issues with WJM assertions. Let
us not forget that by proper use of the technology, fishermen can
have access to important information that would actually not only
increase their sea harvest, but also save their lives in emergencies.
information like weather condition and market prices (including
foreign markets) would increase their ability to negotiate better
prices with middle-men.
 
I believe it is WJM who have a myopic vision on 'cost' rather than
benefit - if properly used as it has been in some ICT projects. Who
are we to deny the benefits to poor people? Even those who are
malnourished would stand a chance of a better life is they can master
even typing skills using computers.
 
The provision of Internet access to refugees by such organizations as
the UNHCR and the benefits from that is a good example Please keep in
mind that such equipments are donations mostly and may be also
second-hand. In fact, may be if 'obsolete' - by developed country
standards - equipments are donated to developing countries (including
cell phones) the question will not be about cost, but rather about
benefit, including that of recycling such environmentally hazardous
equipment.


Sincerely, 

Nabil El-Khodari 
Founder 
Nile Basin Society 

Tel.: +1 (647) 722-3256 
Fax: +1 (647) 722-3273 

http://nilebasin.com 
http://nile.ca 

108 Waterbury Dr. 
Toronto, ON M9R 3Y3 
Canada 

"How we decide and who gets to decide often determines what we
decide." Environmental Governance 

"If the people will lead, the leaders will follow" Dr. David Suzuki 

- -----Original Message-----
From: plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org [mailto:plenary-admin at wsis-cs.org] On
Behalf Of Bill McIver
Sent: Tuesday, March 15, 2005 7:06 AM
To: plenary at wsis-cs.org
Subject: Re: [WSIS CS-Plenary] The Economist on the 'real digital
divide'



Rik,

One need is to continue to "drill down" into stories such as yours
to look at why given the conditions you have described
that certain ICTs are prioritized over (or with?) other things.

I think many of the answers are not so obvious to people
who don't live in such circumstances. 

How, for example, might the mobile phone help 
people in your village respond to the conditions you
describe where others don't. 

Some of the answers will be obvious with respect to 
the costs and requirements of other
types of ICT infrastructure and services, but surely
going beyond those issues to look at how they are used
will reveal important things for us.



WJM



Rik Panganiban wrote:


Thanks, Sasha, for initiating this discussion. 


In my view, our response should show that there are a number of
public policy issues that are not automatically "solved" by imposing
a pure market solution, and that civil society groups are not
myopically focused on "cutting edge" web-based technologies. We need
to show that we are working across the board on justice and democracy
issues related to traditional radio, television, fixed phone, mobile
phone, all the way up to webcasting and VOIP. 


Regardless of what level of technology deployment we are talking
about, there are serious political issues that civil society has
strong views related to government surveillance and individual rights
to privacy, for example. 


On the other hand, I must say that in the remote fishing village in
the Philippines that my family is from, we barely have potable water,
regular electricity, much less a telecentre. But lots of folks have
mobile phones. Cell phones are the only ICTs that are realistic for
our village to access given our significant infrastructure needs. I
think lots of places in the developing world are in a similar boat. 


So what are the public policy issues surrounding cell phone
deployment that civil society groups need to be seized of? 


Rik Panganiban 


[... text deleted ...]


RIK PANGANIBAN Communications Coordinator 

Conference of NGOs in Consultative Relationship with the United
Nations (CONGO) 

web: http://www.ngocongo.org 

email: rik.panganiban at ngocongo.org 

mobile: (+1) 917-710-5524 



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==
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