[WSIS CS-Plenary] WSIS blog posts from yesterday

[Andy Carvin]

Here's the text of my recent blog entries from Tunis. I have also posted 
numerous videos and podcasts to my blog, located at www.andycarvin.com -andy

I Want Bandwidth

WSIS has been a great event for liveblogging, but it's a pain in the 
butt if you want to videoblog or podcast. I've got two videos and one 
podcast I want to upload, but so far, no luck - the wifi connection is 
currently uploading at less than 1k per second. Three hundred bits per 
second, to be precise. I guess I'll have to do it on my own dime at the 
hotel late tonight. Or I may just let some of the videos pile up and 
upload them when I get home. I just can't afford to sit around for hours 
waiting for 900k clips to upload. Maybe I'll have better luck at the 
next summit. Oh, wait.... -andy

Robert Mugabe's WSIS Speech

Notes from Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe; most notes are direct quotes.

We meet on the occasion of the second phase of WSIS in order to make 
another imprint on a journey that began in 1998... for a global meeting 
to promote greater society on what is commonly known as the information 
society. It's indeed fitting that the Tunis phase should take place in 
Africa, where the idea of that summit was born...

ICTs can be a useful tool in generating economic growth and employment 
creation, improving productivity and quality of life for all people.... 
On one level, this summit provides an opportunity for the global family 
of nations to address this need....

We attach special importance to the establishment of the digital 
solidarity fund and trust it will play a positive role in expanding 
access to ICTs.

I believe that WSIS has achieved one of its initial aims of fostering 
the full range of opportunities presented by ICTs.

Zimbabwe is concerned that the Internet is being used to undermine a 
country's values, including child pornography, cyber crime and cyber 
terrorism.

We also challenge the issue of Internet governance where one or two 
countries insist on being world policemen on the management and 
administration of the Internet. We must allow for a more transparent and 
multilateral approach to Internet governance. Why should our diverse 
world be beholden to an American company? And without clear financing 
mechanisms to bridge the digital divide, all of this work may be 
doomed... The west's resistance to the solidary fund may spell doom for 
all things developed in this process. Suppose they are being rejected 
because they are not being managed by the Breton Woods institutions on 
the strenghs of the west's industrial designs?

Posted by acarvin at 12:41 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Notes from Thabo Mbeki's Speech

Notes from South African President Thabo Mbeki. He talked rather fast so 
I didn't capture as much as I would have liked; almost all of this is 
paraphrased. -andy

One of the central challenges of humanity is the eradication of poverty. 
Having the summit in Africa helps emphasise the role ICTs can play in 
extricating Africans from poverty....

The creation of an inclusive, development-oriented info society is in 
the best interest of all humanity. We must be multi-lateral, 
multi-stakeholder institutions and systems to ensure equitable access to 
ICTs and participation in Internet governance.

We should move with the necessary speed to implement new licensing 
models for proprietary software as well as free and open source, as part 
of the overall strategy in bridging the digital divide.

ICTs are a powerful ally we all must mobilize.... We are determined to 
do whatever we can to implement the ideas brought forth at WSIS to 
create an inclusive information society.

Posted by acarvin at 12:30 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Swiss President: Let People Speak Freely

The president of the Swiss Confederation is speaking right now. He's 
just said he can't believe there are still UN members states that 
imprison citizens because of their opinons. He added that all people 
attending WSIS should be allowed to express their opinions freely and 
openly, clearly a reference to Tunisian interference in civil society's 
activities here. The comments were met with roaring applause from the 
civil society gallery. -andy

Posted by acarvin at 10:55 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Kofi Annan's WSIS Speech

Notes from Kofi Annan's opening speech at WSIS:

Two years ago in Geneva, the first phase articulated a vision - a vision 
of open and inclusive information society. our task here in tunis is to 
move from diagnosis to deeds.... It must be a summit of solutions. It 
must lead to the use of ICTs in new ways that will benefit all social 
classes.... and develop the economies of the poor.

What do we mean by the information society? One where human capacity is 
built up, liberated with access and the skills to use it effective. The 
cost of connectivity can be broad down. These bridges to a better life 
can be universally affordable and accessible. We must summon the will to 
do it. The information society also depends on networks. If its benefits 
are to spread around the world, we must promote the same cooperative spirit.

The Internet's very life blood is freedom - allows journalists to do 
their work and citizens to hold govts accountable. Without this, the 
information revolution will stall and be stillborn.

By now, we know what the problems are. We now must foster innovation and 
digital opportunity. The spread of mobile phones in africa have spread 
entrepreneurship, particularly by women. Doctors have access to medical 
information, students to research data, relief workers better 
coordinated relief. The same opportunities can be given to more people 
in the developing world.

The UN doesn't want to control the Internet... The US deserves thanks 
for creating the Internet and managing in honorably.... But I think you 
all acknowledge the need for more international involvement in 
governance discussions. Let these discussions continue; we in the UN 
will support this process in every way we can.

There is a tremendous yearning; not for technology per se, but for what 
technology can make possible. I urge you to take the tangible steps to 
make this summit a memorable event for advances the causes of dignity, 
development and peace. Thank you, shukran, shalom alechem.

Posted by acarvin at 10:36 AM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
WSIS Opening Remarks: Tunisian President Ben Ali

Notes from opening remarks from Tunisian President Ben Ali this morning 
at the World Summit on the Information Society.

Today, by the grace of God, we open the proceedings of the Tunis phase 
of the World Summit on the Information Society.

We are firmly convinced at building a knowledge and communication 
society for a brighter future of all humanity.

This [digital] divide is growing wider... The digital divide is 
essential a development disparity before it is a technological gap. The 
need of the least developed countries is growing increasing urgent, 
particularly in the role of ICTs in education, higher education, 
science, health, culture and other fields.... These technological 
developments have confronted humanity with a set of challenges... We 
must strive to... a new approach to international cooperation. We also 
look forward to the adoption of practical decisions and proposals to 
solve the questions put forth by the information society.

These last few years have witnessed the emergence of some types of use 
that shake confidence... in networks. Some arouse racism, hatred... 
terrorism... Some others disseminate discriminations and falsehoods... 
and the illegal use of databases.... Without restrictions or 
constraints, we find it necessary to establish universal standards... of 
modern communication means.

The information society offers individuals large freedoms in the use of 
networks... for the expression of opinions.... Still, this society 
requires individuals to commit to responsible use.

The effects of the digital divide go beyond social aspects... such as 
cultural diversity, which represents humanity's true wealth. 
Communication among languages... now depends on their ability to be 
available in the virtual space. Statistics show that the current use of 
languages on the Internet does not reflect cultural diversity...

The first phase of WSIS has offered us the opportunity to examine 
relevant issues and look into the ways and means whereby we'll be able 
to meet challenges faced by humanity in the ICT field.... Intensive 
consultants have been held on pending issues.... Regional meetings 
have... helped enrich dialogue on Internet government and bridging the 
digital divide.

The Internet is one of the most important pending issues that need a 
consensus in order to serve the needs of all humanity.... as regards to 
the digital divide, there is a need today... for the establishment of a 
clear, prospective approach outlining an equitable knowledge society, 
allowing all people to have access to information and communication 
technologies.


Can't Stand the Heat? Get Out of the Expo

One thing a lot of people have been talking about at WSIS is the uneven 
distribution of air conditioning at the Kram Palexpo. For example, the 
ICT4All expo is divided into two areas, basically housed under giant 
circus tents. (I'll let someone else make a comment about the irony of 
that.) In one area, the air is cool and pleasant; in the other, it's 
stifling hot and uncomfortable.

For example, the TakingITGlobal Youth Hub is located near where the two 
areas intersect. Everyone working there is in a constant state of 
sweatiness. It's taking its toll on TakingITGlobal; less people are 
visiting the booth because it's so uncomfortable. Even worse, it seems 
like it's beginning to affect equipment: their DVD player kept freezing 
up at random, and Nick Moraitis and I feared it's because of the high temps.

I guess there are two ways of looking at this. On the one hand, NGOs and 
other exhibitors paid serious money for display space at WSIS, and 
having arbitrary cooling throughout the expo means that some of that 
money might as well have been flushed down a toilette. Clearly (and in 
this case, quite literally) the circus tent-like atmosphere in the Expo 
hall means that some groups are getting shafted while others stay comfy 
cozy.

On the other hand, isn't this just another manifestation of the digital 
divide? I've lost track of the number of telecentres I've visited that 
don't keep any lights on because it's already so damn hot. Air 
conditioning may seem like a pre-requisite for a community center, but 
that's just for us spoiled northerners. Try visiting a telecentre in 
rural Ghana or Bangladesh - I wouldn't count on A/C. For them, this 
means greater challenges in keeping equipment functional and visitors 
happy. It's so easy to assume that most telecentres have some kind of 
environmental control systems but I would guess the opposite is true. So 
for the next few days, at least, the hundreds of exhibitors will get to 
experience this rarely discussed aspect of the digital divide - those 
communities who can afford to live in cool comfort and those who have to 
deal with mother nature.... -andy

Posted by acarvin at 05:26 PM | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)
Less Show Girls, More PhDs, Please

Is it me or are there a lot of busty women in tight, low-cut outfits in 
the ICT4All expo? I'm not talking about delegates , mind you - I'm 
talking about the young women working many of the corporate and national 
booths in the expo. Around each corner, I feel like I'm greeted by yet 
another gorgeous woman repeating the same five talking points about 
whatever product or service the booth is featuring.

It's not like I haven't seen this before; just go to the NAB conference 
or another big business confab, and you're bound to see attractive women 
manning the booths, as it were, no doubt to catch the eye of lonely 
businessmen and suck them into a sales pitch. But there's something 
really, really unseemly about having similar tactics used at WSIS. If I 
recall, the last expo at WSIS Geneva had lots of women, but they were 
all actually key players in the projects on display - PhDs running 
national libraries, technologists demonstrating the latest solar panel 
system. Here, though, I feel like I'm surrounded by women who were hired 
solely for their looks and not for their knowledge in IT or the digital 
divide. Is it possible that these vendors don't have any women working 
for them? Or are they just trying to pull in male delegates, 
particularly ones from country not used to seeing women flaunting their 
beauty in public?

I'll spend more time in the Expo this week, of course, as will everyone 
else. So I'm hoping this is just a weird and somewhat incorrect first 
impression. Let's just wait and see. -andy

Blogger Questioned for Taking Photos During WSIS Registration

Pakistani blogger Shahzad of BytesForAll recently posted a message to 
the APC blog warning people about taking pictures around WSIS 
facilities. Here's a part of the account, with added emphasis by me:

     Maxigas had to register and collect his badge from the WSIS 
registration centre. I accompanied him to the centre and then thought of 
taking some pictures of the registration area to share with 
folks at bytesforall.

     Looking at our cameras, when we still had to take a picture, this 
security person came to us and warned us to refrain from taking 
pictures. Then, he asked for our passports and started questioning as to 
why we want to take pictures.

     We informed him that we plan to share these on various blogs and 
websites, to which he responded that only accredited journalists are 
allowed to take pictures. He also went through all the snapshots 
available in our digital camera.

     In the meantime, the lady translator was apologizing again and 
again for this. We were detained and questioned for about 15 minutes and 
allowed to go. We did request them though to place some notices and 
signs to let other delegates know that photography is forbidden in the 
WSIS area.

     For me, it is very interesting, since almost every delegate is 
carrying this weapon and surely would want to photograph their event, 
exhibition area, friends etc. and, in doing so, could seriously fall 
into trouble.

I personally haven't taken any pictures yet, and I don't have any plans 
to curtail my photography based on this incident. My guess is some 
jittery security guard though someone was trying to take pics of 
registering delegates. But even so, it's next to impossible to take a 
picture at WSIS without getting some other delegates in the frame 
accidentally. And as Shahzad said, probably every delegate here is armed 
with some kind of camera. And 15,000 delegates can't be wrong. -andy



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Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://katrina05.blogspot.com
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
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