--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)* - June 2002 No. 25 - --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -- -- NEWS FROM APC -- -- APC ACTION AREA: INTERNET RIGHTS -- -- WOMEN & ICTs -- -- ONLINE TOOLS -- -- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES - -- IMPORTANT DATES -- -- SITES OF INTEREST -- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS - ECONNECT, Czech Republic: Launch of a nationwide environmental and society 'clean up' campaign to educate the Czech public in the run up to the World Summit on Sustainable Development In March, Econnect, APC member in Prague, launched a new thematic portal - Hra o Zemi (Playing with the Earth). The portal was created as a part of country-wide campaign of the same name, organised by Czech non governmental organisations (NGOs) in preparation for the United Nations World Summit on Sustainable Development coming up in September in South Africa. The portal provides the background information for the campaign which is aimed at raising the public's awareness on environmental issues and encouraging people to get actively involved in cleaning up their immediate environment. http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=ec37347079d07529447118431ad5e1ac ECONNECT, Czech Republic: Online case studies expose the current dubious state of democracy in the Czech Republic Together with legislation experts, Econnect will focus on highlighting cases, laws and regulations that expose the current dubious state of democracy in the Czech Republic. The first legislative case - "The New Administrative Order = The end of Democracy?" - was recently published online and includes comprehensive elaboration of novel proposal of new law known as Administrative Order, which will significantly influence the participation of public on administrative control. http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=23e6d8dd5cffd1456ef726bd915c613d LANETA, MEXICO: Things that come from outside - Mexican forum on computing and the Internet in indigenous communities What opportunities do computers and the Internet open up for indigenous peoples? What are the advantages and the risks culturally, politically and economically speaking? How can we be sure these technologies will feed and not damage our identity and self-determination? These are just some of the questions that representatives from approximately forty indigenous communities and organisations met to discuss at a forum co-sponsored by APC's Mexican member, LaNeta, in May in the south western city of Oaxaca. http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=428bc4d1e62a2a53979f9acb2b5035c4 TAU, ARGENTINA: Getting hold of computers for community telecentres in crisis-stricken Argentina is a serious challenge In the middle of one of the most serious crises ever faced by Argentina it's not easy for APC member, TAU to continue their dream of setting up self sustaining community computer centres in poor neighbourhoods. Based in one of the worst hit cities, former industrial heartland, Rosario, TAU is struggling to operate in a country where spine-chilling statistics point to 15 million people living below the poverty line out of a total population of 37 million, 60% of all children living in poverty and 25% of children are from families where even basic food needs are not met. Nevertheless, TAU is moving ahead with the implementation of three Community Computer Centres (or telecentres) in two marginal neighbourhoods within the city of Rosario and Capitán Bermúdez, a town fifteen kilometers outside. http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=420578d55e96122c71db6651cc8b2ba5 THIRD WORLD INSTITUTE/CHASQUE: Raising southern NGOs' visibility on the Internet Choike is the Mapuche word for the Southern Cross constellation. By pointing to the South, Choike helps travellers find their way. A new website, also called Choike, aimed at improving the visibility of Southern NGOs on the Internet, was created in South America and launched in April this year. The creator of the website, APC member in Uruguay, the Third World Institute (ITeM), hopes Choike will help users find Southern destinations on the Internet and consequently improve the visibility and impact of what civil society organizations in developing countries produce and publish. Choike helps users find NGO information, provides links to NGO sites and publicizes NGO campaigns. Choike indexes hundreds of NGO web pages. Choike: http://www.choike.org ITeM: http://www.item.org.uy WAMANI: Celebrating ten years networking organisations and activists in Argentina Ten years ago, on the first of June 1992, using an AT 286 personal computer, which had a hard drive of 40 megabytes, Wamani came to life. The brainchild of three friends, Wamani was initiated to strengthen the work of people and organizations who were working for a better society. Initially there were fairly few users who dared to brave the complicated connection software and modems with speeds of 300-1200 bauds (1.2 kbps). The telephone lines were also extremely poor-quality and unreliable - just to complicate matters further! "No one talked about email back then, and the Internet was a 'treasure' that was only available in a very few countries," said Wamani co-founder, Carlos Alvarez. "It was only in 1995, three years after we started, that Internet really got under way. Before that, what we were able to offer was mail exchange and access to the information on the historic electronic conferences which APC offered via its member organizations all over the world". http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=c3e7cdec4d23fce03a6f47937bea4758 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM APC - NEW APC LOGO AND WEBSITE: Celebrating the potential of ICTs! Recent visitors to the APC Website will have noticed a new festive look created for APC by Indonesian activist and digital artist Nani Buntarian. "Too many civil society organisations find the idea of technology intimidating and unfriendly," said APC communications manager, Karen Higgs, who oversaw the redesign process, "We wanted to celebrate the potential of ICTs and we want visitors to feel cheered by what they find on the site." Both English and Spanish sites have been completely updated. The Internet Rights site has been hugely expanded. Plus you can now find an entirely new training section on how to use ICTs most effectively for your organisation. APC: http://www.apc.org ANNOUNCING THE APC AFRICA HAFKIN COMMUNICATIONS PRIZE IN 2002 DEADLINE FOR NOMINATIONS: September 15, 2002 THIS YEAR'S THEME: People-Centred Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Policy in Africa THE PRIZE IS OPEN TO: civil society organisations, government institutions, educational organisations, community-based groups, networks, social movements and individuals anywhere in Africa. WE ARE LOOKING FOR ICT *POLICY* INITIATIVES THAT: · are people-centred and mobilise participation · raise awareness and build capacity · are Africa-driven and that develop Africa · have positive community impact at community level THE PRIZE: USD$7,500.00 will be shared amongst up to three winning initiatives. MORE ABOUT THE APC AFRICA HAFKIN PRIZE: http://www.apc.org/english/hafkin/2002.shtml or write to hafkin-prize@apc.org NEW MEMBER: RITS - Third Sector Information Network (Rede de Informacoes para o Terceiro Setor) APC is delighted to announce the incorporation of our newest member - RITS from Rio de Janeiro in Brazil. RITS is a privately run, nonprofit organisation, founded in 1997. Their mission and greatest challenge is to help Brazilian non governmental organisations (NGOs) make better and more intensive use of information and communications technologies (ICTs). They are also one of Brazil's most vocal advocates of using public policy to universalise access to the Internet. RITS provides multi-faceted support of the civil society sector in projects such as: Rets, a weekly online magazine which produces around thirty original articles a week on civil society in Brazil; a joint project with the British Council on human rights; an interactive site for a Youth network; hosting of some of the most important civil society networks and Websites in Brazil (including the World Social Forum Website); creation of a new ambitious portal, Citizenship; and the establishment of a Brazilian Internet Rights observatory. RITS' founder, Carlos Afonso, is well-known to APC and is a leading thinker in ICT for development circles in both Latin America and beyond. He was APC's first chair, and one of the founders of one of APC's most significant founding organisations - IBASE. RITS: http://www.rits.org.br About APC membership: http://www.apc.org/english/about/members/membership.shtml --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- APC ACTION AREA: INTERNET RIGHTS -- INTERNATIONAL: Why should Civil Society lobby and protect our right to use the Internet? Some good reasons: http://www.apc.org/english/rights/why_ir_and_civsoc.shtml INTERNATIONAL: Demystifying Internet Policy And Regulation In Africa, Latin America And Europe APC Policy Monitor Websites gather legislation, policy information and valuable documentation for campaigners and civil society organisations MONTEVIDEO, Uruguay - The anti-privacy Regulation of Investigative Powers (RIP) Act legalised state interception and reading of private email and the monitoring of an individual's activity online in the United Kingdom. Not long afterwards, similar measures were passed in New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Malaysia, Russia and Singapore. These developments in Internet regulation have taken many civil society organisations by surprise. Now, using an online resource just launched by the Association for Progressive Communications, organisations working for human rights, freedom of expression, and progressive government policy will be able to monitor proposed and new legislation and regulation affecting the Internet in their region. The APC ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Policy Monitor Websites specifically focus on the Latin American and African continents, as well as Europe, the scene of much of the earliest enacted Internet legislation. About the Monitor Websites: http://www.apc.org/english/rights/monitors.shtml Africa ICT Policy Monitor: http://africa.rights.apc.org (in English) Europe Internet Rights: http://europe.rights.apc.org (in English) Latin America and Caribbean ICT Policy Monitor: http://lac.rights.apc.org (in Spanish) AFRICA: APC Launches ICT Policy Monitor Website for Africa "One of the most important ways we in Africa will spread access to ICT is through changing the policy structure. Right now, most countries have policies that discourage companies, and even nonprofits, from bringing ICTs to the rural areas. We have to press our governments to make changes in policies, but it is hard to know what the "right" policies are. I do not necessarily believe that whatever the World Bank or other donors believe to be the right policies are actually best for us in Africa. And what is good for one country in Africa may not be good for another. I came across this APC website that I think will help us examine policies and decide what is best for ourselves." - a member of the Global Knowledge Development (GKD) email list The Africa ICT Policy monitor website, launched in May 2002, is a user-friendly resource which aims at demystifying the concepts of ICT policy-making. APC hopes that the Website content will stimulate discussion between users from around the continent about the use and relevance of ICTs for development in Africa, and facilitate the development of a network of civil society organisations promoting African Internet rights issues. Africa ICT Policy Monitor: http://africa.rights.apc.org or write to africa.rights@apc.org Africa ICT Policy mailing list: http://lists.sn.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/africa-ir-public EUROPEAN UNION: European Parliament in favour of preventive spying: Data collection in the EU "Better than the Stasi" Brussels, BELGIUM -- APC's Internet Rights initiative regrets the European Parliament's support of "a surveillance union". The following information comes from the office of European parliamentarian, Ilka Schroeder. "With today's vote the European Parliament supports the project of a surveillance union. From today on, the fundamental right to privacy is fundamentally questioned for everyone using electronic means of communication no matter whether they are telephone, Internet or fax. The unlimited retention of communication data, as it is laid down in Article 15.1 of the directive voted today, paves the way for unlimited access to all kinds of personal communication." http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=a4dc46a26cf0e1292904e1b64ee7a854 HUNGARY: Internet users in Hungary revolt against the withdrawal of flat-rate Internet access by telecom giant Matav, leading telecoms company in Hungary, subsidiary of Deutsche Telekom, responsible for the majority of internet connections in the country, declared at the end of April that they would withdraw their flat-rate dial-up access package from 1 July 2002, consequently excluding a large number of Hungarians from using the net. The flat-rate packages, largely instrumental in spreading Internet use countrywide since 1999, were tolerable but not cheap. A rise in prices will leave many homes without Internet access. http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=7f9098dfe05878eab2e967043a885e98 ARTICLE: Internet Censorship Wins Out Despite the power of the Internet, plenty of unsavoury regimes are learning to control it. Andrew Stroehlein from the Institute for War and Peace Reporting believes that publishing banned information is a 'game for elites'. Online Journalism Review: http://www.ojr.org/ojr/world_reports/1018991587.php --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- WOMEN & ICTs - Evaluating Technology Initiatives from a Gender Perspective: Testing begins in Latin America For the last two years, the APC Women's Networking Support Programme (APC WNSP) has been developing a methodology to evaluate Internet initiatives from a gender perspective. This tool, known as GEM (Gender Evaluation Methodology) is now at the testing and refining stage, with the first tests being carried out in the field as it is used by six Latin American initiatives. To train the people who will lead the initial evaluations, APC WNSP held a regional workshop in Cuernavaca, México in mid May gathering together twenty-three women - trainers, evaluators, grassroots workers, and others - many directly related to the projects which will test the methodology. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?sh_itm=a50556685efea39ede769a087846096d WNSP (APC Women's Networking Support Programme): Women's Electronic Training goes national in the Philippines The first national pilot Women's Electronic Network Training (WENT) workshop successfully trained 20 Filipino women from a wide mix of organisations including women's organisations, cooperatives, trade unions, alternative media groups, gender advocates from mixed-gender organisations. WENT-Philippines is an offshoot of the Asia-Pacific WENT training series, now in its fourth year. WENT has trained 91 women from 18 countries in the Asia Pacific since 1999. APC Women's Networking Support Programme (WNSP) co-coordinates the WENT training on behalf of the Asian Women's Resource Exchange. http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=fc9f7771a0d6a9b1de255bb4adcede96 APC WNSP: http://www.apcwomen.org More about Women & Information and Communications Technologies (ICTs): http://www.apc.org/english/news/women_index.shtml --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ONLINE TOOLS - AUDACITY: Free sound editing tools Audacity is an audio editor available free of charge for all operating systems. It can be used to record sounds, play sounds, import and export WAV, AIFF, and MP3 files, edit sounds using Cut, Copy and Paste (with unlimited Undo), mix tracks together, or apply effects to your recordings. Audacity version 1.0.0 is the most stable version released yet, and many people have found that its unique features and intuitive interface make it more enjoyable to use than other audio editors, including commercial ones. Audacity is being developed by a team of volunteers under the free software model. This means that anyone can modify the programming source code as long as they publicise the changes. AUDACITY: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/ ONEWORLD RADIO: Development and human rights audio exchange OneWorld, an online human rights and sustainable development network, has launched OneWorld Radio, a new portal offering services and features for broadcasters and NGOs. The core of OneWorld Radio is a multi-lingual audio exchange database to which broadcasters can upload their programmes and audio clips. This content is available for online listening and for other OneWorld Radio members to download and use for re-broadcast. Audio is searchable by 80 topics - covering civil society, health, human rights, democracy and sustainable development - by any language, and also by geographical area. OneWorld Radio: http://www.oneworld.net/radio [multiple languages] SIYANDA: A practitioner-focused gender mainstreaming Website The name Siyanda is symbolic of what BRIDGE, APC member in Brighton, UK, hopes this gateway will become: an ever-growing resource of materials to support the work of gender practitioners in mainstreaming gender. Siyanda provides short summaries of online work that has been done (in the past five years) and presents work being done currently in the field of gender equality. These summaries provide essential information and save time in searching through reams of material for relevant information. Siyanda: http://www.siyanda.org [in English] GENIE: A donor-focused gender information exchange Website Among the key resources collected by Genie is a searchable database of donor agency gender resources such as policy documents, sectoral reports, guidelines, good practice cases, bibliographies, background papers, research reports and tools. Genie provides access to online resources or details of how to locate hard copies. A short summary is provided for each resource offering essential information, saving valuable search time for the user. Key resources have longer summaries outlining the main issues covered in the text. Genie also offers a gender country profiles database which offers an overview, from a gender perspective, of a range of key issues in the country of focus, and an online database of contact details for world-wide gender consultants (and specialist organisations) including many based in the South. Genie is another resource offered by APC member, BRIDGE. Genie: http://www.genie.ids.ac.uk [in English] --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES - JOB VACANCIES AT THE APC: Programme and Projects Manger/Deputy Director The ideal candidate will work with APC members, staff and the donor community to mobilise resources for activities that achieve the implementation of the APC's mission and vision, oversee the operational management of APC projects and programmes, and take on the role of Deputy Executive Director within the APC. Deadline for applications: June 28 2002 APC Job vacancy: http://www.apc.org/english/jobs/deputy_ed.shtml JOB VACANCIES AT THE APC: Logistics and Events Coordinator The Logistics and events coordinator will coordinate public relations, administration and events for the APC, provide a support service to ensure the smooth running of the Executive Director's Office and to support the broader APC team. The successful candidate will be based in South Africa for at least 60% of the duration of the contract. Deadline for applications: June 19 2002 APC Job vacancy: http://www.apc.org/english/jobs/logistics_coord.shtml ONLINE SURVEY FROM THE APPROPRIATE SOFTWARE FOUNDATION: Fill in a survey about the software you use A group of developers of free software website content management systems are investigating demand in the NGO and non-profit community. Respondents will be entered into a Prize Draw with the chance to win a dynamically-generated website for your organisation. Survey: http://www.appropriatesoftwarefoundation.org/NGOCMS/Survey.html [in English] ONLINE SURVEY: Society after September 11 - Any Change? The international civil society movement, CIVICUS: World Alliance for Citizen Participation, is conducting a survey on the effects of September 11, 2001 and its aftermath on civil society organisations around the world. To participate in the 10-minutes web-survey, please visit: http://www.rogator.de/civicus [in Arabic, English, French and Spanish] --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- IMPORTANT DATES - Electronic Networks - Building Community July 3-5 2002, Melbourne, Australia Conference topics will include: use of the Internet for advocacy and activism, community building, community service, small business online, community education, government and community relationships, rural and regional online issues and technical issues. This conference, with over 65 presentations from Australian and international speakers, is supported by ISOC-AU as a practical exploration of the possibilities, successes and complications involved in implementing the slogan - the Internet is for everyone! More details: http://www.ccnr.net/2002 [in English] III Global Conference on Community Networking in the Digital Era: Empowering Communities in the Information Society October 7-13 2002, Montreal, Canada Global CN2002 aims at creating opportunities, spaces and tools enabling community networks and other civil society stakeholders to demonstrate, discuss, and celebrate their experiences before, during and after the conference itself. Forum themes are: - The Future Of Community Networking: Civic Empowerment Through Broadband Initiatives - New Foundations for Change: Smart Communities and Digital Cities - Focus on Internet Rights: Building Citizenship in the Information Society (co-organised by APC) - Multiculturalism and Multilingualism on the Internet Global CN2002:http://globalcn2002.ca/ [in French and English] --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- SITES OF INTEREST -- Betinho Prize 2001 Finalist: INFOMED, Cuba In 1992, Cuba's Ministry of Public Health was forced to cut its periodicals budget from $1,000,000 to $35,000 when Cuba's principal trading partners in Eastern Europe collapsed while the US embargo continued. A plan emerged to create an electronic network to allow access to medical journals and databases and provide email for Cuba's 70,000 medical professionals using Internet protocols. Over the last nine years, the Infomed network has grown to deliver medical information directly to 20,000 members of the community of Cuban physicians, researchers and medical students. INFOMED: http://www.sld.cu/indice.php [in Spanish] Each month APC will feature some of the Betinho Prize finalist Websites. You can find out more about the other finalists here: http://www.apc.org/english/betinho/2001/bet_finalists.shtml [in Spanish and English] The Pénélopes: A new look for the feminist portal The Pénélopes work to make women's initiatives and resistance visible. The activists have redesigned their stylish portal in line with their commitment to the development and movement for a non-commercial and solidarity-based Internet. The new web site formula is based on the use of freeware. The content remains the same, focusing on the Pénélopes' commitments in the fight for social and economic democracy, for peace, and for the development of a feminist analysis of the liberal globalisation process. Les Pénélopes: http://www.penelopes.org [in French] --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are distributed monthly by APC, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the international Internet community for peace, human rights, development and the environment. APCNews Archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/ CopyLeft. 2002 Association for Progressive Communications (APC). Permission is granted to use this document for personal use, for training and educational publications, and activities by peace, environmental, human rights or development organizations. Please provide an acknowledgment to APC.