--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)* - September 2000 No. 13 - --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -- -- NEWS FROM APC -- -- NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS -- -- APC ACTION AREA: INTERNET RIGHTS -- -- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES - -- ONLINE EVENTS -- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM THE MEMBERS -- C2O, Australia - Using the Internet to Promote Cultural Arts in the Pacific c2o, APC's Australian member organization, and their partner group, Toy Satellite, are providing regional networking and Web media expertise to "arTok", a Pacific cultural arts initiative. More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=7e3074c637eac095a493a7e5aa4b5b38 ECONNECT, Czech Republic - Havel Conference on Developing Countries and the Debt to be Streamed live from Prague A conference on "The development of poor countries and the Debt" organized by Václav Havel, President of the Czech Republic, and timed to coincide with the World Bank/IMF summit, will be streamed across the Internet by APC's Czech member Econnect. More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=4ce1c0c25bacb7aa22c49a1be8ad7b23 ECONNECT, Czech Republic - The Czech Public Hungry for Information in the Shadow of the IMF/World Bank Summit In June, APCNews announced the launch of "Globalization", a special information portal in Czech focusing on globalization, the Bretton Woods institutions and the impact of their activities. "Since the site was launched almost four months ago, pages on the effects of globalization have received large numbers of visitors," said Katerina Fialova of Econnect, "and those visitors often stay on the site to actively participate in what sometimes become contentious online discussions". More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=d054c929d2873463bea503043545076e IGC, USA - IGC's AntiRacismNet chosen as Online Home for U.S. NGO participation in the UN's World Conference Against Racism AntiRacismNet.org, a Website jointly developed by Project Change and the Institute for Global Communications (IGC), APC's member in the United States, will play an important communications role for the United Nations World Conference Against Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia and Related Intolerance, tentatively scheduled for August 31 - September 7, 2001 in South Africa. AntiRacismNet.org will be the home base for information for U.S. NGO participants in the conference for everything from background information to how to get involved. While the official UN conference is being held, a parallel conference of NGOs from around the world will take place. More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=414172c73ce8c2a63922033b809ad5d0 NICARAO, Nicaragua - Young Environmentalists use the Internet to Give Local Farmers and Indigenous Communities a Voice on Nicaragua's National Forestry Legislation Nicarao, APC member in Nicaragua, has donated technical expertise to mount a nation-wide online poll regarding a recent law passed in this Central American nation which will control the development and management of Nicaraguan forests. The aim of the poll, which takes place until September 14, is to collect the opinions and concerns of small-scale farmers and foresters, as well as indigenous communities effected by the Law. The poll organizers, Young Environmentalists (Ja!), with the support of local and national media, will use the results to lobby parliamentary representatives and raise public awareness of the Forestry Law and its implications. More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=88e89c818e606e738db4f69e4837be2a WAMANI, Argentina - Police Corruption and Brutality Case followed Online for the first time in Argentina For the first time in Argentina a Website has been set up to capture developments in the case of an Argentinian secondary school student who died in the hands of the Argentinian police. More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=1e72fbad6b3f2d30ad9de465483c622e --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM APC -- FROM THE 2000 BETINHO PRIZE WINNER - The Max Foundation goes to Brazil August 29 -- APC received an update from Pedro Jose Rivarola, the founder of the Max Foundation, the winning initiative of the APC Betinho Communications Prize for 2000, following his recent trip to Brazil. Knowing that the Max Foundation was opening centres and networking in South America, especially Brazil, APC put them in contact with IBASE, one of APC's founding organizations, which was set up by Betinho himself. On his recent visit, Pedro met representatives from IBASE and Carlos Afonso (APC Chair 1996-98?) in Rio de Janeiro. They had a very productive meeting in which an agreement was made to develop an educational program in Brazil for organ and tissue typing donation. In Sao Paolo, the Max Foundation opened five state-of-the- art bone marrow and tissue donor centers. "This is just a start," Pedro writes to APC, "but a start in which Betinho is so much involved that it amazes me. Next to one of the many hospitals that I visited, is a blood bank dedicated to Betinho. Inside I found a sculpture of Betinho with an inscription saying: "O Sangue e um elemento universal da cultura de humanidade" (Blood is a universal element in human culture). I still feel the emotion that I experienced at that moment. Again, I thank you for giving us the opportunity to share our crusade." To find out more about the Max Foundation and the Latin American Stem Cell Registry, visit: http://www.themaxfoundation.org The APC Betinho Prize: http://www.apc.org/english/betinho/ The Prize Presentation: http://www.apc.org/english/about/org/forum_day2000.htm#prize --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM OUR PARTNERS -- BLUELINK, Bulgaria - NGOs in Eastern Europe Harnessing the Forces of the Media and Internet In June, BlueLink, APC partner in Bulgaria, launched a new project which targets Bulgarian NGOs who want to make better use of legislation, mass media and e-technology as an effective tool for public participation. The project, which has just received funding from the Charity Aid Foundation, will improve NGOs' understanding of legislation and the political process, as well as encourage co-operation between non-profit organisations, public institutions, the mass media and the commercial sector. More: http://www.apc.org/english/news/fulltext.shtml?sh_itm=1ae658d462a3e8be24487167648d8b6c --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES -- IGC: San Franciso-based APC Member seeks Executive Director IGC is looking for an entrepreneurial leader to implement new programs. Preferably with five years experience, strong fundraising, budgeting, organizational development skills, excellent communication skills, and familiar with online technologies and social activism. If this is you, please email your plain text resume and salary history to: edsearch@igc.apc.org IGC's Executive Director search: http://www.igc.org/igc/gateway/edhire.html --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- UPDATE ON THE APC-ICANN AWARENESS RAISING CAMPAIGN - When are the ICANN Board elections? The final elections take place between October1-10. Right now we are in the second part of a two-stage nomination process to collect the names of the final candidates. The maximum number of candidates in total in any region is seven. ICANN at-large members will vote to choose one representative to represent their region on the ICANN Board. - What can we do right now? You need to vote in your region. APC recommends that if you want to support a pro-civil society candidate in: **Asia-Pacific** - vote for Yukika Matsumoto now until September 8 **Europe** - vote for Rena Tangens now until September 8 *Africa - vote for Nii Quaynor between October 1 - 10 (He is already on the final ballot list) *Latin America and Caribbean- vote for Raul Echeberria between October 1 - 10 (He is already on the final ballot list) *North America - vote for Lawrence Lessig between October 1 - 10 (He is already on the final ballot list) If you are registered to vote in Europe or the Asian-Pacific region, you should endorse Rena and Yukika's nominations on the ICANN site NOW! Visit: http://members.icann.org/cgi-bin/atlarge/endorse.cgi. You must have your ICANN member number, your password and your personal identification number (PIN). All these details were sent to you in a letter from ICANN if you successfully registered as an ICANN at-large member before July 31. APC's recommendations are based on discussions with APC members and partners, and in the Civil Society Internet Forum (CSIF). - Why did APC choose these candidates? APC, our members and our partners, decided that the online election for five ICANN Board seats presented a unique opportunity to introduce a civil society perspective in Internet governance. The stated aim of ICANN is to create "bottom-up, self- organising" representative structures. We are not absolutely convinced that this has been achieved, but we feel that, because of our history, APC has an obligation to work to develop representation for civil society on Internet governance questions. APC worked with its members, partners and particularly the Civil Society Internet Forum, to discuss and develop our recommendations. We have attempted to find good, supportable candidates that we feel are committed to the policies that are most important for the development of the Internet for civil society and development. In the case that there was more than one good candidate in a region, we chose one, in order to avoid dividing the votes. - Who to vote for: http://www.apc.org/english/rights/governance/icann_candidates.htm - Why are they recommended? http://www.apc.org/english/rights/governance/icann_rationale.htm - About ICANN and the nomination process: http://www.apc.org/english/rights/governance/index.htm#nominations --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ONLINE EVENTS -- ONLINE POLL AND DEBATE ON NICARAGUA'S NEW FORESTRY LAW Until September 15 AFTIDEV FORUM: ONLINE DEBATE ON THE SOCIAL APPROPRIATION AND TRANSFER OF INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY IN AFRICA September 4 - ongoing More: http://www.apc.org/english/ngos/calendar/00_09.htm --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are distributed the first week of every month by APC, the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), the global Internet community for peace, human rights, development and the environment. APCNews Archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/ Copyright. 2000 Association for Progressive Communications (APC). Permission is granted to use this document for personal use and for training and educational publications and activities by peace, environmental, human rights or development organizations. Please provide an acknowledgment to APC.