--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)* - November 2002 No. 29 - --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- 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 - RITS, Brazil: Ninety telecentres to provide free Internet connections to marginal neighbourhoods in São Paulo On September 2, RITS signed an agreement with the Municipality of São Paulo to set up and manage ninety telecentres in marginal areas of Brazil's largest city. The initiative involves RITS' developing special programmes, training telecentre personnel and guaranteeing maintenance for the next two years. Twenty telecentres are already functioning, with the other seventy centres to be running by the end of 2003. Most of the telecentres will be located in poor neighbourhoods that have traditionally suffered from high levels of crime and violence. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8176 c2o, Australia: Leading Australian aid and development watch dog AIDWATCH launches new site Australian's AIDWATCH has launched a revised site, the first major overhaul since 1995. Designed by long-time AIDWATCH sponsor, Toy Satellite, and implemented with The WOK, a site management system from APC member in Melbourne, c2o, the new site provides the Australian development community with reports and up-to-date announcements published by AIDWATCH staff at anytime, from anywhere. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8177 LaNeta, Mexico: Two US-Mexican reports voice civil society concerns around development plans imposed on local communities LaNeta, APC's member in Mexico City, together with other organisations from Mexico and the US-Mexican border, recently published two environmental and social critiques of large-scale development projects in Mexico. Mexico has been the setting for a multitude of projects aimed at increasing and facilitating commerce, including the controversial North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Now almost a decade after NAFTA, the spotlight is turned back on Mexico with the Puebla-Panama Plan (PPP). Many leaders agree that significant infrastructure improvements are needed in south eastern Mexico and that the poor quality of the region's roads and its unpredictable energy network may be inhibiting economic growth, however, LaNeta et al, after reading the PPP proposals and studying the Mexican government's plans, have published a report which claims that elements of the PPP lack social and environmental perspective and highlights examples of communities being excluded from the planning process for a project that will eventually affect them all. "Interests and Objections to the Puebla-Panama Plan and the Oaxaca-Istmo-Huatulco Highway Project" (October 2002): http://www.texascenter.org/publications/pppenglish.pdf [English summary only] http://www.texascenter.org/publications/ppp.pdf [Spanish original] Authors: Centro de Derechos Humanos Tepeyac del Istmo de Tehuantepece A.C., the Texas Center for Policy Studies, LaNeta: Proyecto Emisiones and Fronteras Comunes. Another recently produced report by LaNeta et al: "Hazardous Waste Incineration and Combustion: A Tabasco Case Study" (October 2002): http://www.texascenter.org/publications/tabascoenglish.pdf [English summary only] http://www.texascenter.org/publications/tabasco.pdf [Spanish original] GreenNet: New powerful online resource for advisors to immigration and asylum seekers in Europe and the UK October 18th marked the completion of a ten-month long project by APC member in London, GreenNet, to re-fit the Electronic Immigration Network's website. The new site was launched at a ceremony at the Law Society in London. EIN is a voluntary sector organisation specialising in the provision of information on immigration and refugee law via the Internet, particularly in the United Kingdom and Europe. Visitors are primarily immigration law practitioners and advisors. The new site is powered at every level by open source software, the APC ActionApps. Legislation, case law reports, country reports, online legal resources, a calendar, and job vacancies are all dynamically update the site from six complex databases of legal material. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8179 Econnect: Supporting democratic choice at local Czech elections The Czech Republic went to the polls on November 1 and 2. Media coverage of senate and parliamentary elections is generally high. However, the press pays little attention to local elections, even though at present, local representation is recognised as the most effective tool for direct democracy and public participation in decision-making in the country. In an effort to fill the gap, using email conferences and web announcements, Econnect surveyed the numerous Czech NGOs working on the local elections and collected the most relevant material onto an easily accessed website. One of the most specialised contributions was election guidelines for Roma voters, both in Czech and Romany languages. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8180 BlueLink, Bulgaria: Internet training reaches out to environmental groups in the Bulgarian interior To get more environmental non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in exchanging information and cooperating online, APC member in Sofia, BlueLink Information Network, has started a series of roving training workshops in towns around Bulgaria. The first two-day training took place in early November in Blagoevgrad, a town in the south-west of Bulgaria. Fourteen representatives from different environmental NGOs from the region took part. "Many of participants experienced the psychological barrier that stands in the way of the typical middle-aged citizen from the Bulgarian countryside becoming an active part of the information society," said BlueLink executive director, Nina Blagoeva. "However, despite the fact that the Internet was new to most of the participants, the supportive environment of the workshop and the genuine interest of the NGOs to learn, helped the trainees quickly get over their initial fears and start looking at the Internet as a tool that will help them in their mission." http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8181 Green Spider, Hungary: Site of unprecedented plant survey in Hungary will use APC software The Institute of Ecology and Botany of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences is about to embark on a four-year study of the plant life throughout the entire length of Hungary. This is the first time that such a detailed botanical survey has ever been undertaken. The research body has contracted APC member, Green Spider, to improve their website. Green Spider has provided technology advice and support to environmental organizations in Hungary since its founding in the mid 1990s. The Academy needs a system that will allow them to quickly and easily publish news about the survey process, advertise events and manage information about the different groups taking part in the research. The APC ActionApps, a software developed by APC to support the easy development of content-rich websites is being enthusiastically promoted by Green Spider as a solution for groups who want to have a very current website but don't want to learn how to create new web pages. http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8182 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- NEWS FROM APC - Announcing the Winner of the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize in 2001: Prize-winning project makes Internet access for all schoolchildren in Namibia a real possibility ADDIS ABABA, ETHIOPIA, November 7 2002 - SchoolNet Namibia, a volunteer-driven organisation that is working to see all Namibian schoolchildren get access to a computer and the internet, was awarded the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize for people-centred information and communications technology (ICT) policy at a ceremony attended by the prize finalists and other champions of the ICT and development sector in Addis Ababa. Second place went to the policy programme of Bridges.org, a research and advocacy non-profit from South Africa that promotes access to ICT by researching, testing, and promoting best practices for sustainable technology use. About the winner: http://www.apc.org/english/hafkin/2002_winner.shtml Message from SchoolNet, the Winner of the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize in 2002 "We are very excited and honoured by the award - the APC Hafkin Prize 2002 - and the impact we trust this significant award will have on our further work in Namibia and further afield; importantly it comes at a time when a lot of attention has been given to Open Source solutions in education and other civil society development areas, and I can only hope that our government (and those of other African countries) will appreciate the great value of such Open Source solutions! We intend to use the prize to seed a start-up Open Source R&D team comprising young African "geeks" (computer technicians), empowering them and subsequent youthful local expertise to develop open source applications in education - curricular content, life-long learning skills, distance learning and special education needs of persons with disabilities. On behalf of the Board of Governors of SchoolNet Namibia, I would also like to express SchoolNet Namibia's deep appreciation of APC and its alliance of partners in recognising our efforts here in Namibia! Viva APC and all the many wonderful CSOs pushing back ICT frontiers in Africa!" -- Joris Komen, Director SchoolNet Namibia (November 11 2002) BBC News Online: "Award for Namibia schools project" An ambitious initiative to provide computers and net access for all schoolchildren in Namibia has been recognised with a prestigious award. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2421311.stm APC Annual Report 2001: now online Much of our work during 2001 reflected our action area priorities: Internet Rights for Civil Society; Mobilising Participation; and Building Information Communities. APC also addressed internal challenges in 2001, particularly in relation to the need to retain a clear and unique focus in an expanding "ICT for justice and development" universe, ensure long-term sustainability and cope with growth in membership and project activity. Highlights of the activities covered in the 2001 APC annual report: -The Rapid Response Network: defending online social campaigning -Engaging Internet Rights issues at the European Union level -Collecting online resources for learners and trainers in the development community: APC's Online Resource Centre and ItrainOnline -Making it easier to build online information communities using APC's free software: the APC ActionApps -The APC Prizes: recognising the use of ICTs for social justice around the world -Building Strong Internet Based Women's Networks: Lessons Learned And highlights from our members across the world such as: -Colnodo, Colombia: New software measures the impact of community telecentres; another e-maps local Bogotá neighbourhoods to help communities organise -Econnect, Czech Republic: High-quality online journalism and web development improves the perception of volunteerism in the Czech Republic -Jinbonet, South Korea: Sixty-day hunger strike against Internet censorship in South Korea APC Annual Report 2001: http://www.apc.org/books/apc_annualreport_2001.zip [pdf, 840kb]. This report will be available in Spanish before the end of 2002. APC Forum Day in Tanzania - Pioneers in Information and Communication Technology Dar Es Salaam, Tanzania, November 16 2002 - An Open Forum day celebrating the pioneers of information and communication technologies (ICT) in Tanzania brought together the APC, Tanzanian women's organizations, nonprofits and Internet-related businesses for a unique exchange. When the Tanzania Media Women's Association took its first plunge into email, in the early nineties, they made their first connections "using a modem as big as my arm," said Fatma Alloo of TAMWA, co-host of the event. Connectivity changed the nature of networking in Tanzania and in women's organisations. Fatma Alloo recalled how in the early days of connectivity, TAMWA's role would be to receive information in English, print it out, translate it into Kiswahili, and disseminate it through the press and nonprofits. However, according to the Tanzanian women's organisations present at the forum "repackaging" still remains the big issue. Even now that Tanzanian nonprofits are beginning to generate a web presence, how does the information disseminated online reach our local members when the minimum wage in Tanzania is $40 USD a month and the installation of a phone line can cost $600, asked women's representatives? http://www.apc.org/english/news/index.shtml?x=8188 Karen Banks, "Fidonet: The 'critical mass' technology for networking with and in developing countries", APC Annual Report 2000 pp. 35-37 Fatma Alloo, "Doing Progressive Work Online before the Existence of the Public Internet: A personal account from a Tanzanian communications activist", APC Annual Report 2000 pp. 43-46 http://www.apc.org/english/about/history/apc_ar_2000.pdf BBC Online "Tanzanian women get online bug": http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/2487821.stm (November 18 2002) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- APC ACTION AREA: INTERNET RIGHTS - Africa Civil Society and ICT Policy Workshop: Viva African Civil Society Building an Inclusive Information Society! Viva! JOHANNESBURG, November 13 2002 - These were the words that began one of the most vibrant and challenging discussions about civil society's engagement in ICT policy-making in Africa to date. Organised by the Association for Progressive Communications (APC), and hosted by the UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) with the support of Article 19, the workshop on ICT Policy and Civil Society sparked the formation of a network of ICT policy mobilisers dedicated to building an inclusive information society in Africa. The workshop took place over three days starting November 6 at the UNECA headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Over 80 representatives from non-governmental organizations, human rights organisations, media groups, women's organizations, development groups and researchers from 24 countries throughout Africa gathered to discuss the role of African civil society in ICT policy-making and to outline a plan of action to move forward in mobilizing other organisations on these issues. http://www.apc.org/english/press/archive/apc_p024.shtml Africa Civil Society and ICT Policy Workshop: WSIS should be people-centred, say NGOs in statement NGOs attending the ICT policy and civil society workshop coordinated by APC, UNECA and Article 19 in early November in Addis Ababa have said that the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) should be people-centred, and eradicating poverty should be key in this international drive. Statement: http://africa.rights.apc.org/workshop.shtml --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- WOMEN & ICTs - APC-Africa-Women: Two members of AAW featured in new feminist journal Two members of APC-Africa-Women are featured in the first edition of Feminist Africa, an online journal published by the African Gender Institute. Ruth Ochieng presents "Information and Communication Technologies as a Tool for Women's Empowerment and Social Transformation in Africa" in the Teaching Forum and the journal's Joanne Henry speaks to Dorothy Okello, Coordinator of the Women of Uganda Network (WOUGNET). APC-Africa-Women: http://www.apcafricawomen.org Feminist Africa: http://www.feministafrica.org --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ONLINE TOOLS - APC: "Participating With Safety" Materials "Participating With Safety" was developed by APC to encourage civil society groups to manage their electronic information and communications securely. These briefings provide basic information (generic to all operating systems) on managing your computer. Information security covers many issues, from backing-up files to how you install your computer. For those wanting to improve their computer skills generally, these briefings provide a good starting point. Sections include: 1. Introducing Information Security: What information security is, and the different means that exist to protect your information from damage or loss. 2.Backing-up Information: How to organise your information to keep regular copies, how to make back-up copies, and how to store them securely. 3.Passwords and Access Controls: The purpose of access controls, such as passwords or encryption, and how to use them. 4.Using Encryption and Digital Signatures: How data encryption and digital signatures work, and how they can be used to protect your information from unwanted intrusion. 5.Computer Viruses: What computer viruses are, and how to minimise the risks from the damage they may cause. 6.Using the Internet Securely: How the Internet can be used as a means of surveillance, by the state and corporations, and how these surveillance measures can be avoided 7.Living Under Surveillance: The scope of private and state surveillance, and how simple measures can reduce (but never eliminate) the potential impacts of surveillance. "Participating With Safety": http://secdocs.net/manual/lp-sec/ [English] These materials are currently being translated into Spanish. We'll announce them here when they are ready. Find out how to create a Community/Linux Training Centre in a box The Community-Linux Training Centre has been developed by the Free Range Network to assist with the training of community-based organisations to improve their computer and networking skills; and to increase the awareness of the GNU/Linux operating system, and its benefits for community projects. The system can simulate connection to the Internet - meaning that the training centre, which comfortably seats 8 people, can be taken anywhere without the need to worry about Internet access. With the use of a battery pack, the system can also be taken to remote areas beyond the main power supply. Community/Linux Training Centre: http://www.fraw.org.uk/cltc/ [English] Site for Linux users in Spanish Since May 2001, APC's member in Quito, INTERCOM, has been offering free talks to universities, organisations, government and others on the benefits of GNU/Linux, a powerful, free computer operating system. Now INTERCOM has updated and relaunched its "Linux" website. The site aims at helping INTERCOM's clients, users and the general public find out more about GNU/Linux, how to install it and how to use it. INTERCOM has been using GNU/Linux since 1995. Linux: http://linux.ecuanex.net.ec [Spanish] Educational Games from SchoolNet Namibia: African Geography and "Math Boxing" Try out the two games that are now up and running at SchoolNet Namibia's website - developed by Chris Hoge - the mathematics boxing and geography games may keep you compulsively glued to your web browsers! http://www.schoolnet.na/games/map/africa.html [English] http://www.schoolnet.na/games/mathboxing/mathboxing.html [English] --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- COLLABORATING OPPORTUNITIES - Pan American Development Fund: Equipment donations Since 1962, PADF has distributed more than $50 million worth of equipment, including computers, automotive tools and welding equipment in the American continent. Tool kits and other similar donations also are provided to help the growth of micro enterprises. Priority is often given to support training opportunities in low-income areas through community-based NGOs. Find out how to obtain donated equipment: http://www.padf.org/project2.htm Justice for María Claudia: Send a letter to the Uruguayan President In October 1976, María Claudia, 19 years of age, and eight and a half months pregnant, was kidnapped and carried off to Montevideo, Uruguay by members of the Uruguayan military, while her partner Marcelo Ariel, son of Argentinian poet, Juan Gelman, was killed. She gave birth to their daughter that November in Montevideo. Afterwards María Claudia was murdered in cold blood. The daughter was given to a childless police officer and his wife and only in 2000 - 23 years later - was she found, with the help of a worldwide letter writing and petition campaign. The president of Uruguay has promised to expedite the release of all available information on the case that had previously been withheld by authorities. With your online signature, you can support the search for the remains of María Claudia García Irureta Goyena de Gelman: http://www.JuanGelman.org [Spanish, German] International Children's Day of Broadcasting: Help children tell their own story, in their own way The International Children's Day of Broadcasting on December 8 is all about children telling their own story, as reporters, producers, writers, hosts and directors for TV and radio programmes. Learn how you can contribute to this campaign and also visit OneWorld Radio for programme ideas and other links. OneWorld Radio: http://radio.oneworld.net/index.php?fuseaction=cms.fullContent&id=1016 ICDB: http://www.unicef.org/icdb/ Open Knowledge Network, Africa: Seeking Project Manager The Open Knowledge Network is an initiative of the G8 Digital Opportunity Taskforce linking existing grassroots information and knowledge-sharing initiatives to promote both the creation and the exchange of local content across the South. The Project Manager, located in Africa, will be responsible for planning, coordinating and delivering OKN activities in the region, based on building solid relationships with a range of stakeholders (especially at grassroots level) in a pan-African context. The deadline for applications is 5pm on Monday 25 November. http://jobs.oneworld.net/ads/index.cfm?job_id=1804 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- IMPORTANT DATES -- Online discussion for NGO input to WSIS December 1-20 2002, online As part of its consultations with NGOs in preparation of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), UNESCO is organising an electronic discussion. http://portal.unesco.org/ci/ev.php?URL_ID=6228&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECTION=201&reload=1036990344 Connecting the Commonwealth - Strategies for Countering the Digital Divide January 28-29 2003, London, UK http://www.comnet.mt/ctc/ Regional PrepCom for WSIS January 29-31 2003, Bávaro, Dominican Republic New dates have just been announced for the Latin American & Caribbean preparatory conference. There are no further details on the WSIS site at this time. http://www.itu.int/wsis/events/lac.html --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- SITES OF INTEREST -- APC AFRICA HAFKIN PRIZE WINNERS AND FINALISTS IN 2002 "Network architecture. Sector liberalisation. Regulatory frameworks. [..] They're all areas of ICT policy. You can see why civil society organizations and others are frequently intimidated by taking on the challenge in working on ICT policy!" said Nancy Hafkin, networking pioneer for whom the APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize is named. This is why APC - an association working to promote Internet and ICTs for development since 1990 - chose to focus this year's Hafkin Prize on inspirational African ICT policy initiatives. ICT policy decisions impact any citizen who wants to take advantage of the opportunities that can come with new technologies. Will the national policy favour technology that is state-of-the art but not affordable to the rural areas? Will government provide service subsidies to the poorest or to the disabled? Will government encourage the development of software that the illiterate can use? All of these are the very real and non-technical questions that are determined by national ICT policy choices. The Prizewinner and honourable mention have been leaders in demystifying ICT policy and bringing its realities to people in Africa. APC Africa Hafkin Communications Prize Winner: SchoolNet Namibia SchoolNet Namibia's objective is to provide appropriate computer technology and Internet access to ALL schools in Namibia. Primarily a hands-on training and support organization, their successful introduction of computers and internet into over 200 schools since 2000 led SchoolNet to become actively involved in policy-making at the national level in Namibia. SchoolNet Namibia: http://www.schoolnet.na Honourable Mention: Bridges.org Bridges.org is committed to raising awareness of the impact of policy decisions at both the policy level and at the grass-roots level. The policy team drafts issue-based reports and briefs, gets information into the hands of government officials who can use it, informs policy-making, involves people at ground-level in policy debate, and acts as a bridge between international views and best practices and local circumstances. Bridges.org has worked closely with South African government officials to provide practical input to their ICT legislation and planning. Bridges.org: http://www.bridges.org The Kubatana Trust of Zimbabwe The Kubatana Trust of Zimbabwe is playing an integral part in establishing an ICT policy in Zimbabwe. It's a new area in Zimbabwe, and much of the Kubatana Trust's work has been in creating a demand for the mainstreaming of ICT policy in the civil society sector as well as introducing the general public to the ways in which ICTs can be used to create social change through advocacy, lobbying and mobilising around core human rights issues. http://www.kubatana.net DigIT Africa (Digital Information Technologies in Africa), Tanzania The goal of this magazine initiative is to promote access to and the use of ICTs amongst Tanzanians as well as to explore opportunities for harnessing the technology to work as a tool for social, economic, political and cultural development. No website currently due to lack of funding. Paradigm Initiative Nigeria The Paradigm Initiative is helping to "raise a generation of information technology literate Nigerians with a mind for personal development, national responsibility, regional cooperation and global participation". http://www.pin.itgo.com Finalist: Rusape Girls Empowerment Village, Zimbabwe The Rusape Girls Empowerment village came into being as a 'safe village' in Chitungwiza province for empowering the rural girl in the face of sustained abuse emanating from a traditional patriarchal system. Due to limited access to information in the rural areas, the village has developed as an information dissemination centre as well as a service provision and relief centre. No website. For more information about the winner and finalists: http://www.apc.org/english/hafkin/ And in time for the December festive season... The India Shop The India Shop is an e-commerce site for rural Indian products including sarees, paintings, crafts, sculptures and other handicrafts. The site accepts all major credit cards. The IndiaShop is promoted by the Foundation Of Occupational Development, a 20 year old non-profit organisation based in Chennai (South India) that implements social development programs for the welfare of the urban and rural poor. India Shop: http://www.xlweb.com/indiashop/ --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- 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.