Fsf-friends November 2005

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Please visit this article...
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 21 Nov '05

21 Nov '05

http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8675 -- ---------------------------------------------------------- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | http://fn-at-google.notlong.com Saligao, Goa, India | fred(a)bytesforall.org Independent Journalist | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436 ----------------------------------------------------------

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No limits to lesson plans
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 20 Nov '05

20 Nov '05

http://education.guardian.co.uk/elearning/story/0,,1642278,00.html No limits to lesson plans Learning activity management systems (lams) - an open source software system for making and sharing digital lesson plans among teachers around the world - has launched its own website. The lesson plans are designed to be used by students working in groups. Professor James Dalziel, a leading e-learning innovator in Australia, who created the Lams system, predicts a big future for Lams in the UK, saying it allows teachers not only to use online resources but to have "the freedom to change these resources to suit your local context, and to share the changed versions back with the community". He says Lams has been extremely popular with UK teachers, who are using it to find teachers overseas with whom they can create joint online classes. One month after launch in September this year, the site contained discussion forums, resources and guides from 375 members in 45 countries. www.lamscommunity.org

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CDs and comics offer digital aid
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 19 Nov '05

19 Nov '05

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/technology/4450060.stm CDs and comics offer digital aid By Jo Twist BBC News technology reporter in Tunis Girl looking at comic A gang of characters explain technology and what it can be used Jostling on the sidelines of this week's UN net summit in Tunis were dozens of projects that provide people in developing countries with much-needed hardware to get digital. After a while in the haze and crowded floor of the summit's ICT4All expo space, they start to blur into a colourful mass of e-learning, e-government and e-others. Most of the grassroots projects rely on open-source software as a cheap, if not free, and adaptable resource. Open software is seen as a crucial building block in the creation of a digital society in which everyone, anywhere, can share the knowledge, tools and opportunities that technologies can offer. Knowledge is seen as the font of power and ultimately prosperity in its wider sense. Two very simple and relatively low-tech projects, which focus on the distribution and use of open-source stood out at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). Comic turn One was SchoolNet Namibia, a non-profit group which provides net services, computers, and training to schools in Namibia. It has had great success in supplying and training people on open-source software. But they found was that after the trainer they provided for two months left the schools, the computers in the labs remained largely untouched, especially by the teachers themselves. "It is no use giving computers away to schools if no one is going to use them," Ebben Haotuikulipi from SchoolNet Namibia explained to the BBC News website. So in April, they came up with the paper-based HaiTI comic, which means Listen Up in the local language, Oshaiwambo. "It is printed every Tuesday in the local youth newspaper, so it goes across the country. What is in the comic is also all online," said Ms Haotuikulipi. The colourful gang of characters explain technology and what it can be used for through stories, just like a conventional comic adventure. When they talk about e-mail or downloading, for example, information panels near the speech bubbles offer an explanation and web addresses for readers to follow. The characters are based on actual SchoolNet staff members and the comic has been such a hit that they are becoming minor celebrities. And word is spreading. "We've started receiving calls from parents now asking questions about where to save documents they get from the net and so on, so the questions coming into our helpline are now about how to use the computers," said Ms Haotuikulipi, which is a sign of real success as far as SchoolNet is concerned. They have also started to receive a lot more e-mails from all over the country since its launch. The group has also noticed that the teachers, 75% of whom are women, have been inspired too with a large proportion of helpline calls and e-mails coming from them. "Women and technology have never really got on. So we did want to get more women into technology too," said Ms Haotuikulipi. "The response has been really good." Even though it is a young project, it has been recognised by the World Summit Youth Award for bringing technologies closer to people. Toast and source A second eye-catching project is equally simple and is proving to be a big hit, this time in South Africa. Freedom toaster The Freedom Toaster has a touch screen interface The large bright orange vending machine-shaped object looks rather like an internet access kiosk. Then it spits out a CD from one of its four trays. In fact, it is not linked to the internet at all, and it does not offer you a drink either. The Freedom Toaster, a project run by the Shuttleworth Foundation, is a "bandwidth substitute". It requires no infrastructure, just an electricity supply. It borrows its name from the open-source community's word for creating or burning a CD, known as "toasting". Through a simple touch screen interface, it gives the digitally dispossessed in South Africa access to open-source software with free licences for those who might have a computer but no net access. "Users come with their own CD, and it will tell you all the information you need about the different software, and asks users what version of software they want and how many CDs they want," explained Jason Hudson from the Shuttleworth Foundation. There are now 30 machines installed in schools, libraries, science centres and retail outlets, and the response has been huge in the year it has been in action. "It's been amazing," says Mr Hudson. "It has taken us by surprise. It started off as an interactive desktop display, but then it just took off." All the programs available are stored on its hard drive and eventually the hope is it would be connected to the net, but that is just not possible yet. Tonnes of information The entire unit costs about 17,000 Rand (£1,500), the bulk of which is taken up by the cost of the cabinet itself. Inside, it is basically a computer. The Foundation admits that although the Toaster does not address the issue of getting computers into impoverished areas, it does provide a way of plugging into the wealth of information the net offers. In true open-source spirit, the blueprints of how to build a Freedom Toaster are being made available in Freedom Toaster CookBook, which will be available from March 2006. Jimmy Wales, founder of the collaborative, open, online Wikipedia encyclopaedia, said the Toaster is exactly the kind of distribution channel that a resource such as Wikipedia could use. "The ability to go and download a CD and have tonnes of information on it is really important," he told the BBC News website. -- ------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick 'FN' Noronha | http://fn-at-google.notlong.com Goa, India | fred(a)bytesforall.org Co-Founder, BytesForAll | +91(832)2409490 Cell 9822122436 -------------------------------------------------------------

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Fwd: [hipatia] fsf india, kerala meeting
by Arun M 19 Nov '05

19 Nov '05

Subject: [hipatia] fsf india, kerala meeting http://www.linuxjournal.com/article/8675

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Comic book from Namibia offers more than funny plots
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 18 Nov '05

18 Nov '05

http://www.germany-at-wsis.info/?p=99 Comic book from Namibia offers more than funny plots Comic book from Namibia offers more than funny Plots By Kittipong Thavevong, The Nation, Bangkok (Thailand) (17/11, 20:00) An award-winning project by a non-profit group aims to entice students and teachers into the digital world. It’s been a common problem all over the developing world. While young students find the computer alluring, their teachers (many of whom are not very familiar with information technology) are not so keen in getting into the computer lab. A non-profit organisation in the southern African country of Namibia comes up with an innovative approach to the problem. SchoolNet Namibia is taking a bold new step to entice teachers and students into the digital world. It produces and distributes a comic book that spreads the word about the ways that computers and the Internet can transform the lives of students and teachers. Listen up! The English-language full-colour comic is called "Hai Ti!", which means "listen up!" in the local language and also sounds a lot like IT. Two volumes of the comic book have been produced. The first edition of "Hai Ti!" was included in the April 26th edition of The Namibian Youth Paper. Page-by-page inserts of Volume 2 will be distributed in newspaper on a regular basis for the remainder of 2005, and subsequent volumes will be published for the next few years, according to the project’s website (http://www.schoolnet.na/). The online version of both current volumes of the comic book is available at http://www.schoolnet.na/haiti/index.html. Award-winning project The award-winning project is also introduced to participants and visitors of the World Summit on Information Society being held in Tunis, the capital city of Tunisia. In a parallel event held during the summit, SchoolNet Namibia was third-place winner in the Community Engagement Category for the 2005 World Summit Youth Award. SchoolNet Namibia, which provides Internet service, hardware and training to Namibia’s schools, teams up with software development company Direq International and comic-media production house Strika Entertainment. The project is funded by the Swedish government. A more effective approach "Our numerous letters, manuals and trainers have not been very effective in bringing teachers into the computer lab. So we decided to build a character-based drama around the SchoolNet team and teachers and learners at a remote rural school in Namibia," said executive director Joris Komen. He said the comic book aims to teach the reader the skills to cut, copy and paste, and use office tools such as word processors and spreadsheets, as well as the Internet, regardless of the software platform (free/open or proprietary). Technically-savvy young staff of SchoolNet drew from their own experiences to craft the comic book’s narrative, which is designed to address teachers’ fears of exploring the digital world. Starting from basics With a great storyline, "Hai Ti!" teaches computer basics like how to use "shortcut" keys to copy and paste texts instead of working the way through the programme’s menu with the mouse. The comic tells how to get connected to the Internet and how to use a "search engine" (a website that allows users to search for information they look for), in addition to addressing more difficult issues around Information and Communication Technologies (ICT), such as Free and Open Source Software. Brief notes on comic panes offer explanations on technical terms, such as "blog" and "copyleft" (copyright-free material), and provide helpful information for the reader, including where they can find particular software on the Internet.

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FSF-India volunteers at FOSS.IN
by kanti jadia 17 Nov '05

17 Nov '05

Hi All, We are all set to be at FOSS.IN <http://FOSS.IN>. There is not much planned at this time. 1. Stall with FSF-India brochures and posters 2. GNU/Hurd demo Everybody interested is welcome to join us. Anybody having links to FSF-India t-shirt ideas We are planning to put following a. Front - GNU head logo on breast b. Back - FSF-India logo , Weave your own code, www.gnu.org.in<http://www.gnu.org.in> Thanks and Regards Kanti

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[OFFTOPIC] WSIS special... APCNews
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 17 Nov '05

17 Nov '05

--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- SPECIAL EDITION WORLD SUMMIT ON THE INFORMATION SOCIETY (WSIS) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- *APCNews, the monthly newsletter of the Association for Progressive Communications (APC)* - November 2005 No. 58 - --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ON THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE -- -- ON THE ISSUES: HUMAN RIGHTS IN TUNISIA -- -- ON THE ISSUES: FINANCING OF ICT4D -- -- APC AT WSIS -- -- WSIS BLOGS -- -- SNAPSHOTS FROM WSIS -- -- INTERESTING READING -- -- USEFUL SITES ON THE WSIS -- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- The second World Summit on the Information Society has started. Today, Wednesday November 2005, the UN Secretary General Kofi Annan and Tunisian President Ben Ali opened the summit which has focussed primarily on the twin issues of financing of ICT for development in developing countries and internet governance since the first summit was held in Geneva in December 2003. A controversial host for an international 'information summit' given its well-documented suppression of freedom of expression including on the internet, the Tunisian authorities were openly criticised by Swiss President Samuel Schmid and civil society representative Shirin Ebadi for their repressive acts against local and international civil society prior to the summit opening. The Tunis Agenda and the Tunis Commitment -the two summit documents- were finalised on Tuesday after long negotiations. APC is producing two APCNews and APCNoticias specials direct from WSIS and for the first time, original content in French. Here's the first on Day One of the WSIS Summit. The next APCNews will appear on Day Three, the last day of the Summit. Keep informed about the WSIS with APC. We covering events on the ground from Tunis and logging it all on our blogs in English, French and Spanish. English blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog Spanish blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog French blog: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog RSS feeds also available from each blog page. Detailed coverage in Spanish comes from APC's Latin America and Caribbean ICT Policy Monitor. Http://lac.derechos.apc.org/wsis All stories in this APCNews Special are from the APC WSIS blogs. --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ON THE ISSUES: INTERNET GOVERNANCE -- The Tunis Commitment almost signed [By APCNews] APCNews writing from TUNIS, Tunisia, 16/11/2005 09:15 -- By 10 pm Tuesday, the chairperson, ambassador Khan, had concluded negotiations on chapter 3 on internet governance and received a standing ovation from all attending delegates. The outcome of the internet governance process is to have a forum that will take up broad public policy issues on the one hand, and a process of cooperation on the narrow principles that relate to domain name, numbers and the root zone file on the other. "This outcome has to be evaluated in terms of the balance of power in the community of nations," said Willie Currie, APC's Communications and Information Policy Programme Manager. "The U.S. clearly saw that its strategic interest with regard to the war on terror and its dominant role in the global economy meant that it had to retain its oversight over the primary form of communications in the world, which today is the internet," Currie added. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2466414 Who will control the internet? Negotiations appear to be pointing towards a multi-stakeholder, multi-lateral forum [By APCNews] Heated discussions between governments meeting in Tunisia at the World Summit on the Information Society seem to reaching results which could change the face of how the internet is managed for the next several years. APCNews reports. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2452593 APC... recommendations on internet governance [By APC] APC crystallizes a set of recommendations with regard to internet governance for the final Summit in Tunis in November 2005 including for an internet governance forum that has become reality in the Tunis declaration. Recommendations available in English, Spanish and French. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2379688 IPS, WSIS and paedophile issues [By FN] From my RSS-feed, I just came across this story from one of my favourite news sources -- IPS filing from Bangkok -- that makes a case on why the information society must block paedophiles. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2378624 Who gets the credit, and who controls? [By FN] Here's an articulate post by a journalist colleague from India -one of the few that makes sense of the issues at Tunis. It was written by Anand Parthasarathy of The Hindu, a prominent Indian newspaper, and reproduced via the One World South Asia network. BytesForAll mailing list, an APC member, reproduced it... and it raised a (brief but interesting) discussion. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2447992 Crucial drafting session in Tunis [By APCNews] Late on Sunday night, November 13, 2005, an assembly of about 100 people agreed to a series of minimal points of common ground related to internet governance in Tunis. These points were then to be reported back to the general plenary of what is called the resumed PrepCom 3 meeting of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) for definitive negotiation and implementation. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2418539 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ON THE ISSUES: HUMAN RIGHTS IN TUNISIA -- NEWS ALERT: Censorship by the host of THE UN summit on information? People in Tunisia cannot access a number of websites because they are being blocked. And the Citizens' Summit on the Information Society has also been taken 'offline' for Tunisians. List of filtered websites: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2436066 Flagrant violation of human rights at Tunis [By APCNews] Under the incredulous eyes of the participants at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), journalists and human rights defenders were manhandled, insulted, and then violently beaten. APCNews reports from Tunis. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2431813 Many civil society activities cancelled [By Markus Beckedahl] Many international NGOs taking part in WSIS have collectively decided to cancel their activities planned for today at WSIS. This measure is intended to make government, private sector and civil society delegates aware of the human rights violations that have been adding up since the beginning of PrepCom3 resumed. It is also a clear showing of solidarity with all independent NGOs in Tunisia who seem to have to put up with police repression on a daily basis. Interview with Anriette Esterhuysen of the APC. In OGG format: http://www.netzpolitik.org/wp-upload/Interview_with_Anriette.ogg In MP3 format: http://www.netzpolitik.org/wp-upload/Interview_with_Anriette.mp3 Utsumi happy about security... despite attacks on journalists and UN staff [By Pavelan] The internet should be more democratic and more international, says the WSIS' chief organizer. More than 80% of the goals of WSIS have already been achieved, says ITU chief Yoshio Utsumi at his opening press conference for the summit's currently-underway second phase in Tunisia. He however skipped answering whether ITU has communicated concern to Tunisia's government regarding the safety of journalists and human rights' campaigners. Utsumi also announced that over 300 parallel events planned. Some 12,000 delegates are meanwhile in Tunis on the eve of the summit opening. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2451281 Obstacles ...and whose security? [By Jac sm Kee] Took a cab to the Kram Palexbo, where the Summit and IT 4 All exhibition was happening[...] When we finally got to the site, we were stopped 5 times at security checks at every turn of the road and I had to flash my registration card and a big smile to calm the security that I was indeed, a legitimate subject to attend this conference, accredited (somehow) and all. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2447599 Cause for concern: how free is free? [By FN] IFEX Action Alert Network, the International Freedom of eXpression Clearing House has come out with a statement quoting Article 19 to point to attacks on journalists and others at the WSIS by the authorities. This statement is being distributed on behalf of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) Civil Society's Media Caucus. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2446625 Online protest ... an alternative home [By Neila Charchour Hachicha] Since the official website of the Online Protest is censored as you can check for yourself here http://www.yezzi.org. I copied all pics from the protest on flickr cause I thought you might like to discover this online protest http://flickr.com/photos/yezzi/sets/1366354/. It is a virtual online protest to say "Yezzi...Fock" which means "Enough is Enough". They just cannot say we are disturbing the public order and protesting is a constitutional right. The Keyboard Revolution is doing its way so help us keep the internet free from censorship. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2438705 In Tunis, internet governance rhymes with state control [By APCNews] Today, the website of the Citizens' Summit on the Information Society (CSIS) was effectively off-line for all web users in Tunisia. It appears that Tunisian authorities have started to intensify their crackdown on legitimate initiatives related to the World Summit on the information Society (WSIS). Blocking the access to the www.citizens-summit.org is the latest in a series of measures introduced to silence voices critical of the government and its human right record. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2436066 Don't take pictures@WSIS-Tunis [By Shahzad BytesForAll, Pakistan] Maxigas -- a friend from Hungary -- and myself had the opportunity to go to the Tunis City Centre last afternoon, just to have a feel of the city and get to know a little more about Tunis. The atmosphere seemed quite festive, and preparations for the WSIS are in full swing. Green plants are being transported in numbers and transplanted on roadsides and important squares, large pictures of the Tunisian President are installed everywhere, and even most of the banners also carry his pictures welcoming the WSIS delegates ;) But questions remain.... http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2415647 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- ON THE ISSUES: FINANCING OF ICT4D -- Making the ride to cyberspace affordable [By APCNews] En route to the promised global village, the information superhighway is plagued by poor access and high fares that the bulk of this planet simply cannot afford. Reducing international internet costs is an important priority, underlined in a set of recommendations from the APC made to the WSIS stresses. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2427753 Some figures... and hard facts [By FN] Some figures, and hard facts, from a Highway Africa article, titled ICT4 All expo to attract 40,000 participants: "According to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the 942 million people living in the world's developed economies enjoy five times better access to fixed and mobile phone services, nine times better access to Internet services, and own 13 times more personal computers than the 85 per cent of the world's population living in low and lower-middle income countries. ITU also estimates that 800,000 villages still lack connection by telephone line, the internet or any other modern ICTs." http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2418346 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- APC AT WSIS -- Programme of APC events in Tunis: http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/apc_wsis_programme.pdf (pdf to download and print out) --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- WSIS BLOGS -- APC blogs are open to anyone in Tunis or around the world who wants to write or comment on the World Summit on the Information Society. Here are some highlights. WSIS II: A walking dead [By maxigas] Ladies and gentlemen, this is a pseudo-transcript of the proceedings of the Civil Society press conference held on November 15, 2005 (Tuesday) at 16:30. The second round of WSIS has not even started yet but hearing the pronouncements below one would think that it is already over! http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2452532 ICT for All? Really? [By Jac sm Kee] At the end of the day, Maxigas and I decided to take a walk and survey the images of women, men, elderly people, young people and disabled people at the ICT 4 All Exhibition hall. Afterall, the claim is that ICT is for all right? So who is this 'all' we are talking about. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2447600 Hope remains forever... Tunis vignettes [Shahzad BytesForAll, Pakistan] Have just gotten out of the Global Knowledge Partnership or GKP's partnership building workshop at the El-Hana Hotel in Tunis City Centre. It indeed was a pleasant experience. Frankly, had no clue earlier that how GKP works and what kind of partnerships they have all around the world ... http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2439181 It's another world out there... [By FN] Inter-Press Service, the alternative news agency, has these stories related to the WSIS. Given its alternative perspective, it reminds us of some diverse perspectives which the first-to-break-the-news Western media often overlooks... or simply prefers not to highlight. One interesting piece is Media Enemies to Share UN Spotlight by Marty Logan. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2436316 Groggy at Tunis... another view [By Jac sm Kee] The plane ride was as all plane rides become after awhile, uncomfortable and far too long. Once getting off, there were large posters everywhere advertising WSIS, especially about the IT 4 All exhibition, where the tagline -- complete with pictures of multi-gendered and 'raced' children smiling at a computer screen - promises to forefront the human dimension of information communications technologies development. I think I snorted audibly. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2431649 Gender voices from Tunis [By Katerina Fialova] Here's some information about GenderIT.org coverage planned for the WSIS at Tunis in mid-November 2005. See details of what's expected via websites, blogs, RSS feeds and more, to keep cyberspace informed about what's emerging. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2386770 Looking for environmental activists [By Milena B.] Just curious whether environmental sustainability and ICTs is taking place somewhere in the WSIS docs at all ;-) It will be good to know if apart from BlueLink, whether there are other NGOs interested to stand up for the issue of environmental sustainability in Tunis. http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2376151 --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- SNAPSHOTS FROM WSIS -- [Thanks to maxigas of Hungary, you can read more snapshots on the APC WSIS blog and here http://www.apc.org/english/wsis/blog/index.shtml?x=2452532] Jeanette Hofmann (Member of the German Civil Society Coordination Group): The U.S. is not willing to talk about internet government oversight. Most likely the Summit will ask Kofi Annan the Secretary General of the U.N. to set up a Forum on internet governance and the U.S. is expected to participate. The Forum would take up a range of issues including Information Technology for Development and political oversight. Rikke Frank Jorgensen (Civil Society Human Rights Caucus): "Many have asked about the human rights situation. [...] 10-15 of us were to hold a coordination meeting at the Goethe Institute yesterday. The Tunisian civil society people were not allowed to enter, and were kept out by men in civilian clothes who introduced themselves as "security personel". I am not sure what kind of police it was. When myself and other members of the international civil society stayed outside in solidarity, we were forcefully removed. Then we walked around the city to find another place to peacefully gather - to exercise our right for peaceful assembly. Each time we were removed again, we were pushed, and some people were even tried to be taken into cars and taken away. In the end the German ambassador arrived and tried to enter these premises with his guests of his own choice but he was not allowed. After that each of us contacted our respective delegations, and asked for support from the governments to basically provide for a space where we can have this Citizens' Summit." Parmindeer Jeet Singh (Coordinator of the Civil Society Caucus for Follow-up and Implementation): "I am presenting the specific disappointment of the civil society. The Tunis round was presented as a "Summit of Solutions" by its organisers. We did not find any effective solutions to the problems that brought us here, of using the new communication opportunities for more adequate development in the developing countries. Countries of the North did not show the political will to getting forward with the policy of internet governance and did not establish any follow-up process. Financing ITC4D (Information Technology for Development), which is a very important issue, was not addressed at all and no commitments were made. At present the governments are trying to cover up the possibility of a complete failure of the implementation of the WSIS process." --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- INTERESTING READING -- Indepth: WSIS by Choike http://www.choike.org/nuevo_eng/informes/703.html RWB presents electronic dissidents at the WSIS http://committeetoprotectbloggers.blogspot.com/2005/02/rwb-presents-electro… Humanity will survive information deluge ?·Sir Arthur C Clarke http://southasia.oneworld.net/article/view/74591/1 Who owns and controls the information societies? FSF Europe 2003 http://www.germany.fsfeurope.org/projects/wsis/issues.de.html WSIS and Beyond : A dialogue between Soenke Zehle & Geert Lovink http://www.worldsummit2005.de/en/web/810.htm --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- USEFUL SITES ON THE WSIS -- The WSIS documents: Tunis Agenda:http://www.ngocongo.org/ngomeet/WSIS/TunisAgenda.htm Tunis Commitment: http://www.ngocongo.org/ngomeet/WSIS/TunisCommitment.htm Citizens' Summit on the Information Society http://citizens-summit.org This website has been blocked in Tunisia since Monday November 14, 2005. It is only accessible from WSIS Media Center but the rest of us around the world can still visit it. WSIS official site from the ITU http://www.itu.int/wsis/ United Nations Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships http://www.unmsp.org/ Summit Newsroom, Tunis Phase http://www.itu.int/wsis/tunis/newsroom/index_print.html IPS on WSIS – the progressive Global News Agency http://www.ipsnews.net/ WSIS Wire http://www.wsis-wire.net/ ITU's ICT success story home page http://www.itu.int/osg/spu/wsis-themes/ict_stories/index.phtml Unesco WSIS publication series http://portal.unesco.org/ci/en/ev.php-URL_ID=10592&URL_DO=DO_TOPIC&URL_SECT… Gender at Tunis: from GenderIT.org http://www.genderit.org/en/index.shtml?apc=f--e-- The World Summit on the Information Society Civil Society Meeting Point http://www.wsis-cs.org/ Germany-based site on WSIS (also in German) http://www.worldsummit2005.de/en/nav/14.htm Heinrich-Boll-Stiftung (German Greens Party-linked foundation) on WSIS. Some sections of the site in Spanish too. http://www.boell.de/en/04_thema/3800.html --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- -- APCNews, in English, and APCNoticias, in Spanish, are distributed monthly by APC -- a worldwide network supporting the use of internet and ICTs for social justice and sustainable development since 1990. APCNews Archive: http://www.apc.org/english/news/apcnews/ Some rights reserved: Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial Licence 2.0 - 2005 Association for Progressive Communications (APC)

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C-O-D-E-X
by Arun M 16 Nov '05

16 Nov '05

http://c-o-d-e-x.info Codex is a network of people, organizations, websites and contents that share and make visible the idea of free knowledge. Whoever shares the idea that the society should be built for the benefit of human beings; that society should provide freedom and justice to every body; that in the new information and knowledge society every human being should be allowed to benefit the potential of digital networks can subscribe Codex reading the following text and sign it up. You can add to Codex every website that makes visible the potential of the free knowledge following this link. Codex Manifesto: We claim a free knowledge society We share a common codex: our human nature. We believe that human being is the central value for the building of a free, fair and sustainable society. We believe that human creativity flourishes in a free environment. Free digital networks empower human beings allowing them to express their creativity. On the path towards the information and knowledge society we claim for the right of every human being to fully benefit the potential of digital networks. Reference: http://fsfs.hipatia.net/wiki/index.php/Main_Page

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[OFFTOPIC] Waiting to fly... the Akshaya project in Kerala (South India)
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 15 Nov '05

15 Nov '05

This is one of the three stories winning a media award from GKP at Tunis. "For thoughtful and incisive reporting on the Information Society through analyses of social and political impacts and policy implications." http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/ew/2005/04/18/stories/2005041800030100.… Waiting to fly Vipin V. Nair Akshaya, the Kerala Government's project to make the common man log into a computer, can take to the skies if it learns from teething trouble. A status report from eWorld. THE overnight rain had soaked Nilambur and its teak woods. A drizzle in the morning brought a fresh layer of chill. Nilambur, famous for its teak plantations, was about to sneeze. But it was not the weather that dampened the spirit of Nazar. Sitting in a small room that he calls office, Nazar looked more a loser than an entrepreneur. His Akshaya centre is in financial trouble, he has run up losses, and the future is bleak, Nazar says. He is not comfortable talking about selling a computer at one-third its price to pay rent for the centre. On the other side of the district, Mujeeb has a different story to tell. His centre in Tirur has four staff to run the show. It provides e-payment, DTP services, Internet browsing and computer training. Why, he has even developed a billing software for local cable-television operators. In a nearby area, Noushad too has managed to take his Akshaya centre forward, offering similar services to the local population, many of whom saw a computer for the first time in their lives at the Akshaya centre. Two years after Kerala's Akshaya project was launched — and gained national and international attention for its pioneering vision — such divergent voices about its viability and future are heard from Malappuram, the district where it was piloted. What is happening to Kerala's most ambitious information technology project ever? Is there anything wrong? Concept The basic idea of Akshaya was to bridge the `digital divide' and thereby propel Kerala as `India's foremost knowledge society.' The Kerala State IT Mission, the nodal agency for the development of information technology in Kerala, conceived the project, envisaging a network of some 6,000 information centres across the State. These centres would impart basic computer skills to at least one member of the 65 lakh families, offer various e-services such as bill payment for utilities, bring information through the Internet to people, and most importantly, dispel the fear among ordinary citizens that the computer is beyond their reach. In the process, at least 50,000 people would find jobs, and Rs 500 crore would be invested in the State within three years. "The concept was to have an Akshaya centre within two km of every household, just like a ration shop," says M. Sivasankar, now Malappuram District Collector, and the man who spearheaded Akshaya. These centres, set up by local entrepreneurs, would start off by imparting computer skills to people under their coverage area. Over 15 hours of training, a person would acquire the basics of Windows, MS Office, Internet, etc, from the Akshaya centre. And for every such person trained, the centre would get a fee of Rs 120 from the State Government through the District, Block and Grama Panchayat. The first two institutions would chip in with Rs 20 each, while the Grama Panchayat would spend Rs 80 for a person. Every centre was supposed to train at least 1,000 people in three months, thereby ensuring an income of Rs 1.20 lakh. Subsequent to this e-literacy campaign, a host of services would be rolled out, including the second phase of the training. Malappuram, in northern Kerala, was selected as the test bed for the project. Initial days The Kerala Government launched the Akshaya project in November 2002. Entrepreneurs were selected by February 2003 and given training. Over the next few months, a number of Akshaya centres, sporting their blue logo, sprang up across Malappuram, one of the backward districts in terms of social and economic development in Kerala. Eventually, 634 Akshaya centres would be set up, it was planned.As per the project report of the Kerala IT Mission, each centre would entail an investment of Rs 3.83 lakh for its 10 computers and other paraphernalia, plus working capital. The Government ensured the Akshaya project priority funding from banks and term loans to cover half the project cost were arranged. The project went on steam in May 2003, and by February 2004, over 5.80 lakh people in Malappuram knew how to log on to a computer, open a file, save it, surf the Internet and send e-mail. The world took note of Malappuram. But this process was not as easy as doing a search on Google, many Akshaya entrepreneurs soon realised. Every centre was supposed to train a certain number of people (over 1,000 from each ward in their respective area) over three months. But sometimes, even a free meal is not enough of an attraction. Many people showed reluctance to turn up at the centres at a given time, putting aside whatever they were doing. "We had to then open sub-centres to take the classes close to them," says M.M. Sadique, President of the Akshaya Entrepreneurs Forum. This entailed additional spending. He alleges that there were many instances of unnecessary expenditure that entrepreneurs were forced to incur. Like the case of handbooks for learners at Rs 8 per copy. These books were to be sold at Rs 10 each but Sadique says the centres could not sell even 100 copies. "Each of us had spent Rs 8,000 or more for this handbook. We were promised that unsold books would be taken back, but we are yet to be refunded," he says. The delay in completing the training — it took nearly six months as against the proposed 100 days — was reflected in disbursement of funds as well. "It took about six months for us to get the money," one entrepreneur says. Government officials say no amount is now pending for the first phase of the e-literacy campaign. A part of the funds was remitted directly to those banks that had given loans to Akshaya centres. A total of Rs 7.58 crore have been disbursed for the campaign, officials say. Yet, many centres were closed down. "Forty seven centres were closed during the e-literacy project and 50 afterwards," says an official associated with Akshaya. Only around 450 centres are now functional in Malappuram, out of the planned 634, he admits. "But this was the first time such a project was ever tried anywhere in the world. In such a project, you usually don't get more than 30 per cent success rate," he argues in the same breath. Sivasankar says Akshaya was "slightly ahead of its time. Even in cities like Kochi, many services are not available over the Net," he points out. Nevertheless, he too agrees that there were problems. Another critical issue to be looked at is how many of those 5.80 lakh who learned their skills at the expense of public money can now actually use a PC, after two years. Apparently, many among them haven't used a PC again. Missing: Fire in the belly The selection of entrepreneurs was, perhaps, the first problem with Akshaya. "There were substantive miscalculations," Sivasankar says. All the 634 people who were chosen to run the centres, it was thought, would make it on the lines of a Sabeer Bhatia or Narayana Murthy. But many lacked the business acumen, the courage to take risks, and the ability to see difficulties through. The result: when plans didn't work, they tottered and waited for help, rather than finding innovative ways to solve issues. Since the project was a government baby, many thought there would be continued support from the administration. "The Government had made it clear in the MoU that there will not be any commitment after the e-literacy campaign," the Akshaya official says. Mujeeb, who runs the Tirur centre, says many unemployed youth jumped on to the Akshaya bandwagon, thinking the Government would support them throughout. "The element of risk was not anticipated and they expected grants all the time," he says. The political pressure that led to selection of some entrepreneurs only added to the problem, officials say. Promises fail Entrepreneurs say many of the revenue streams the Government promised for Akshaya after the e-literacy phase never saw the light of day. "We were told during our training period that there would be a number of avenues for business generation through the centre," says one participant. The project report, in fact, lists a host of such opportunities. The Akshaya centre, it says, would function as a direct link between the people, Government and private organisations. It can offer services such as data collection, training and education, Web-based consultancy services, printing and publishing, information sales and other general services. For instance, the centres can do data collection such as census (for government) and market data (for industry). Several other services such as computer training to more people, providing courses such as spoken English and personality development, e-learning, online exams, Web-based marriage consultancy, real estate, telemedicine, DTP, sales of government information and application forms, Internet browsing and what- have-you were up for grabs for enterprising folks. A model centre in a normal year can thus make Rs 5.43 lakhs, the report postulates. While those like Mujeeb and Noushad managed to provide some of these services, many others couldn't. The Government, from its side, did offer large-scale data entry work, but this ran into rough weather. One centre in a panchayat was selected by Information Kerala Mission to convert panchayat records into digital format. Sadique alleges that many centres are yet to receive their dues after completing the work. Akshaya officials also agree that there are problems with regard to this initiative. Efforts are now on to get the funds released. A health-kiosk concept was initiated, but it remained a concept only. It is not clear now as to how far it is possible for Akshaya centres to provide the kind of services envisioned in the project report. Whether every citizen would go to an Akshaya centre to pay his bills, buy his application forms/submit them and to deal with authorities remains to be seen. Besides, labour unions in utilities are grumbling, as they fear that Akshaya would render many employees jobless. Connectivity Meanwhile, Akshaya centres were networked with one another through wireless Internet. Through a global bidding, Delhi-based Tulip IT Services was chosen to roll out a wireless Internet network over the hilly terrain of Malappuram (which itself means `atop a hill'). Once the network was established, Akshaya centres would start providing e-payment facilities, besides offering Internet browsing, e-mail, and chat. Establishing such a network in a district like Malappuram proved to be a tough task. Entrepreneurs complain that there were connectivity problems in the early days. Each Akshaya centre was to pay Rs 8,000 for connectivity through four post-dated cheques of Rs 2,000 each. Of this, only one cheque has been cashed so far. The centres were also to pay a monthly charge of Rs 1,000 for unlimited connectivity. This amount has also not been levied as yet, despite the network being up and running. But the delay that occurred during the rollout affected the centres severely, says Sivasankar. "The centres could not graduate to the second phase," he says. Apparently, Tulip had underestimated the nature of Malappuram's terrain and hence the delay. But Tulip's Managing Director, Lt. Col. H.S. Bedi VSM, says Akshaya has been "one of the most successful of such projects to date." "The network has been in use for almost eight months as of now. The very high usage of the project is probably the best measure of its success," he argues. The centres agree Net connectivity has stabilised now and they are happy about its bandwidth (between 16 Kbps and 64 Kbps), notwithstanding occasional drops. Out of the 401 centres that are connected, 151 are now providing e-pay services. People can pay electricity and BSNL telephone bills through these centres by paying a fee of Rs 5 per bill. "In the past two-and-a-half months, 33,000 electricity bills of Rs 1.03 crore have been paid," officials claim. Here too, entrepreneurs say more streamlining needs to be done at the bank and utility offices to avoid glitches at the back-end. They would like the Government to provide spurs on these lines: a lower power tariff, waiver of interest on pending loans, status of small-scale industrial units, and channelling of more government services. What next? Even though over one-fourth of Akshaya centres have closed down, it may not be appropriate to term the project a failure. In fact, the very fact that 450 centres are functioning across Malappuram, braving the initial unforeseen hiccups, is a tribute to the project. But the State Government, now preparing to replicate the project in other districts, should not overlook the problems that these centres encountered. And offering a helping hand to those in trouble, rather than just washing its hands off, would send a positive message to potential Akshaya entrepreneurs in other parts of the State. vipin(a)thehindu.co.in Picture by G.P. Sampath Kumar

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Could this affect education?
by Frederick Noronha (FN) 14 Nov '05

14 Nov '05

http://www.thehindu.com/edu/2005/09/26/stories/2005092600150200.htm Microsoft award for teachers Microsoft Corporation India Private Limited has announced the second round of its "Innovative Teachers Leadership" awards 2005. Instituted last year, under its flagship India education programme "Project Shiksha," these awards seek to honour school teachers who innovatively use IT in their teaching techniques. The entries for the award are currently open to both Government and private school teachers and will close on September 30, 2005. The top five entrants will be selected by a panel of judges. They will then attend a three-day regional seminar in Seoul, South Korea. The winner, from the region will then attend the global seminar in the U.S.

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