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MISTICA: Launch of Digital Opportunity Channel

From: Michel J. Menou ([email protected])
Date: Fri May 24 2002 - 04:58:02 AST

Amigos
Disculpen la molestia de mandar un texto en Ingles un poco largo, pero no tengo
tiempo para resumirlo en Espa�ol.
Por otro lado, los puntos del Sr. Levy me parecen importantes.
Se queremos cambios, todos necesitamos cambiarnos.
El clientelismo en el sistema de cooperacion internacional es un obstaculo
mayor para su eficacia.
Michel

>From: Alan Levy <[email protected]>
>To: [email protected] <[email protected]>
>Date: Wednesday, May 22, 2002, 5:02:36 AM
>Subject: [GKD] Launch of Digital Opportunity Channel
>
>===8<==============Original message text===============
>This is a classic example of where ICT infrastructure money goes... to
>another one of countless channels:
>
>"To amplify our power, there is the blendability of the new digital
>technologies, the multiplying power of networks, the interdependability
>of human beings - and, most important of all, the boundless power of
>goodwill."
>
>What does this mean? It means nothing, and for reason. What is their
>goal? Visibility. For what purpose? To qualify for funding.
>
>What are they offering? Nothing, save one more website talking about
>collaborating to learn what they should be talking about. But it places
>them in the forefront of funding. For what? More talking. The idea
>being that, through talking, we can make the world better. Of course,
>someone better figure out what those grandiose words mean first... and
>maybe even learn a little ICT too.
>
>And with luck someone will figure out you actually need networks.
>
>Talking won't cure the divide, nor marginalization (nor hunger). This
>is not a mysterious disease. There are certain technical requirements,
>and political requirements. Nothing more. And the problem isn't
>technical.
>
>I monitor listservs dealing in digital divide issues. The Benton
>listserv is quite illuminating... its small group of regular
>participants have posted how to (1) extend grants even when there's no
>need, (2) create a false appearance for aid applications, (3) support
>political causes and candidates, and much more high fare. At least one
>of the people posting such dubious information was a recognized divide
>figure... from academia, and an early elite group honored by the UN.
>
>There's a fine art to collaboration, if there's a legitimate goal. This
>is how the digital divide dollars are (mis)spent. Governments promised
>millions for digital divide infrastructure initiatives... where's the
>money? You need only one sustainable network. Where's the network?
>
>And puhlease don't shoot the messenger. India already has top-shelf
>research, a proactive government, and busy universities and foundations
>genuinely working on real ICT access issues.
>
>This is more about money and power than the divide. And the buzzwords
>that long ago lost their sincerity are now losing their meaning. Read
>it again.
>
>What year is this? What year are we supposed to "learn" to discuss
>which applications should be minimally universal? When are we supposed
>to "learn" to demand unrestricted deployment of VoIP? Or, to "learn" to
>discuss funding for infrastructure? Or, to demand governments provide
>spectrum to non-profits? What else is needed?
>
>Learning is so much fun... why you can just never finish! This isn't
>education, but only an ever continuing remedial class that achieves
>nothing more than a false appearance.
>
>The incumbents who are successfully lobbying to restrict ICT deployment
>are the same ones funding these "talk" forums... instead of
>infrastructure. Why? Ahem.
>
>Alan Levy
>Mexico, D.F.
>[email protected]
>
>Kanti Kumar <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> > Digital Opportunity Channel <www.digitalopportunity.org>, a Web portal
> > and online community focused on information and communications
> > technologies for global sustainable development, launched here today on
> > UN World Telecommunications Day.
> >
> > Digital Opportunity Channel is a joint initiative of OneWorld
> > <www.oneworld.net>, the online sustainable development and human rights
> > network, and the Benton Foundation <www.benton.org>, the
> > Washington-based non-profit organization that works to realize the
> > social benefits made possible by the public interest use of information
> > and communications technology (ICT).

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