*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** *** Established January 1998 - Reaching over 2400 subscribers ***
* Extensive UK e-Democracy consultation links below - the paper, news * coverage, commentary, and more. Subscribe to the free Democracies * Online Newswire <http://www.e-democracy.org/do> for updates on this * major e-democracy development. With the release this week of UK government's consultative e-democracy paper <http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk>, the next major window in the development of e-democracy has been opened. Please read their consultation paper <http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/downloads> and provide your ideas and comments <http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/wdyt>. Please share your specific and practical ideas in their public discussion area so we can all build upon our ideas and knowledge. The fact that one of the world's leading governments is directly exploring this subject will lead to similar policy activity around the world. This is the opportunity of the decade to accelerate government sponsored/funded efforts in your country as well. If the UK can take the lead, why shouldn't your country/state/city learn from their efforts and take e-democracy to the next level? As policy development progresses in many countries over the next few years, turning those policies into action will require the active engagement and support of those who believe that information and communication technologies (ICTs) must be incorporated into real, everyday governance and citizen engagement. The future of democracy is in the balance and ICTs are one of key tools we have to move the world in a more positive direction. Now is the time to help your government and fellow citizens take the actions required for thriving information-age democracies that better meet public challenges. Please pass this post (and the extensive list of links below) on to political and e-government leaders around the world. More and more government leaders are realizing that e-government must stand on two legs - service AND democracy. The use of the Internet to not just allow, but actually encourage and sustain citizen involvement in government and civic society is a choice. The default use of the Internet by "as is" politics and government services has had a limited impact - some positive, some negative. I fear that without active public-spirited intervention, new ICTs will actually accelerate the current decline in voter and citizen participation not reverse it. As I read the consultation paper closely, I will look for the "democratic intent" and political and resource commitments which are absolutely required to successfully move the government side of e-democracy forward. Steven Clift http://www.publicus.net Democracies Online Newswire http://www.e-democracy.org/do P.S. I am back from my honeymoon. From: http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk In the service of democracy: a consultation paper on a policy for electronic democracy Quick download: http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/downloads/e-Democracy.pdf (61 pages) http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/proposals/policy.php (HTML in bits) http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/downloads/summary.pdf (6 page summary) Other formats are available as well as the summaries in Bangali, Chinese, Gujarati, Hindi, Punjabi, Urdu, and Welsh. Note: The House of Commons Information Committee also issued their first report on July 15, 2002: http://www.parliament.the-stationery-office.co.uk/pa/cm/cminform.htm To comment via e-mail, questionnaire, or to discuss e-Democracy on the CitizenSpace section of the main UK government web site see: http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/wdyt/ * Table of Contents About This Consultation Foreword 1 INTRODUCTION 2 IN THE SERVICE OF DEMOCRACY The Challenge For Democracy The Evolving Digital Society A Connection Waiting To Be Made A Two-Track Policy For E-Democracy Underpinning Principles An e-Democracy Charter Conclusion 3 E-PARTICIPATION Public Participation And Democracy Citizens And Government Citizens And Representatives Political Parties Civic Activity Capacity Building Conclusion 4 E-VOTING e-Voting Systems Security and Trust The e-Voting Programme Funding 5 SUMMARY OF CONSULTATION ISSUES * News E-votes will push out ballot box 'by 2006' http://politics.guardian.co.uk/news/story/0,,756546,00.html E-vote election 'by 2006' http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_2133000/2133286.stm Cabinet Office pushes e-participation http://www.kablenet.com/kd.nsf/Frontpage/8831B04F360CB3C780256BF800591855 Government seeks views on e-democracy http://news.zdnet.co.uk/story/0,,t269-s2119232,00.html Government sets out e-democracy strategy http://www.ananova.com/news/story/sm_630056.html?menu=news.technology Govt unveils plans for eDemocracy http://www.theregister.co.uk/content/6/26221.html E-voting consultation begins Government hopes electronic ballot boxes will stem voter apathy http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/index.cfm?go=news.view&news=2507 E-voting possible by 2006 http://www.computing.vnunet.com/News/1133678 Government puts out e-democracy feelers http://www.netimperative.info/cmn/viewdoc.jsp?cat=all&docid=BEP1_News_0000039552 E-voting by 2006, Government suggests http://www.internet-magazine.com/news/view.asp?id=2594 * Commentary E-democracy's eleventh hour http://www.guardian.co.uk/Archive/Article/0,4273,4463195,00.html Government must "be bolder" on eDemocracy iSociety welcomes "world leading" electronic democracy strategy http://theworkfoundation.co.uk/research/isociety/eDemocracy.doc VOXPOLITICS ADVANCE RESPONSE TO eDEMOCRACY GREEN PAPER http://www.voxpolitics.com/weblog/voxlatest/ Government unveils e-democracy proposals in a bid to boost public involvement in the policy process http://www.newmediazero.com/lo-fi/story.asp?id=235782 * Related Government Links Online consultation on document: http://www.ukonline.gov.uk/Discussions/DSGroupIndex/1,1772,~801b22~fs~en,00.html Views wanted on e-democracy options http://www.ukonline.gov.uk/NewsRoom/NRArticle/0,1169,162319~801b22~fs~en,00.html Hottopic: 21st century democracy Article and links from: http://www.ukonline.gov.uk/NewsRoom/NRHotTopic/0,1175,138356~801b22~fs~en,00.html Cabinet Office Press Release http://www.edemocracy.gov.uk/library/papers/PRe-DemNEWSRELEASE.pdf *** Past Messages, Discussion http://e-democracy.org/do *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To UNSUBSCRIBE instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. *** *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] ***
