Re: [DDN] Rotary to help close the divide (Bahamas and Caribbean)

[Taran Rampersad]

Kimberly King-Burns wrote:

> Hi, Taran:
> Thanks for the informative note. Have you had any recent conversations
> with either Greg Stewart (Jamaica) or Terence Phillip (Trinidad) about
> Microsoft's rather engaged interest in working with the Caribbean region?

Nope. I have heard of Terence Phillip while I was in Trinidad and
Tobago. I'll put some feelers out.

I have had, though, correspondence with George Gobin and Ansar Mohammed
through the Trinidad and Tobago Computer Society lists. I have found
that Microsoft people are typically leery of entering discussion with
me; I've challenged regional Microsoft employees to public debate on
more than one occasion. Sadly, they haven't felt like doing that.

Frankly, the way things happen in the region is suddenly Microsoft
announces a partnership with a government... out of the blue. Which
means they seem to be afraid of public debate. At least, that's my
opinion. My challenge still stands.

As a sidenote, I find it somewhat amusing that Microsoft is going
through all this trouble for an area where you can pick up Windows XP
for less than $3.

>
> While I am admittedly unaware of the NGO meetings to which you refer
> below, our group has been included in many different discussions
> pertinent to the continued growth of community computer technology
> centres in Anguilla, Cayman Islands, Nevis, Dominican Republic, and
> Haiti to date, and we have participated in several stateside and
> regional IT conferences specific to growing the Caribbean region
> through technology.

Could you give references? IT conferences, in my experience, are not
generally related to the Digital Divide as much as they are about
selling products with sometimes a cost of admission (granted, Microsoft
typically gives away food). Perhaps your group does things differently.
Is the focus on business, or Civil Society?

>
> In any case, we would love to become more involved in the regional
> mailing lists to which you refer. Our admittedly boutique working
> model has resulted in several successful public/private sector
> business development initiatives, since its launch in 1999. 

That would be excellent. You can start here:
http://www.dgroups.org/groups/icacaribbean/

I am BCC'ing the moderator of the ICA Caribbean list. New members are
typically asked to give a description of themselves and the
organizations they work for - if you call a few names, I may not know
them but it's a fair assumption that someone will.

-- 
Taran Rampersad
Presently in: Panama City, Panama
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

http://www.knowprose.com
http://www.easylum.net
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran

"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo

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[DDN] Solar powered ovens and HIV/AIDS (link edited)

[Pamela McLean]

(This is a re-send - as my first attempt had an incorrect url - this has 
been corrected - to "For more about CawdNet go to www.cawd.net and click 
on CawdNet")


Janet Feldman wrote: Re: [DDN] Response to David:  Rotary seeks to close 
digital divide

...in Kenya .everything from installation of Sun Ovens 
(solar-powered community ovens)
to providing wheelchairs for youth and adults who need them to hosting
holiday parties for children affected by HIV/AIDS.  

I would like to explore possible overlap between this and some CawdNet 
work.
Also, are the sun ovens related to the HIV/AIDS work?

This is our interest to date:
CawdNet first became interested in solar cooking in 2002, through a book 
by Anna Pearce called Make All Things New. - but it is only recently, 
thanks to COL (Commonwealth of Learning) that there have been any 
resources to follow through. 
To see the women who wanted to know about solar cookers ( and to read 
more about their other needs expressed at the womens' meeting during a 
needs analysis) see http://www.cawd.net/daisy/CawdNet/g1/770.html

For photos from the course on making solar cookers see 
http://www.cawd.net/daisy/CawdNet/g1/742.html

For photos from the course on solar cooking see 
http://www.cawd.net/daisy/CawdNet/g1/800.html

CawdNet has an HIV/AIDS Special Interest Group (SIG). At Fantsuam that 
includes education about nutrition, and a project called The Positive 
Kitchen.  With CawdNet everything is interlinked - so the HIV/AIDS SIG 
was involved in the solar cooking training and a solar cooker may find 
its way into The Positive Kitchen - if it is judged to be appropriate.

We would be interested to know more about your experiences with solar 
cooking.

Pam
Pamela McLean
CawdNet Convenor
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
For more about CawdNet go to www.cawd.net and click on CawdNet
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Re: [DDN] FW: Listen to Bill Moyers' historic speech

[Bob Hirshon]

Yes, I'm getting political here, but the idea that someone as moderate,
intelligent and reasonable as Bill Moyers can be branded a radical
leftist extremist is profoundly depressing to me. As is also the low
ratings of his PBS show, NOW.

>>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] - 5/17/05 10:10 AM >>>
I HIGHLY recommend that you listen, read, and watch Bill Moyers speech.
I
think it's a serious historic milestone. A turning point in the
mainstream
understanding and action behind the cause of media reform. I hope the
whole world gets a chance to hear it.
-Brian R.
audioactivism.org


> I recommend subscribing to this list by going to the freepress.net
website
> (not .org)
>
> I also recommend joining this organization.
>
>
>
> -mm
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert W. McChesney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 11:15 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Listen to Bill Moyers' historic speech
>
>
>
>
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/> free press
>
>
> Dear :
>
> In an historic speech on Sunday, legendary television journalist
Bill
> Moyers
> blasted Kenneth Tomlinson of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting
(CPB)
> for launching a partisan witch hunt at PBS and called for a series of
town
> hall meetings across the country.
>
> "I simply never imagined that any CPB chairman, Democrat or
Republican,
> would cross the line from resisting White House pressure to carrying
it
> out
> for the White House," Moyers told a packed room at the National
Conference
> for Media Reform. "And that's what Kenneth Tomlinson has been
doing."
>
> You can now watch or listen to Moyers' entire speech on the Free
Press Web
> site:
>
> An audio recording can be downloaded at:
> www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/moyers.mp3
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/moyers.mp3>
>
> Or you can watch the video at:
> www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/freepress-closing40515.mov
>

ttp://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/freepress-closing40515.mov>
>
> Transcript online (as soon as it's available) at
> www.freepress.net/conference
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/conference> .
>
> In his first public statement since the controversy at PBS emerged,
Moyers
> endorsed a call by media reform groups for a series of town hall
meetings
> nationwide so that Americans can speak directly to station managers
and
> policymakers about what they want and expect from public
broadcasting.
>
> More than 50,000 Americans have already signed the Free Press
petition
> calling on Kenneth Tomlinson to resign and demanding that the public
be
> put
> back into PBS.
>
> Please add your name to the petition by clicking
> www.freepress.net/action/pbs
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/action/pbs> .
>
> "That great mob that is democracy is rarely heard, and that's not
just the
> fault of the current residents of the White House and Capitol,"
Moyers
> said.
> "There is a great chasm between those of us in the business and those
who
> depend on TV and radio as their window to the world. We treat them
too
> much
> like audiences and not enough like citizens. They are invited to
look
> through the window, but too infrequently to participate and make
public
> broadcasting public."
>
> Please support Bill Moyers, public broadcasting, quality journalism
and
> democracy by signing
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/action/pbs> the petition and passing along
this
> message to everyone you know.
>
> Onward,
>
> Robert W. McChesney
> Free Press
> www.freepress.net
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net>
>
> P.S. The conference was a rousing success. Visit
> www.freepress.net/conference
>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/conference>  for audio and video recordings
of the
> sessions, new episodes of "Media Minutes" and news reports. New
content is
> being added daily.
>
>   _
>
> You ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) are receiving this message as a
subscriber
> of
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>
 ttp://www.freepress.net/action/signup.php> Press E-Activist list. To
> discontinue receiving messages, please visit
> www.freepress.net/action/unsub.php
>

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>
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[DDN] Verizon YouthTech Contest -- DEADLINE EXTENDED!

[Williams, Sabra]

***The deadline has been extended to Friday, May 27, 4:00 p.m.***


 


SECOND ANNUAL VERIZON YOUTHTECH CONTEST


 

In partnership with United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Verizon
Foundation is sponsoring the "Verizon YouthTech Contest" for 9th through
12th grade students attending Philadelphia area high schools.

 

 

What is the Verizon YouthTech Contest?

Through inventiveness and their passionate commitment to change, today's
youth have the power to transform their communities - and technology can
be a valuable tool in these efforts.  The Verizon YouthTech Contest
seeks to honor young people with active involvement in using technology
or innovative ideas for its use by preparing an essay in accordance with
the program's criteria, in one or more of the following categories:

 

Web Design - the web site should be designed to connect young people to
one another, to information, or to resources and opportunities in new
and innovative ways.


Community Service - the project should use technology to make the
community a better place to live in and/or help people in need.


Youth Development - the project should address how young people can use
technology as a tool to realize their personal and professional
potential.

 

 

Who is Eligible?

All applicants must currently be attending the 9th through 12th grade at
a Philadelphia area high school.  Applications from 9th and 10th grades
will be considered separately from those from 11th and 12th grades, with
an equal number of prizes awarded to each group.

 

 

How to Apply:

The contest is being launched on Monday, April 4th.  The deadline for
submission of contest essays is Friday, May 27th by 4:00 p.m.  The essay
should be submitted to:

 

Lassain Robinson, Program Manager

Teaming for Technology

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania

7 Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia, PA 19103

[EMAIL PROTECTED]  

http://www.t4t.uwsepa.org   

 

 

Criteria:  Essay applications may be hand-delivered, mailed, or e-mailed
and must be received by the deadline.  The essay must be typed,
single-spaced, and no more than two (2) pages in length to be
considered.  On the first page, please start with your full name, age,
home address, phone number, and the name of the high school you attend.
Then, begin to address each of the following points:

 

1.  Which category are you applying under:  Web Design, Community
Service, or Career Exploration? (You can only choose one.)

2.  Is this an existing project (if a web site, provide the address)
or a new idea for one?

3.  Please describe the need for your project.

4.  Please describe the goals of your project and describe how it
works (or would work) in some detail.

5.  What technology is required for your project and how is it used?

6.  Exactly who is (or would be) involved in carrying out your
project?  Who does it (or would it) help?

7.  How do you (or would you) let people know about this project?

 

 

Review and Selection of Winners:  Essay applications that meet the
program's criteria will be reviewed by a panel of representatives from
Verizon, United Way, School District, and nonprofit community
organizations.  Awardees will be selected on the basis of:

 

*  Completeness and accuracy of the application - 10 points

*  Creativity of the concept - 25 points

*  Feasibility of the concept (i.e., Is it possible to do this
project?  Is it likely to achieve its goals?) - 20 points

*  Innovative use of technology - 25 points

*  Value to the community (i.e., To what extent will the project
make the world a better place?) - 20 points

 

In summary, essay applications must be received no later than Friday,
May 27th at 4:00 p.m. and meet the above criteria to be eligible for
consideration.  Winners will be notified on or before June 8th.
Awardees and their families will be honored at an awards ceremony (date
and location to be determined).  In addition to their awards, 1st place
awardees will be offered assistance with their projects from technical
advisors and mentors associated with United Way.

 

 

Awards:

 

*  First Prize:  Brand new, state-of-the-art personal computer

*  Second Prize:  MP3 Player

*  Third Prize:  Refurbished personal computer

 

 

 

Funding for the Verizon YouthTech Contest is provided through a generous
grant from Verizon Foundation in its commitment to further the education
of youth.

 

Teaming for Technology (T4T) is an initiative of United Way of
Southeastern Pennsylvania.  Since 2000, T4T has been dedicated to
increasing and improving the use of technology by non-profits and
communities on both a local and national level.  

 

 



Sabra Williams

Program Associate

Teaming for Technology

United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania 

Seven Benjamin Franklin Parkway

Philadelphia, PA 19103

Ph: 215.665.2569

Fax: 215.665.2650

Em

Re: [DDN] Rotary to help close the divide (Bahamas and Caribbean)

[Kimberly King-Burns]

Hi, Taran:
Thanks for the informative note.  Have you had any recent conversations 
with either Greg Stewart (Jamaica) or Terence Phillip (Trinidad) about 
Microsoft's rather engaged interest in working with the Caribbean region?

While I am admittedly unaware of the NGO meetings to which you refer below, 
our group has been included in many different discussions pertinent to the 
continued growth of community computer technology centres in Anguilla, 
Cayman Islands, Nevis, Dominican Republic, and Haiti to date, and we have 
participated in several stateside and regional IT conferences specific to 
growing the Caribbean region through technology.

In any case, we would love to become more involved in the regional mailing 
lists to which you refer.  Our admittedly boutique working model has 
resulted in several successful public/private sector business development 
initiatives, since its launch in 1999.

Regards
Kimberly
 At 03:01 PM 5/16/2005, Taran Rampersad wrote::
>
It should be noted that as far as the Caribbean region goes, the Bahamas
haven't been involved in any of the regional meetings with NGOs.
Further, the regional NGOs are not leaning toward Microsoft in the
Caribbean region, instead looking for more cost effective and locally
controlled software - which bodes well for Open Source and Software
Libre. If Microsoft wishes to help fund that, I'm sure that their money
would be welcome. IBM has already assisted in endeavours in the region.
This does not mean that the Bahamas would not be welcome to the regional
meetings. But I find it odd that someone as tied into regional issues in
the Caribbean and Latin America as I am has to hear about this here,
instead of the regional mailing lists. Working together in the region is
the ultimate goal of the region, and while I do not have the authority
to speak for the region I would find it difficult to believe that
further cooperation would be frowned upon.
I'd certainly like to hear whether the Rotary Clubs wish to work with
regional NGOs. I'd certainly put them in touch with regional
institutions and email lists if they so desire.
--
Taran Rampersad
Presently in: Panama City, Panama
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.knowprose.com
http://www.easylum.net
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran
"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo
--
The Briland Modem Fund
A Bahamian Out Island Community Development Initiative
http://www.brilandmodemfund.com
E-mail:  [EMAIL PROTECTED]
IM: coconutH2O [MSN/Hotmail/Yahoo/GMail/Batelnet]
Your tax-deductible PayPal donation: : http://tinyurl.com/25ka6  


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[DDN] GCC e-government conference, anyone?

[Andy Carvin]

Hi everyone,
Tomorrow I'm off to Dubai for the GCC e-government conference. I'll be 
speaking about our work on "e-government for all" to policymakers and 
business leaders from around the Gulf region. Out of curiosity, is 
anyone else from the list going? If so, please email me, because I'd 
love to meet fellow DDN members in the region.

And as always, I'll blog about the conference at www.andycarvin.com.
thanks,
ac
--
---
Andy Carvin
Program Director
EDC Center for Media & Community
acarvin @ edc . org
http://www.digitaldivide.net
http://www.tsunami-info.org
Blog: http://www.andycarvin.com
---
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[DDN] Reports on the Community Networking and Rural Workforce Conferences

[Frank Odasz]

Greetings
As an aside, here's a great web site telling the story behind 14 
telecenters on the slopes of Mt. Everest in 
Nepal:  http://www.nepalwireless.net/network.php and a similar project at 
http://www.linkingeverest.com

Lone Eagle Report on Open Space Austin - the 7th Annual Community 
Networking Conference for the Association for Community Networking 
(www.afcn.org)

In short, the event was successful and certainly reinforces everyone’s 
belief in the value of meeting face-to-face. We had a near perfect mix of 
attendees – ISP’s, rural community leaders, project directors, consultants 
for telecommunications and economic development, activists, academics, and 
many new faces representing expertise in community media, mesh wireless, as 
well as several of the old guard of community networking.  Our only regret 
is that many good folks were unable to join us in these lean economic times.

This was the first time I’ve attended a conference that focused 100% on 
supporting the networking among attendees. Typically, most conferences are 
competing presentations where most presented information is missed by most 
attendees, and everyone struggles to network in the halls during the 
limited time between sessions.

Jon Lebkowsky’s report at
http://www.worldchanging.com/archives/002641.html 
does a fine job covering the themes discussed and you might enjoy his blog, 
too, http://weblogsky.com

Attendees committed to generating new partners, resources, energy, and 
fresh ideas. The bottom line is never has there been a greater need for 
good people to come together to make good things happen.
By working together we can build collaborative capacity that benefits 
everyone involved.

This is the core challenge for ALL community technology organizations – to 
come
together to walk-the-talk and create - at a minimum - an organized, if 
informal, advocacy consortium to jointly address national and state policy 
issues as a first priority as well as more efficient sharing of resources 
and expertise as a second priority.

Tidbits of Internet:
Richard MacKinnon 
www.austinwirelesscity.org has 
sustainable venues with many organizations serving 40,000 persons with 
wireless in Austin. A model well worth further exploration.

Sascha Meinrath shared his community wireless innovations – listed with 
other wireless resources at 
http://lone-eagles.com/wireless.htm

Ana Sisnett represented the Austin Freenet 
http://austinfree.net and ably represented the 
diversity issues and opportunities.

Inspiration for articulating how AFCN can work more closely with RTC, 
CTCnet and many other com-tech orgs is found in essays at 
http://movementasnetwork.org

Texas telecom policy bill 789 threatens to outlaw rural communities 
installing wireless for their citizens even when the telcos refuse to 
deliver service. Kudos to
http://savemuniwireless.org for carrying the 
torch of opposition on this goofy legislative pitch.

Will Reed and Jim Forester represented 
http://www.techforall.org and social enterprises.

Peter Miller and Paul Hansen share the exciting new VISTA project which 
will have a community networking project component and other new innovations.
.

Fred Johnson has a new full-time faculty position with the U. Mass. 
Community Media and Technology program 
http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/cmt/   which is 
working with the VISTA program.

Richard Cutler is working with innovative Forum 9000 “smart social 
networking” software systems.

Christopher Jowaisas 
[EMAIL PROTECTED]  represented the 
library projects of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation – libraries having 
an unshakeable role to play in community learning programs at all levels.

Literally every participant has a passion and story to tell and I won’t 
attempt to reference everyone here, but I’ll encourage everyone to share 
their passions and visions via the AFCN listserv and elsewhere.

Spring is the season of renewal and may we all renew our commitments to 
what we believe we can make happen together!

All the best,
Frank
Report on the Rural Workforce 2005 Conference 
www.tocowa.org

Spring was in full bloom in Austin, Texas during the Rural Workforce 
conference. But, with the Bush budget expected to eliminate much of the 
needed rural workforce and economic development budgets - there was an air 
of gloom anticipating the lean days ahead.

Presented with a spirit of optimism, there were several sessions on online 
learning programs for one-stop staff and job-seekers that promise to 
deliver convenient ongoing training opportunities and at a reduced cost. A 
couple such businesses are

[DDN] best current digital divide stats urls

[Dr. Kenneth L. Hacker]

I am looking for the most current and valid statistics regarding U.S. and 
global Digital Divide statistics.  I already have the Dept. of Commerce NTIA 
report, "A Nation Online: Entering the Broadband Agen," and am looking for 
other data.  I will be happy to post the ones I find the most useful later. 

Thanks in advance, 

Ken Hacker 

 



-- 
Dr. Kenneth L. Hacker 
Professor 
Department of Communication Studies 
New Mexico State University
Las Cruces, New Mexico 88003  USA 

 
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Re: [DDN] FW: Listen to Bill Moyers' historic speech

[Brian Russell]

I HIGHLY recommend that you listen, read, and watch Bill Moyers speech. I
think it's a serious historic milestone. A turning point in the mainstream
understanding and action behind the cause of media reform. I hope the
whole world gets a chance to hear it.
-Brian R.
audioactivism.org


> I recommend subscribing to this list by going to the freepress.net website
> (not .org)
>
> I also recommend joining this organization.
>
>
>
> -mm
> -Original Message-
> From: Robert W. McChesney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 11:15 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Listen to Bill Moyers' historic speech
>
>
>
>
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/> free press
>
>
> Dear :
>
> In an historic speech on Sunday, legendary television journalist Bill
> Moyers
> blasted Kenneth Tomlinson of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB)
> for launching a partisan witch hunt at PBS and called for a series of town
> hall meetings across the country.
>
> "I simply never imagined that any CPB chairman, Democrat or Republican,
> would cross the line from resisting White House pressure to carrying it
> out
> for the White House," Moyers told a packed room at the National Conference
> for Media Reform. "And that's what Kenneth Tomlinson has been doing."
>
> You can now watch or listen to Moyers' entire speech on the Free Press Web
> site:
>
> An audio recording can be downloaded at:
> www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/moyers.mp3
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/moyers.mp3>
>
> Or you can watch the video at:
> www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/freepress-closing40515.mov
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/freepress-closing40515.mov>
>
> Transcript online (as soon as it's available) at
> www.freepress.net/conference
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/conference> .
>
> In his first public statement since the controversy at PBS emerged, Moyers
> endorsed a call by media reform groups for a series of town hall meetings
> nationwide so that Americans can speak directly to station managers and
> policymakers about what they want and expect from public broadcasting.
>
> More than 50,000 Americans have already signed the Free Press petition
> calling on Kenneth Tomlinson to resign and demanding that the public be
> put
> back into PBS.
>
> Please add your name to the petition by clicking
> www.freepress.net/action/pbs
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/action/pbs> .
>
> "That great mob that is democracy is rarely heard, and that's not just the
> fault of the current residents of the White House and Capitol," Moyers
> said.
> "There is a great chasm between those of us in the business and those who
> depend on TV and radio as their window to the world. We treat them too
> much
> like audiences and not enough like citizens. They are invited to look
> through the window, but too infrequently to participate and make public
> broadcasting public."
>
> Please support Bill Moyers, public broadcasting, quality journalism and
> democracy by signing
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/action/pbs> the petition and passing along this
> message to everyone you know.
>
> Onward,
>
> Robert W. McChesney
> Free Press
> www.freepress.net
>  ttp://www.freepress.net>
>
> P.S. The conference was a rousing success. Visit
> www.freepress.net/conference
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/conference>  for audio and video recordings of the
> sessions, new episodes of "Media Minutes" and news reports. New content is
> being added daily.
>
>   _
>
> You ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) are receiving this message as a subscriber
> of
> the Free
>  ttp://www.freepress.net/action/signup.php> Press E-Activist list. To
> discontinue receiving messages, please visit
> www.freepress.net/action/unsub.php
> 
> .
>
>   
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[DDN] Last chance to register for RTPnet conference

[Judy Hallman]

To Digital Divide Network, CTCNet Region 4, NC MediaArts, TW2,
If you want to come to the RTPnet conference, please register today. We
have to turn in our final numbers Tuesday (tomorrow) morning.
---
It's not too late to register for the
6th Annual RTPnet Conference and Community Technology Awards
Friday, May 20, 2005 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
William and Ida Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Dr., Chapel Hill, NC
http://www.rtpnet.org/conf/
Don't miss your chance to attend North Carolina's only annual statewide
nonprofit technology conference, hosted by RTPnet and Triangle United
Way. Register today!
This year's theme is "Bringing Together Volunteers and Technology for
Community Development." Featured speakers represent IBM, Cisco, Network
for Good, and the CTC VISTA project. Topics include:
Corporate volunteer programs
Raising money online
Using digital storytelling to share your mission
An introduction to blogging and podcasting
Thin client computing
Creating a technology plan
What do we need: volunteer, consultant or staff?
Finding low-cost or free computer training and equipment
The CTC VISTA project
Damita Chambers has pulled together great partnerships (Triangle United
Way, CompuMentor, Duke University Certificate in Nonprofit Management,
ncyt, Philanthropy Journal) and sponsorships (Silver: RedHat, CTCNet,
e-NC, and SimDesk -- Bronze: Isoph, NetCorps, Antharia, and OneWhoServes).
**A limited number of scholarships are available to students and
AmeriCorps members. Conference attendees can also earn 5 credit hours
toward the Duke University Certificate in Nonprofit Management. See
registration form for details.**
WHAT: 6th Annual RTPnet Conference and Community Technology Awards
WHEN: Friday, May 20, 2005 from 9 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
WHERE: William and Ida Friday Center, 100 Friday Center Dr., Chapel Hill, NC
WHO: Damita Chambers, RTPnet, 919-463-1362, [EMAIL PROTECTED]
**Visit http://www.rtpnet.org/conf to register for the conference.**
Judy Hallman ([EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.rtpnet.org/hallman)
Executive Director, RTPnet, NC (http://www.RTPnet.org/)
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Re: [DDN] Rotary to help close the divide (Bahamas and Caribbean)

[Taran Rampersad]

Kimberly King-Burns wrote:

>Hi, everyone:
>For an example of an excellent Rotary Club-supported initiative in the
>Bahamas and Caribbean, see www.wiredislandnetwork.com.  
>
>Rotary Club East Nassau joined the Briland Modem Fund's community
>technology centre outreach program (see www.brilandmodemfund.com) two
>years ago, and has since started working to drum regional Rotary
>support to engage a similar effort Caribbean-wide.  Microsoft Caribbean
>and IBM Nassau have also entered the mix.
>  
>
It should be noted that as far as the Caribbean region goes, the Bahamas
haven't been involved in any of the regional meetings with NGOs.
Further, the regional NGOs are not leaning toward Microsoft in the
Caribbean region, instead looking for more cost effective and locally
controlled software - which bodes well for Open Source and Software
Libre. If Microsoft wishes to help fund that, I'm sure that their money
would be welcome. IBM has already assisted in endeavours in the region.

This does not mean that the Bahamas would not be welcome to the regional
meetings. But I find it odd that someone as tied into regional issues in
the Caribbean and Latin America as I am has to hear about this here,
instead of the regional mailing lists. Working together in the region is
the ultimate goal of the region, and while I do not have the authority
to speak for the region I would find it difficult to believe that
further cooperation would be frowned upon.

I'd certainly like to hear whether the Rotary Clubs wish to work with
regional NGOs. I'd certainly put them in touch with regional
institutions and email lists if they so desire.

-- 
Taran Rampersad
Presently in: Panama City, Panama
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

http://www.knowprose.com
http://www.easylum.net
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran

"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo

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[DDN] Priority Area Coordinators for CTC VISTA Project Announced

[Peter Miller]

The CTC VISTA Project (www.cpcs.umb.edu/vista) has a special grant from 
the Corporation for National and Community Service to provide 
recruitment, placement, and support assistance to CTCs and other 
community media and technology organizations and is asking all 
interested organizational applicants to plan to do some work in at least 
one of four priority areas for the coming year.

As part of the community technology project support for priority work 
currently being planned for the 05-06 program year, we are pleased to 
announce arrangements with four area coordinators:

*  Community Networking:  Frank Odasz, Lone Eagle Consulting 
(http://lone-eagles.com), cofounder and board member AFCN; author and 
online course developer with emphasis on using the Internet to Build 
Learning Communities.

*  Community Organizing and Development:  Ed Schwartz, author of 
"NetActivism:  How Citizens Use the Internet" and founder/director of 
the Institute for the Study of Civic Values (http://www.iscv.org).

*  Technology Assistance to Nonprofits:  Jillaine Smith 
(http://www.jillainesmith.com), specialist in integrating technology 
support, strategic communications and organizational development; NTEN 
and Alliance for Nonprofit Management member.

*  Digital Media for Youth:  Nettrice Gaskins, adjunct faculty and 
computer arts academic specialist, UMass/Boston and Mass College of Art; 
board member CTCNet and NAMAC; see , 
, and .

For additional details about the 05-06 VISTA Project, including priority 
area information, see .

Interested organizations are reminded to plan for their project director 
to attend the Supervisors' Orientation and Training Session on Thursday, 
June 16, a preconference session at the CTCNet national conference in 
Cleveland, or on September 12 in Boston.

--
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -
Peter Miller The CTC VISTA Project
College of Public and Community Service
University of Massachusetts/Boston
   http://www.cpcs.umb.edu/vista
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[DDN] => C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S !! To All 2005 Doors to Diplomacy PARTICIPANTS

[Yvonne Marie Andres]

=> PLEASE pass this email along to others who might be interested in
global learning projects



Ohio, India Students Take Top Honors in International Diplomacy
Competition 
2005 Doors to Diplomacy Awards Announced


[San Diego, May 16, 2005] The Department of State is pleased to announce
the selection of two winning websites for its 2005 Doors to Diplomacy
Award. The awards recognize the websites that best teach about the
importance of international affairs and diplomacy. A total of 293
student teams from 39 countries, ranging in age from 15-18, participated
in the contest, which was co-sponsored by the Department of State and
Global SchoolNet.

The winning sites are:

All the World Is One: This site, built by a team of students from Ryan
International School in Gurgaon, Haryana, India, explores international
security by considering global realities and threats while celebrating
the mutual cooperation and celebration that support diplomacy. "We made
a conscious effort to involve members from different walks of life in
our project, " stated team coach Mrs. Madhuri Parti.

Vaccinations for Nations: This site was built by a team of students from
Notre Dame Academy in Toledo, Ohio, USA. Their site aims to educate
young people about the diseases that ravage innocent children, and also
provides ways to help. When asked the about impact of their work, team
coach Jacqueline Konwinski said, "Our project will have a profound
impact because we will be able to reach teenagers with our website, and
they will learn new things about childhood diseases and hopefully pass
this information on to others."

Each student member of the winning Doors to Diplomacy Award teams will
receive a $2,000 scholarship and a trip to Washington, DC this spring,
where they will receive a private tour of the State Department
facilities, meet with key officials, and participate in a special award
presentation ceremony. In addition, the winning coaches and schools will
each receive a $500 cash award. Global SchoolNet partners with the
Washington DC-based Institute of International Education to develop a
comprehensive schedule of events for the two winning teams come to
Washington, DC, in June 6-9, 2005.

Judging was performed by peers and educational professionals, with the
final selections made by a team of State Department judges from the
Bureaus of Public Affairs and Educational and Cultural Affairs. The
winning sites will be linked from the State Department's youth site at
www.future.state.gov  later this month. Global SchoolNet
(www.globalschoolnet.org) is a not-for-profit, Internet-based education
program. The Doors to Diplomacy Award was specially created for
CyberFair, a contest that encourages students and educators to join
together to build high-quality, educational Web sites on a variety of
topics. "Global SchoolNet was founded twenty years ago by classroom
teachers who believed that in a connected world -- students need a
global perspective," said Director Dr. Yvonne Marie Andres, and added
"Students must often use diplomacy to decide what content to include in
their web projects."

These Web site entries will be available on the web as learning tools to
millions of people around the globe.

Learn more about Doors to Diplomacy at
http://www.globalschoolhouse.org/gsh/DOORS/


==
==
WINNERS LIST:

Doors to Diplomacy PLATINUM Award Winners!

Project ID 3969, Vaccinations for Nations
Cat 5. International Security
Notre Dame Academy
Toledo, Ohio, USA


Project ID 3676, Vasudhaiv Kutumbkam:All the World is But One 
Cat 7. Health and Environment
Ryan International School 
Gurgaon, India
==
==
Doors to Diplomacy GOLD Awards  

Project ID 4055,  A Study of Security Council Diplomacy
Category: 6. History of Foreign Relations
La Jolla High School
La Jolla, California, United States


Project ID  3813, SAARC: Economic Perspective
Category: 3. Trade/International Economics
Aitchison College
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan 
==
==
Doors to Diplomacy SILVER Awards 

Project ID 3619, Genetically Modified Products
Category: 4. Science/Technology
Gymnazium #75
Omsk, Russian Federation


Project ID 3552, Diplomacy Without Boundaries
Category: 5. International Security
Northwest High School
Omaha, Nebraska, United States


Project ID 3568, Patent Wars on AIDS Drugs
Category: 7. Health and the Environment
Pinkerton Academy 
Derry, New Hampshire, United States


Project ID 3851, Foreign Relations: The Powerful Tool To Make it
Category: 6. History of Foreign Relations
Yemen Modern School 
Sana'a, Republic Of Yemen 

==
===

[DDN] FW: Listen to Bill Moyers' historic speech

[Michael Maranda]

I recommend subscribing to this list by going to the freepress.net website
(not .org)
 
I also recommend joining this organization.
 
 
 
-mm
-Original Message-
From: Robert W. McChesney [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] 
Sent: Monday, May 16, 2005 11:15 AM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Listen to Bill Moyers' historic speech



 
 free press


Dear : 

In an historic speech on Sunday, legendary television journalist Bill Moyers
blasted Kenneth Tomlinson of the Corporation of Public Broadcasting (CPB)
for launching a partisan witch hunt at PBS and called for a series of town
hall meetings across the country.

"I simply never imagined that any CPB chairman, Democrat or Republican,
would cross the line from resisting White House pressure to carrying it out
for the White House," Moyers told a packed room at the National Conference
for Media Reform. "And that's what Kenneth Tomlinson has been doing."

You can now watch or listen to Moyers' entire speech on the Free Press Web
site:

An audio recording can be downloaded at:
www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/moyers.mp3
 

Or you can watch the video at:
www.freepress.net/conference/audio05/freepress-closing40515.mov
 

Transcript online (as soon as it's available) at
www.freepress.net/conference
 .

In his first public statement since the controversy at PBS emerged, Moyers
endorsed a call by media reform groups for a series of town hall meetings
nationwide so that Americans can speak directly to station managers and
policymakers about what they want and expect from public broadcasting.

More than 50,000 Americans have already signed the Free Press petition
calling on Kenneth Tomlinson to resign and demanding that the public be put
back into PBS.

Please add your name to the petition by clicking
www.freepress.net/action/pbs
 .

"That great mob that is democracy is rarely heard, and that's not just the
fault of the current residents of the White House and Capitol," Moyers said.
"There is a great chasm between those of us in the business and those who
depend on TV and radio as their window to the world. We treat them too much
like audiences and not enough like citizens. They are invited to look
through the window, but too infrequently to participate and make public
broadcasting public."

Please support Bill Moyers, public broadcasting, quality journalism and
democracy by signing
 the petition and passing along this
message to everyone you know.

Onward, 

Robert W. McChesney
Free Press
www.freepress.net
  

P.S. The conference was a rousing success. Visit
www.freepress.net/conference
  for audio and video recordings of the
sessions, new episodes of "Media Minutes" and news reports. New content is
being added daily. 

  _  

You ([EMAIL PROTECTED]) are receiving this message as a subscriber of
the Free
 Press E-Activist list. To
discontinue receiving messages, please visit
www.freepress.net/action/unsub.php
 .

   
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[DDN] Taran's Update on Panama.

[Taran Rampersad]

My apologies for the cross posting.

I've spent about a month here in Panama City, Panama, and haven't had
much of a chance to do much as I have been tied very closely to the
internet. However, through my friend Willy Smith and others, I've gotten
a good feel for Panama and when I return next month I'll be better
prepared to check out the telecenters in the outlying regions, outside
of the city. I see a rental vehicle in my future. I do enjoy driving. :-)

But some things worth mentioning about the city itself - telecenters, or
cybercafes, are everywhere - just as are calling centers. A short walk
from where I am, I can buy computers without monitors for about $300 -
$500. Talking with the people there, I found out that they were indeed
using Biostar motherboards, and they do have Ubuntu Linux available.
This cost seems low, but when you realize that an income of over $500
US/month in Panama (the currency in Panama is the U.S. dollar), you
begin to see that while the costs are considerably lower than that of
the U.S., they are pretty well balanced to monthly income. I know this
to have been true in Trinidad and Tobago as well, and it's worth noting
because of one main thing: The parts for computers are available, and
there's a market that supports them.

Telecenters and calling centers are packed to capacity every time I walk
by. People step outside and smoke cigarettes, then go back inside to
continue what they are doing. Low calling rates throughout the Latin
American region are very cheap, and I have a card that I bought for $10
U.S. which allows me to call anywhere in the world for as low as 5 cents
per minute. Clearly, the hub of the Americas is also a hub for
telecommunications - at least within Panama City itself. I am quick to
point this out, because Panama City is a city - the pictures here
(http://www.knowprose.com/node/1379 ) demonstrate that.

Spanish, of course, is the dominant language. I have found a lot of
people who speak English as well, though - one little Chinese store
where I have been buying the important supplies of coffee, milk, sugar,
bread and chocolate cereal (!!) has suffered me learning more Spanish,
and after 2 weeks of progress, they completely reversed on me - they
started speaking English with me. When I asked why they were speaking
English they said that they were satisfied that I was trying to learn,
and they were trying to learn better English themselves. That should say
something to English speakers who visit Latin American countries: Try.
And while I can't communicate like Borges yet, I can at least have
conversations.

Hotels have internet access. The first hotel I stayed in, the first
night, only had a small telecenter (5 computers) available, but at $20 a
night that's a deal. Through Willy Smith, former editor of Linux Gazette
and a close friend, I found a hotel for $25 a night with decent wireless
access and better rooms. Which leads me to something else...

American expats, like in Costa Rica, abound in Panama. From apartments
available to publishing, Panama has a growing culture of expats who are
accepted in Panama and also use the geographic separation to publish
books that would not normally be published in the United States, either
because of marketing issues or legal issues. Banking in the region for
Americans poses problems because of the Patriot Act, as this adds
overhead to local banks that they just don't want to have to deal with -
so they don't. I went to one of the socials, and met the American
ambassador who appeared to be rather ambivalent about the whole thing.

The Panama Library recently made 185 titles available electronically -
http://www.knowprose.com/node/1401 - and it looks like there will be
more made available as well.

I'm rather excited about my return to Panama next month - there are
plenty of leads to follow on all sorts of interesting things related to
the Digital Divide.

-- 
Taran Rampersad
Presently in: Panama City, Panama
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

http://www.knowprose.com
http://www.easylum.net
http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran

"Criticize by creating." — Michelangelo

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