Re: [DDN] Katrina
Maurreen Skowran wrote: Hi. A Sept. 9 article (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3347494) that I just came across today said that the new Red Cross Web database for Katrina survivors would not be searchable by the Web crawler at Yahoo (http://news.yahoo.com/katrinahelp). Does anyone know any more about this? I've been biting back on this one, actually. They probably built whatever they built for security (perhaps influenced by the Department of Homeland Security),. That's OK. It has to be OK. It is what it is, and hopefully this makes it's way into the way things are done by organizations - whether they have corporate emblems, Red Crosses and Crescents, or flags. I'll not ding Microsoft here. What I will say is that when you hire someone to install windows (no pun intended), you don't hire someone with black paint (or let some corporation volunteer it). So this was a mistake in judgement on the part of the Red Cross as far as I'm concerned. But because the focus was probably on security, they hired an organization noted for it's black paint. When there's so much technology coming from passionate and spirited people that cannot communicate and share with the de facto center of the expectations of the world when it comes to disasters... who do we blame? The internet and computers seem to have changed everything but the Red Cross... but the Red Cross, as an institution, deals with other entities which require levels of bureaucracy that lend themselves to searching only a limited scope of answers. It's not the fault of the Red Cross, either. They have to make changes, and I think that they know that. How they do that, and how long it takes, well... New Orleans wasn't built in a day. It certainly won't be rebuilt in one either. So everything is under a lot of strain, and because of that there's got to be a little restraint in hammering on this one; there's plenty of nails to go around in the wake of Katrina... we can use them to nail a few bodies up, or we can build something better. This is a learning experience for the Red Cross if they are paying attention, and it may be one for Microsoft if they are paying attention as well. Personally, I hope some blinders come off. The folks in the DigitalDivide community alone have put forward some great ideas and suggestions, and implemented some of them. Honestly, I'd like to hear these voices not only have a say but an effect on the way things are done in the future. It seems to me that if EDC got some funding for something like this, we wouldn't be losing valuable people like Cedar Pruitt. But funding doesn't come unless one signs up for the same bureaucracy and control which allows the existing systems to be the way that they are at present. To paraphrase Uncle Albert, we can't solve our problems at the same level of thinking that created them. And as someone else said, if you find yourself in a hole the first thing you should do is stop digging. Also, a Wikipedia article has started on Katrina and technology, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina_and_technology. That's pretty cool. :-) -- Taran Rampersad Presently in: Georgetown, Guyana [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://www.knowprose.com http://www.easylum.net http://www.digitaldivide.net/profile/Taran Criticize by creating. — Michelangelo ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Katrina
It is a long story, but the article was incorrect. Since it was written I have communicated with the author. When I have more time, I will explain more fully. Will Reed www.techforall.org -Original Message- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Maurreen Skowran Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 4:35 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DDN] Katrina Hi. A Sept. 9 article (http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/front/3347494) that I just came across today said that the new Red Cross Web database for Katrina survivors would not be searchable by the Web crawler at Yahoo (http://news.yahoo.com/katrinahelp). Does anyone know any more about this? Also, a Wikipedia article has started on Katrina and technology, at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Katrina_and_technology. - Maurreen Skowran Raleigh, N.C. _ Join ACES now! ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
The giving crowd has a series of think tanks and ideational ways of thinking that are meetings that they believe are educational for instance they recently renewed ideas about time. The document they used for thinking about year round schools was a project done in 1994, when time was less pressed by NCLB. The document was Prisoners of Time a report that still stands in spite of the fact that anything that talks about the difficulties in reaching teachers and schools has just about been taken down or sent to the cleaners. I find it interesting that so few of us are involved in their knowledgenetwork. I can see a senario for year round schools, but practicioners know that we just about have year round schools for teachers as summer projects have become compulsory and they are on demand to attend. But a conversation with practioners would have yielded some nuggets of truth. Sabbaticals have just about disappeared, time is more squeezed. I can't think how it was possible for them to discuss this withour being aware of the assault on time from outside sources, the needed community interface, the special days, and the selling of candy and wrapping paper. More than that , depending on the school or school system in which one works.. summer can be a time to charge batteries. I had two uninterrupted summers in my teaching life. How do we get access to the think tanks, such as PopTech, and the Aspen Foundation gatherings or the meetings indeed that the Foundations create for themselves. Or is it lese majesty? Sincerely Bonnie Bracey [EMAIL PROTECTED] -Original Message- From: Michael Maranda [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: 'The Digital Divide Network discussion group' [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 11:36:33 -0500 Subject: RE: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN (Reply at bottom) I think there is a larger issue that we might collaborate on. Funders do not seem to value the role of intermediaries and of knowledge brokers. I find many of the same challenges of finding money for the Tutor/Mentor Connection as DDN is finding for the work it does. Dan, I agree. Funders do not understand the perspective of the knowledge workers, brokers and intermediaries, ... Talk about challenges .. I could write a book. Much energy is lost in re-inventing oneself to fit the needs of funders. Bonnie Bonnie Bracey bbracey@aol com --- Very true...! So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. I realize educating the philanthropic community can sounds a bit presumptuous, however, that's what we we're doing when we make the case individually as organizations through proposals or other solicitations. I'm suggesting we do so with some coordination for our field. -Michael Maranda ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Virtual conferences
Just an aside to this discussion, which is interesting and to the point of digital divide and digital elite issues: Many people considering digital divide issues are also concerned with energy and sustainability. Is airline travel, in which each individual is responsible for energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to a year's worth of driving, compatible with this? (clearly the amount of energy required is dependent on distances traveled, but you get my point) Best Dave On 9/17/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: John is absolutely on target. The original argument in the development community was bandwidth and the exclusion of those who couldn't participate- but even fewer can participate in a f-t-f except those who are funded to do ict4d. Taran is on target too. Actually, there are many virtual conferences that have been arranged using a variety of vehicles and in all sectors. Could it be that it is the digital immigrants who control what should be run by digital natives using a variety of excuses to avoid loss of control? thoughts? tom abeles Original Message: - From: John Hibbs [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Sat, 17 Sep 2005 07:51:01 -0700 To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DDN] Virtual conferences At 3:26 PM -0500 9/15/05, Taran Rampersad wrote: John Hibbs wrote: Why is an ICT conference not held virtually? Why do I have to travel to Washington to participate? or listen? or view? What century do we live in? 15 Sep 2005 15:26:11 -0500 Taran Rampersad [EMAIL PROTECTED] So that's where I left my drum! :-) Maybe it's just not easy enough for people to organize a conference virtually yet... or maybe they don't know how easy it is? Subscribers to the leading listserv in the distance education world have heard me beat this drum for almost a decade. The largest, most prestigious (?) distance ed conferences have very little virtual component; yet the leaders talk the talk about the wonders of their deliveries. My wee voice has been a lonely one. Perhaps the DDN should take up one more cudgel -- that it should beat up on those who hold large physical conferences advocating ICT; but are unwilling to offer same virtually? If we at the leading edge don't walk the walk -- who will? -- John W. Hibbs http://www.bfranklin.edu/johnhibbs ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. -- The Daily Glyph http://www.gomaya.com/glyph Usumacinta http://www.gomaya.com/dams Cell 917 312 9733 ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Virtual conferences
RE: Virtual Conferences,Keeping Track of Technology Accomplishments On Line, and funding for Homeless. In 1998-99 MIT but together youth from 36 countries with 16 different languages to talk about World Problems, they called it the Junior Summit. Please take a look at the success of this program, which is still producing a worldwide youth generated magazine at http://www.tcfn.org/jrsummit/RoadTest.htm. Nickole Evans participated in the Junior Summit in 1998 and realized that to be heard and remembered she needed to keep a log of her volunteer efforts and work. See www.y2kyouth.org for her activities, including Building a Chain of Hope for the Katrina Victims. Nickole Evans is the daughter of the founders and co-mangers of the RECA (Realizing Every Community Asset) Foundation that has been Bridging the Digital Divide since 1992 on a shoe string in southeast Washington State. What the Katrina Victims need now is a computer and Internet connection in their homes so they can keep in touch with others. What we all need to evaluate in our communities is how to get computers and Internet access to the poor of our community. There has been some funds coming into the communities under the Homeless catagory. These funds can be used to obtain computers and Internet access for the Katrina Victims and for Homeless shelters. Together we can make a difference. Ronda Evans RECA Foundation Kennewick, WA 99336 www.tcfn.org - Connecting people to technology www.4people.org - Connecting people to resources Calendars.tcfn.org - Connecting people to activities ___ No banners. No pop-ups. No kidding. Make My Way your home on the Web - http://www.myway.com ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
This group has so much to offer, and operates on budgets that ranking government and corporate officers would scoff at --- because it is so tiny. There are many examples of how bright ideas and a few dimes would do so much -- Taran's van in a box is as good as any. FEMA would spend more on the documentation than Taran would spend to have these in place in FEMA and other facilities across the country. So how do we acquire the resources that can ensure that the Tarand's and the Carvin's and the Shapiro's and the Abrhamsen's and the Pruitt's need in order to continue their extraordinary work? I say it is to hold, at least once a year, a 24 hour conference - held virtually of course - with at least as much effort to ensure an audience in the tens of thousands (at minimum) - either in real time or by way of community radio station broadcasts. You guys have the tools to do this. You have the brainpower to hold roundtable conversations that would be interesting to listen to over conventional radio - the NPR's of the world. Among the topics for consideration would be how to acquire funding so those with the skills could get funded. Another topic would be how to attract large audiences, not from the choir, but from the congregation we seek. At 2:16 AM -0500 9/19/05, Taran Rampersad wrote: Snipped out a few things and hopping in... Full agreement with Dan and Bonnie, and going from Michael's post... Michael Maranda wrote: So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. One problem. The people with $250 are people with $250 to spend, which means that people below that amount don't get that vote. The diversity counts, but still... I know people working in NGOs who have never put a foot in the neighborhoods that they are supposed to be helping. $250 is one week's pay, before taxes, of someone that makes $6.25 an hour. Bear with me, this goes both ways. On the flip side, I've met people like Peter Abrahamsen who is doing work on getting internet access to the people at the center of Lake Nicaragua. He left Nicaragua a few months ago so he could earn more money so he could continue his work in Nicaragua. Peter, last I heard, was on this list and I apologize if I make him uncomfortable but I'm trying to make a point here. He's doing this completely on his own, at least the last I spoke to him. I wish I had a solution. I don't. But I think part of the solution is communicating what I see, and listening/reading what other people see. The people with money controlling the flow of money is what we consider to be the natural order of things. In capitalism, it is - and I'm not going to ding capitalism because I practice it as well. But the point here is that the value of people who freely volunteer their time and their energy for nothing more than a plane ticket have no say, and continue to have no say, because funding agencies choose where money goes to. It's fair to say that philanthropists do this as well, and while we can say what good has been done by philanthropy, I also think it's fair to say that philanthropy has been inadequate to the task. While I'm talking about this... well, I lean more toward Peter's side of the fence, something which has made me both friends and enemies. But there should be a middle ground. There should be a way for people who put in sweat equity to have more of a voice. I'm at a hospital in Guyana now, finishing up one stage of some volunteer work. This hospital gets donations all the time, and is grateful for them. They don't look gift horses in the mouth. But I can't help but notice the new wing, which was donated, but was donated with the understanding that no local people or materials could be used. In a few years, that wing becomes a liability for the hospital in costs. Why? Because the people with the money, who selflessly give it, selfishly decide where it goes a lot of the time. I'm sorry, I don't mean to offend, but that's what I see. On the flip side, not every person or organization who walks in can be trusted with money even in small amounts. Consider that at this same hospital, there were quotations for $1 million Guyanese dollars ($50,000 US, but it caught your attention) to network the same hospital. On one Saturday, with a cost of lunch ($3,000 Guyanese; $15 US) for the 1 lady and 3 gentlemen involved, plus the cost of the cable, connectors and switches, the hospital got the start of a functioning network. Why? Because they finally unleased their IT department. By looking at
Re: [DDN] Virtual conferences
The ICT Literacy Portal www.ictliteracy.info has been hosting ICT literacy virtual conferences and meetings in collaboration with our partner Learning Times for the past two and a half years. Many of you and your organizations have participated. The response to this type of meeting/conference has been most positive, and the technology is neither complicated nor expensive to use. However, it takes time and patience for the digital immigrants to become comfortable in this virtual conferencing environment. Many participants from developing countries regularly participate using even dial up access and basic technology. Most recently, we held a virtual conference over 3 days from Costa Rica for the EDC Power Users of ICT (in parallel with the physical conference) with registrants participating from around the world - including teams of kids from many countries who had no problem with the virtual venue! It enabled many more researchers and educators and students to participate in the conference proceedings - without costs for travel, hotel, etc. Also, we were able to get some great guest speakers who would have been otherwise unable to participate due to time and distance constraints. Learning Times and Kempster Group advocate using the tools of ICT to communicate the message, and invite you and your groups to join our ICT Literacy community site and feel free to use the ICT Meeting room for your discussions www.ictliteracy.info. Feel free to contact us if you want more information, or even would like us to set up a live demo or special topic meeting with you to help others understand and become familiar with the virtual conferencing capability. Regards, Brenda Brenda Kempster President KEMPSTER GROUP phone: 760 674-8919 California fax: 760 674- 8937 [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.kempstergroup.com www.ictliteracy.info - Original Message - From: John Hibbs To: The Digital Divide Network discussiongroup Sent: Saturday, September 17, 2005 7:51 AM Subject: [DDN] Virtual conferences At 3:26 PM -0500 9/15/05, Taran Rampersad wrote: John Hibbs wrote: Why is an ICT conference not held virtually? Why do I have to travel to Washington to participate? or listen? or view? What century do we live in? 15 Sep 2005 15:26:11 -0500 Taran Rampersad [EMAIL PROTECTED] So that's where I left my drum! :-) Maybe it's just not easy enough for people to organize a conference virtually yet... or maybe they don't know how easy it is? Subscribers to the leading listserv in the distance education world have heard me beat this drum for almost a decade. The largest, most prestigious (?) distance ed conferences have very little virtual component; yet the leaders talk the talk about the wonders of their deliveries. My wee voice has been a lonely one. Perhaps the DDN should take up one more cudgel -- that it should beat up on those who hold large physical conferences advocating ICT; but are unwilling to offer same virtually? If we at the leading edge don't walk the walk -- who will? -- John W. Hibbs http://www.bfranklin.edu/johnhibbs ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
RE: [DDN] Volunteer From Your Computer
Michael, Email Charles Spooner from New Orleans at [EMAIL PROTECTED] He is a financial manager and has been involved in development efforts there. Yours, Bill Ward From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Michael Janofsky Sent: Sat 9/17/2005 3:59 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [DDN] Volunteer From Your Computer Hi All- I'm new here, but I am writing an article on the ways people can volunteer their time to help the victims of the recent hurricane in the Gulf Coast of the United States. What are some ways that people can do this? Thanks a ton! Michael ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. winmail.dat___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] WANTED: Participants for a public concall on disaster relief and ICT
WANTED: We are co-hosting, together with NTEN (the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network) a public conference call on ICT and humanitarian relief after Katrina. Following that, there will be another call for donors and funders, co-hosted with the Community Technology Foundation of California. We have a number of folks who are participating (some invited and confirmed from this community) but are spreading our net wide and far for good ideas, contacts, and projects of innovative use of ICT for communications, coordination, and direct relief efforts in the affected regions, please email me at your earliest convenience. I will compile responses as well as post them online. Best, Katrin Verclas Aspiration: Better Tools for a Better World Katrin Verclas wrote: John, Taran, et al -- While I understand your concerns, there is real value in face-to-face gatherings and conversations; which are often hard to capture remotely. There will be blogging and IRC chats throughout the conference, however. I also wanted to let you know that we here at Aspiration are hosting a web conference call on the same issue (ICT for humanitarian reliefs and tools in the field), together with NTEN, the Innovation Funders' Network, and Humaninet. I am looking for projects that might be interested in participating in that call to give a brief overview of what was done, what tools were deployed, and what is needed. There will be separate announcements for that (target date for the call is Sept 27). Please get in touch with me offline. I would especially appreciate projects involving private/corp partnerships, and those involving large relief organizations to the extent that they involve communications and technology, as I am pretty familiar with the plethora of grassroots ICT/tech projects that have been organized. I will compile the list (including what I learn from other sources such as DEv Gateway/truthlaidbare/Web 2.0/etc etc) and post here and on the DDN site. Thanks so much. Best, Katrin Aspiration: Better Tools for a Better World www.aspirationtech.org Rampersad wrote: John Hibbs wrote: At 12:34 PM -0400 9/15/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: While we're all talking about ICT disaster preparedness, I'd like to point out there is a NTEN-sponsored conference on ICT disaster preparedness coming up in October : Global ICT Humanitarian Relief http://www.nten.org/conferences-ict Why is an ICT conference not held virtually? Why do I have to travel to Washington to participate? or listen? or view? What century do we live in? So that's where I left my drum! :-) Maybe it's just not easy enough for people to organize a conference virtually yet... or maybe they don't know how easy it is. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Cedar Pruitt's departure from DDN
For any of you who would like to take up John's offer, I'm hosting the next Tutor/Mentor Leadership Conference in Chicago on November 18 and 19. Part of this conference will be a symposium built off of needs assessment survey's we've done in previous conference that tell us the most important needs of tutor/mentor programs are people and dollars. In the symposium we'll set up 2-3 hour meetings where people will share their own experience and where we'll try to do a SWAT analysis of strengths, weakness, threats and opportunities to the tutor/mentor movement. As we brainstorm opportunities, our goal is that individual programs, or groups of programs will act on those ideas to create solutions. I'll be linking the face to face part of the conference with an internet portal where people who attend the Chicago conference, and who cannot come to Chicago for the conference, can add their own ideas and network with others around specific topics. I'll also be linking to the WiAOC online conference which will connect the T/MC with people from around the world. I'm hoping to do a workshop in that conference that links participants in WiAOC with the participants of the T/MC. The ULR for the WiAOC is at: http://www.vancestevens.com/papers/evonline2002/convergence2005.htm I feel that a digital learning, communications and collaboration strategy should be integrated into any volunteer-based tutor/mentor program, thus many of those organizations with a technology mission may already linked into the DDN and its discussions of collaboration, elearning and capacity building. I provide many links on my web site to enable a crossover from T/MC site visitors to DDN and its network. Thus, if any of you would like to take a role in presenting information, or facilitating discussions in the T/MC portal, please volunteer. At the same time, if any of you are organizing an on-line forum such as John has suggested, during this same time frame, I encourage you to link to the T/MC Conference, and to other conferences on the same topic, such as WiAOC. You can find more information on the Tutor/Mentor Conference at http://www.tutormentorconference.bigstep.com Daniel F. Bassill Tutor/Mentor Connection http://www.tutormentorconnection.org as on 9/19/05 7:33 AM, John Hibbs at [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: This group has so much to offer, and operates on budgets that ranking government and corporate officers would scoff at --- because it is so tiny. There are many examples of how bright ideas and a few dimes would do so much -- Taran's van in a box is as good as any. FEMA would spend more on the documentation than Taran would spend to have these in place in FEMA and other facilities across the country. So how do we acquire the resources that can ensure that the Tarand's and the Carvin's and the Shapiro's and the Abrhamsen's and the Pruitt's need in order to continue their extraordinary work? I say it is to hold, at least once a year, a 24 hour conference - held virtually of course - with at least as much effort to ensure an audience in the tens of thousands (at minimum) - either in real time or by way of community radio station broadcasts. You guys have the tools to do this. You have the brainpower to hold roundtable conversations that would be interesting to listen to over conventional radio - the NPR's of the world. Among the topics for consideration would be how to acquire funding so those with the skills could get funded. Another topic would be how to attract large audiences, not from the choir, but from the congregation we seek. At 2:16 AM -0500 9/19/05, Taran Rampersad wrote: Snipped out a few things and hopping in... Full agreement with Dan and Bonnie, and going from Michael's post... Michael Maranda wrote: So, to shape our field, we need to educate ourselves and educate the philanthropic community as to what is best for the field qua field and movement, and seek a new form of philanthropy. The other day I attended the Chicago Asian Giving Circle event The Art of Asian Giving at the Art Institute of Chicago. While not concerned about getting into details here, one important aspect was a diverse donor base and each donor at the $250 annual level having a vote in how the fund would benefit the community. One problem. The people with $250 are people with $250 to spend, which means that people below that amount don't get that vote. The diversity counts, but still... I know people working in NGOs who have never put a foot in the neighborhoods that they are supposed to be helping. $250 is one week's pay, before taxes, of someone that makes $6.25 an hour. Bear with me, this goes both ways. On the flip side, I've met people like Peter Abrahamsen who is doing work on getting internet access to the people at the center of Lake Nicaragua. He left Nicaragua a few months ago so he could earn more money so he could continue his work in Nicaragua. Peter,
RE: [DDN] Z magazine: Community Internet Under Attack
This article has been posted on a number of listed. Should one be worried? maybe Should there be opposition to the moves by large Telco's and Telcom conglomerates? Yes But then, what should be the outcome? or what will be the outcome? We have some indications just by looking at the open source/open access movement and the conflict over digital downloading of music and video materials. We see some of the possibilities emerging in the US as municipalities build their own networks or request bids from the private sector to build and/or operate municipal systems. In fact there is, in the US, a network of those parties who follow and participate in activities surrounding community networks. Currently prices are decreasing, band width is increasing and technology is improving and these costs are coming down. The issue is more than just the costs and control- in fact, the cost for access may only be the tip of an iceberg and it is that iceberg which needs addressment. thoughts? tom abeles From the September issue of Z Magazine, a discussion of municipal community internet activities in the US . . . Community Internet Under Attack Body Deleted By Mitchell Szczepanczyk September 2005, Z Magazine http://zmagsite.zmag.org/Images/szczepanszyk0905.html in the body of the message. mail2web - Check your email from the web at http://mail2web.com/ . ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Digital divide deepens in developing world
*Digital divide deepens in developing worldhttp://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNewsitemid=2361language=1 * World leaders warn that the 'digital divide' between rich and poor is widening both within developing countries and between them and the industrialised world. Link to full news story in Inter Press Service News Agencyhttp://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=30263 ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] INDIA responses: Participants for a public concall on disaster relief and ICT
Dear Katrin, It is really nice to hear about your service organzition. However, I want learn more, could please send me your organzition information via email? I am running a NGO in India, do you think I can be help or being helped? Lookforward to hear from you. Yours- Sadeque Gujarat, India Katrin Verclas [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: WANTED: We are co-hosting, together with NTEN (the Nonprofit Technology Enterprise Network) a public conference call on ICT and humanitarian relief after Katrina. Following that, there will be another call for donors and funders, co-hosted with the Community Technology Foundation of California. We have a number of folks who are participating (some invited and confirmed from this community) but are spreading our net wide and far for good ideas, contacts, and projects of innovative use of ICT for communications, coordination, and direct relief efforts in the affected regions, please email me at your earliest convenience. I will compile responses as well as post them online. Best, Katrin Verclas Aspiration: Better Tools for a Better World Katrin Verclas wrote: John, Taran, et al -- While I understand your concerns, there is real value in face-to-face gatherings and conversations; which are often hard to capture remotely. There will be blogging and IRC chats throughout the conference, however. I also wanted to let you know that we here at Aspiration are hosting a web conference call on the same issue (ICT for humanitarian reliefs and tools in the field), together with NTEN, the Innovation Funders' Network, and Humaninet. I am looking for projects that might be interested in participating in that call to give a brief overview of what was done, what tools were deployed, and what is needed. There will be separate announcements for that (target date for the call is Sept 27). Please get in touch with me offline. I would especially appreciate projects involving private/corp partnerships, and those involving large relief organizations to the extent that they involve communications and technology, as I am pretty familiar with the plethora of grassroots ICT/tech projects that have been organized. I will compile the list (including what I learn from other sources such as DEv Gateway/truthlaidbare/Web 2.0/etc etc) and post here and on the DDN site. Thanks so much. Best, Katrin Aspiration: Better Tools for a Better World www.aspirationtech.org Rampersad wrote: John Hibbs wrote: At 12:34 PM -0400 9/15/05, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote: While we're all talking about ICT disaster preparedness, I'd like to point out there is a NTEN-sponsored conference on ICT disaster preparedness coming up in October : Global ICT Humanitarian Relief http://www.nten.org/conferences-ict Why is an ICT conference not held virtually? Why do I have to travel to Washington to participate? or listen? or view? What century do we live in? So that's where I left my drum! :-) Maybe it's just not easy enough for people to organize a conference virtually yet... or maybe they don't know how easy it is. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. Mr. Sadeque Hussain Conflict Relief And Peace Organization 268, Jawahar Nagar Colony Naroda Patia Post Krishna Nagar AHMEDABAD Gujarat , INDIA http://www.thbp.dk/relief/ Enables Others To Help Themselves. - Yahoo! for Good Click here to donate to the Hurricane Katrina relief effort. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] [Fwd: [CAnet - news] Google Plans National Optical Fiber Network]
Original Message Subject:[CAnet - news] Google Plans National Optical Fiber Network Date: Mon, 19 Sep 2005 14:06:41 -0400 From: Bill St.Arnaud [EMAIL PROTECTED] Reply-To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] For more information on this item please visit the CANARIE CA*net 4 Optical Internet program web site at http://www.canarie.ca/canet4/library/list.html --- [Google I think represents the vanguard of a number of large enterprises who are following the lead of the university RE networks and build out their own DWDM network for remote peering and large data transfers-- BSA] http://www.ipdemocracy.com/archives/2005/09/19/index.php#a000475 Google Plans National Optical Fiber Network Google is reviewing bids from tech vendors to build a nationwide optical DWDM network, which means that the cash-flush web giant could soon have a communications network that few can rival. The vendors who have seen Google's fiber network RFP say that the nature of the network can really only mean that Google ultimately hopes to push massive amounts of voice, video and data close to the end user. The perennial problem is that close is not enough - to reach the end user, Google has to have access to the last mile. Full details can be found at above web site - To SUBSCRIBE: send a blank e-mail message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] To UNSUBSCRIBE: send a blank email message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] - These news items and comments are mine alone and do not necessarily reflect those of the CANARIE board or management. --- [EMAIL PROTECTED] www.canarie.ca/~bstarn skype: pocketpro SkypeIn: +1 614 441-9603 ___ news mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.canarie.ca/mailman/listinfo/news ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
[DDN] Free N-TEN Online Seminar 9/27 1pm EDT: Hurricane Katrina - Innovative Information and Communication Responses
Hurricane Katrina: Innovative Information and Communication Responses The devastation caused by Hurricane Katrina has brought an outpouring of support from concerned individuals and organizations across the country and around the world. In addition to efforts to supply food, water, and security, technology volunteers and organizations have worked to re-establish communications, to connect victims and their loved ones, and to match the displaced with volunteered housing. Some efforts were led by organizations well known for disaster relief, while other projects were ad hoc efforts organized by volunteers who saw a need and moved quickly to fill it. We have seen a tremendous amount of hard work and innovation in the last several weeks. This seminar will feature presentations by those behind some of the most interesting and effective efforts. Speakers Include: Confirmed: Social Source Foundation/CivicSpace/Salesforce -- KatrinaPeopleFinder Taran Rampersad, ARC (Alert Retrieval Cache) -- SMS Network Paul Smith, Center for Neighborhood Technology -- wireless mesh networks Invited: Will Reed, Tech4ALL, 40-computer Community Technology Center in the Houston Astrodome IRC -- Overall standards and International response in the wake of disaster Intel -- Wireless networking and Internet connectivity Inveneo -- Ruggedized, multiple power source computing This free 90 minute N-TEN webinar, co-hosted by HumaniNet, Aspiration, and Innovation Funders Network, and sponsored by ReadyTalk, will take place on Tuesday, September 27th at 10am PDT / 1pm EDT. To register for the Webinar, please visit: http://www.nten.org/webinars What is a webinar? A webinar is an online seminar hosted by N-TEN, on topics relating to nonprofit technology. Participants log-in to watch the presentation on their personal computers and listen by dialing in by phone. This webinar is being offered free of charge, but you must pre-register. This webinar will be followed by an in-person conference on October 17th in Washington, DC, Global ICT and Humanitarian Relief, co-hosted by N-TEN and HumaniNet. For more information, please visit: http://www.nten.org/conferences-ict ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
Re: [DDN] Digital divide deepens in developing world
Some time ago I suggested that the much discussed bridging of the divide was actually more like its replication on more local levels. Others have pointed out that the digital divide emerges along lines of older socioeconomic, cultural and linguistic divides. So this news doesn't come as much of a revelation. As the technology rapidly evolves for many on one side of the divide, we now hear the metaphors of deepening or widening divide. Two thoughts. First is that intermediate divides (for lack of a better term) have emerged, for instance where some older computers and operating systems are used (in this case such systems sometimes cannot handle unicode and some kinds of graphics). This may be an ongoing issue as older equipment and software gets donated from those able to adopt the newest technologies. The suggestion I see emerging from the above trends is that the divide is becoming a lot more like digital divides (plural; fragmentation or even archipelago are possible metaphors). Not that this should be news to most on this list, but reference to the digital divide widening misses the complexity. The second thought is that, given the rapid advances in technology and relative stagnation for the poorest, it is worth keeping in mind how the most advanced technologies may actually be among the most logical ones for the least well off, however counterintuitive that may seem. For instance: uses of audio such as speech-to-text text-to-speech; machine translation; GIS; and mobile technology... The poorest are of course not able to accesss, let alone afford these, and for certain technologies direct use may not be feasible for various reasons, so some adaptations are necessary (in the case of GIS, for example, methodologies are being developed and applied to use it with poor rural communities). Don Osborn Bisharat.net Quoting Karl vonWerther [EMAIL PROTECTED]: *Digital divide deepens in developing worldhttp://www.scidev.net/News/index.cfm?fuseaction=readNewsitemid=2361language=1 * World leaders warn that the 'digital divide' between rich and poor is widening both within developing countries and between them and the industrialised world. Link to full news story in Inter Press Service News Agencyhttp://www.ipsnews.net/print.asp?idnews=30263 ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. ___ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
