Re: [GKD] Article on How to Bridge the Digital Divide
Dear GKD Members, Ekoue's note, as with certain others, offers an important element of realism. I wonder, if no-one has raised this before, whether equipment supply companies can be encouraged, as part of a life-cycle management policy (see e.g., German industrial manufacture, where producers increasingly have to account (and pay) for good environmental practice not just in production and use, but also in disposal). A 'next generation use' fund could be an interesting proposition, provided iof course that the ultimate disposal, in the recipient countries concerned (or shipped back to the West?), could also be accountably managed. An initiative for UNIDO? Some green consumer lobbying? Would Dell, HP, IBM etc recognise this as a positive marketing strategy amongst wealthy and at least slightly guilt-ridden Western consumers? James Muir ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.globalknowledge.org
Re: [GKD] Article on How to Bridge the Digital Divide
Tom Poe wrote: Large Donor agencies - - - Who would they be? How to get their attention? Here's a more direct, simplified [too simplified] approach that could be used to demonstrate that outfitting an entire nation with community kiosks is the most efficient means to bring money to the developing nations, rather than drain it away from developing nations: http://www.worldccr.org/kiosks.htm In response to Tom's response, The Grameen Bank already runs a commercial operation called the village pay phone project, which siphons off money whilst providing important communication infrastructure. Perhaps this might give pause for thought , when you invoke the business = bad, charity = good dichotomy. Don't forget that development in itself has its roots as a power political business. Secondly, to advocate a one solution fits all strategy underestimates the intelligence of those at the recieving end. The Grameen Bank is in fact a business started by phlianthropically minded entrepreneurs IN BANGLADESH. But even their specific solutions are not a replacement for people within the countries to be helped being engaged in the creative process of finding their own communication products and solutions. Hence the idea, in line with Grameen Bank's Philosophy, of involving local entrepreneurial talent. Who are big donor agencies? Government agencies such as UKs DFID, canada's CIDA and Sweden's SIDA all have a healthy interest in ICTs in development. Unfortunately they often fall for one size fits all approaches too, but admittedly the Grammen Bank solution is much more realistic cost wise. To get their attention requires good old advocacy, just like the process that the Grameen Bank went through in order to catch your attention, and that has made it a model of best practise for such State donors. Finally, private business might be seen as donors in such a project, since they would gain market research information. Don't forget that Sub Saharan Africa is partly under developed not because of Multinational Companies being over-represented there, but due to a lack of foreign interest in investing in anything but natural resource extraction: These countries are crying out for investment in manufacturing. Simplistic black and white judgements do not help in this area, if the good guys and bad guys were easy to identify then development would not be the largest social crisis of our age. Daniel Taghioff ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.globalknowledge.org
[GKD] Managing Knowledge Economies Workshop
I am pleased to announce a one day workshop on Managing Knowledge Economies sponsored by the Global Knowledge Economics Council. This workshop will be held in major capital cities throughout the world including South Africa, China, India, and Brazil. Fees will vary based on GNP of each country and the number of participants ($50 USD - $250 USD). Topics: -Knowledge Management Econometrics -Compressing the Knowledge Diffusion Curve -Measuring the effectiveness of KM strategies methods and tools -Knowledge Economics -eGovernment's role in the Knowledge Economy -Improving National Innovation and Knowledge Systems -ICT and Knowledge Management Education for Teachers and Children -Closing the Digital Divide with using Knowledge Management If you are interested in hosting or attending a session, please send a note to Joseph Scarpignato at [EMAIL PROTECTED]. Also, please check www.gkec.org to find out more about the council and www.gksociety.org to find out more about the newly formed Global Knowledge Society. Edward Swanstrom Secretary-General Global Knowledge Economics Council (GKEC) http://www.gkec.org 520-731-3130 ***GKD is an initiative of the Global Knowledge Partnership*** To post a message, send it to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED]. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: http://www.globalknowledge.org
