[GKD] Reminder: Cyber-Security in Dev. Environments

[Barbara Fillip]

Dear GKD Members,

This is a reminder that the DOT-COM / InterAction Speaker Series event
on "Cyber-Security Issues in Developing Country Environments" will occur
tomorrow afternoon. Address and contact details are below:

Event:  DOT-COM / InterAction Speaker Series
Topic:  Cyber-Security Issues in Developing Country Environments
Date:  September 16, 2004 (Thursday)
Time: 4:00-5:30 pm
Location: Academy for Educational Development (AED), 1825 Connecticut
Avenue, Washington, D.C., NW

RSVP: [EMAIL PROTECTED] 

For more information:
http://www.dot-com-alliance.org/events/cybersecurity.htm 


For those who missed it the first time, here is a brief summary of the
themes to be discussed at this event:

On the edges of the expanding wave of Internet connectivity, digital
technologies offer tremendous opportunities for stimulating economic
growth and human development. The technologies, however, often extend
beyond the reach of existing regulatory regimes and current
technological safeguards, making international development environments
increasingly the scenes of cyber-crime.

Creation of viruses, electronic snooping, server hijacking to relay
pornography, and fraud are only some of the current challenges affecting
those working to extend the benefits of new media. Cyber-security
measures taken in response to these trends, however, may be misused to
curtail privacy, freedom of expression or other democratic values.

Development agencies and governments increasingly find themselves at the
intersection of these trends. How may they respond to the challenges in
ways that help the benefits of new media grow, without compromising
individual freedoms?  As governments, businesses, and private citizens
struggle to balance security concerns with the unparalleled
opportunities that digital technologies offer, it is vitally important
to be actively engaged in the policy debates - both to learn what works
and to help define the balance between security and privacy.

Speakers
-
* Cyber-security and developing countries - an overview by  Jim X.
Dempsey, Executive Director, Center for Democracy and Technology (CDT)

* Cyber-security and economic growth - private sector perspective by
Jody Westby, President, the Work-it Group

* Cyber-security and the need for legal infrastructures by Richard
Downing, Senior Counsel, Computer Crime and Intellectual property
section, U.S. Department of Justice.

* The context for cyber-security and international development by
Jonathan Metzger, ANE Internet Development Adviser, U.S. Agency for
International Development (USAID)

A Q&A session and a reception will follow the presentations.





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[GKD] CFP: ICTs and Human Rights

[Frank Elbers]

Dear GKD Members,

HREA and EUMAP are calling for papers on information technologies and
human rights to be featured on the  website in order to
encourage debate on this issue. Papers in English should be between
1,500-2,000 words. Accepted authors will receive an honorarium of EUR
200. Papers should be submitted by 15 October 2004. Please send your
papers to <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. Further details about the call for
papers can be found below.

We look forward to your contributions!

Sincerely,

Frank Elbers
Deputy Director, HREA
http://www.hrea.org




INFORMATION FOR HUMAN RIGHTS: NEW EUMAP / HREA CALL FOR PAPERS!

Eumap.org - in collaboration with Human Rights Education Associates
(HREA) - is seeking articles and opinion pieces on the most topical and
important issues regarding information and human rights. We invite
papers on the general topic of information for human rights, and on
specific uses of information to defend and promote human rights.
Comparative analyses and examples of specific good practices are
particularly welcome. The papers could address one of the following
suggested topics:

*   Contemporary information resources. Electronic resources, in
particular the Internet, have become perhaps the most important resource
for information and documentation about human rights. What are the most
useful or novel resources on human rights currently available? What are
the advantages or disadvantages of electronic information sources, over
more "traditional" sources of information? How can we assess the quality
of data available on the Internet?

*   Education, learning and training. No advocacy without education!
Many organisations and institutions promoting human rights use the power
of new media, particularly the Internet, to educate people about civil
and human rights issues and the rights of vulnerable groups. What
learning portals on human rights currently exist? Are there examples of
best practices in using CD-ROMs; e-learning courses; and other new IT
applications to train human rights defenders; policy makers; law
enforcement officials; lawyers; or citizens?

*   Management of information. What do we do with this flood of
information for and about human rights? Is there now simply too much
(poor quality) information to deal with effectively? What are the
benefits and drawbacks of such an unlimited flow of information? How
best to manage electronic information to advance human rights goals?
Examples of best practices on managing and using information for human
rights would be particularly welcome here.

*   Human rights and the information society. Various UN and civil
society agencies met in Geneva last year at the first World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS). Although human rights were on the
agenda, many activists felt that this important topic received only
marginal attention. How important, then, are human rights within in the
emerging information society? How can human rights issues be
prioritised? Do European institutions and citizens have a specific role
to play here?

Quality papers will be featured on the EUMAP's website 
with the intention of framing and encouraging debate on this issue.
Papers in English should be between 1,500-2,000 words. Accepted authors
will receive an honorarium of EUR 200. Papers should be submitted by
15th October 2004. Please send your papers to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Contact person: Alphia Abdikeeva.

Eumap.org editorial policy and an archive of featured articles are
available online at: http://www.eumap.org/articles


_
Eumap.org is an online centre for comprehensive resources, news, and
analyses, committed to delivering information on, and generating debate
about, human rights and the rule of law in Europe. EUMAP.ORG is the
website of the Open Society Institute's EU Monitoring and Advocacy
Program (EUMAP). To find out more about the Program please visit:
. 

EUMAP has published reports on:

- Minority Protection (in the five largest EU members and ten candidate
countries)
- Corruption and Anti Corruption Policy
- Judicial Independence and Capacity
- Equal Opportunities for Men and Women (in cooperation with OSI's
Network Women's Program/NWP)

EUMAP reports are available here: .

Currently EUMAP has started the following new monitoring projects:

- Access to Education and Employment for People with Intellectual
Disabilities (in cooperation with OSI's Mental Disability Advocacy
Program/MDAP)
- Broadcasting Regulation and Media Independence (in cooperation with
OSI's Network Media Program/NMP)
- Minority Protection (a series of four policy papers on the situation
of Muslims in the UK: on Education, Equality and Discrimination, Access
to Justice, and Employment)

To contact EUMAP or receive further information on our activities,
please send us an email at [EMAIL PROTECTED]
_



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[GKD] Solar-Power Generating Fabric

[Virginia . Cram-Martos]

Going through my holiday e-mail backlogs, ran across this interesting
tidbit which is of potential interest to those working in areas where
access to the power grid is a problem. I suspect there is a price issue
here, but as this company ramps up production, prices are bound to
eventually go down.

Best regards,

Virginia



>From NewsScan Daily, 9 July 2004 ("Above The Fold")

PITCH YOUR TENT AND POWER UP

Iowa Thin Film Technologies has come up with a lightweight, durable
fabric that incorporates a tissue-paper thin layer of specialized solar
film, enabling it to double as a solar power generator. The fabric,
which is suitable for making Army tents, can be used to run lighting or
ventilation systems, field communications, GPS systems or laptop
computers.

Iowa Thin Film completed three tent prototypes for the Army last month
and says the orders are already pouring in. But beyond the military
applications, experts say the introduction of such lightweight, portable
fabric to developing countries could have a far-reaching impact.
"Application of these (solar) technologies in the long term is clearly
more cost-effective than bringing power lines dozens and dozens of
kilometers," says American Energy Society spokesman Brad Collins.

(AP/USA Today 9 Jul 2004)



**


Copyright 2004. NewsScan Daily (R) is a publication of NewsScan Inc.



***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization***
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To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to:
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