October 2005 - KICTANet

Fw: [APC Forum] Fw: Panos London launches new information society website
by alice＠apc.org 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

(apologies if you receive this more than once) > > New 'i-Witness' website boosts journalists' ability to report on the > information society > > Journalists looking for free, up-to-date resources, news and debate on > the information society can get all this and more on a new website, > i-Witness: www.panos.org.uk/iwitness. > > The i-Witness website is being launched ahead of the final stage of the > World Summit on the Information Society (Tunisia, 16-18 November 2005), > and aims to help journalists worldwide get to grips with many > controversial but often under-reported information society topics - from > bridging the digital divide to controlling the internet. > > Journalists will be able to access a series of topic briefing papers, an > online experts database and researched links to essential background > information. Journalists can also contribute their own views and > experiences of reporting on this often highly technical and difficult > subject via an online discussion forum. > > Developed by leading international media NGO, Panos London, i-Witness is > one of several activities to help journalists, particularly those in > developing countries, report on a subject that is having a growing > economic and cultural impact, but one that many people in developing > countries are in danger of being left out of completely. > > According to Panos London's Murali Shanmugavelan, journalists have a > crucial role to play in not only reporting on the information society > but also in actually shaping it. > > "If the information society is all about exchange and flow of > information," says Shanmugavelan, "then the media is best placed to > invoke this debate given that this is what their business is about. The > media needs to question key aspects of the information society such as > who controls information, who has rights to information and how profit > influences the agenda." > > Panos London will be taking a team of developing-country journalists to > the Summit, where they will file stories for their own national > newspapers, and give more personal insights on the i-Witness blog. > > www.panos.org.uk/iwitness | journalists shaping the information society > > <http://www.panos.org.uk/> > > > > ======================================= > APC Forum is a meeting place for the APC community - people and > institutions who are or have been involved in collaboration with > APC, and share the APC vision - a world in which all people have easy, > equal and affordable access to the creative potential of information and > communication technologies (ICTs) to improve their lives and create more > democratic and egalitarian societies. > > _______________________________________________ > apc.forum mailing list > apc.forum(a)lists.apc.org > http://lists.apc.org/mailman/listinfo/apc.forum >

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Autoreply: [Kictanet] GSM Public Forum: Event Updates...
by fetta＠idrc.or.ke 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

With effect from Wednesday 19th October 2005, I would have completed my time with the IDRC as the Kenya ICT Policy Project has come to an end. I am therefore moving on after 6 years with IDRC's ACACIA Initiative. If your inquiry is about IDRC Nairobi please get in touch with the IDRC at www.idrc.ca/earo. I can be contacted through email on: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk On telephone on: +254-20-7121506: Cell +254-733-621851: Fax +254-20-7121506 Postal Address: c/o P.O. Box 41081, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Florence Etta Co-Ordinator, Kenya ICT Policy Project International Development Research Centre Liaison House, State House Avenue P.O. Box 62084, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2713160-1: Cell +254-733-621851 Fax: +254-20-2711063 E-mail: fetta(a)idrc.or.ke Web:http// www.idrc.ca/acacia

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GSM Public Forum: Event Updates...
by Alex Gakuru 24 Oct '05

24 Oct '05

You too, you're most welcome. Regards, Alex

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KICTANet CS Caucus Activities
by Wainaina Mungai 23 Oct '05

23 Oct '05

Dear all, The KICTANet Civil Society Caucus is planning to hold two events in November. 1. One-day strategising/brainstorming meeting. This meeting will focus on needs for civil society to empower the sector to engage in network activities & finalise planning for ICT & civil society workshop. Date: Friday, 11th November 2005 2. ICT & Civil society training workshop: To build capacity of members on the implementation of the National ICT Policy and the WSIS agenda. Date: Friday, 26th November 2005 ***Taking into account other activities by the wider KICTANet forum and by member/partner organisations, the activities could not be held in October as expected. Your input will be appreciated. UPDATE Among others, The NGO Council will soon be joining the KICTANet civil society caucus. The caucus is open to all civil society organisations interested in ICT policy and action. Regards, Wainaina ==== Technical and Product Development Manager Oneworld International 4th Floor, Kimathi House Nairobi. [SMS4theDEAF] : If you have hearing impairment or are deaf, type the words DEAF ON and send to the number 560 on your Safaricom line. You will then receive free News alerts via SMS. To stop receiving the news, please send DEAF OFF.

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Autoreply: [Kictanet] Fw: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Holy See on I.T.
by fetta＠idrc.or.ke 21 Oct '05

21 Oct '05

With effect from Wednesday 19th October 2005, I would have completed my time with the IDRC as the Kenya ICT Policy Project has come to an end. I am therefore moving on after 6 years with IDRC's ACACIA Initiative. If your inquiry is about IDRC Nairobi please get in touch with the IDRC at www.idrc.ca/earo. I can be contacted through email on: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk On telephone on: +254-20-7121506: Cell +254-733-621851: Fax +254-20-7121506 Postal Address: c/o P.O. Box 41081, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Florence Etta Co-Ordinator, Kenya ICT Policy Project International Development Research Centre Liaison House, State House Avenue P.O. Box 62084, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2713160-1: Cell +254-733-621851 Fax: +254-20-2711063 E-mail: fetta(a)idrc.or.ke Web:http// www.idrc.ca/acacia

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Fw: [WSIS CS-Plenary] Holy See on I.T.
by alice＠apc.org 21 Oct '05

21 Oct '05

ttp://theschoolofmary.blogspot.com/2005/10/holy-see-on-it.html Holy See on I.T. Holy See's Address on Information Technologies "The Right to Communicate Is the Right of All" NEW YORK, OCT. 18, 2005 (Zenit.org).- Here is the text of an address delivered by Archbishop Celestino Migliore, the Holy See's permanent observer to the United Nations, last Thursday before the U.N. General Assembly commission on "Questions Relating to information." Mr. Chairman, The Holy See recognizes the right to information and its importance in the life of all democratic societies and institutions. The exercise of the freedom of communication should not depend upon wealth, education or political power. The right to communicate is the right of all. Freedom of expression and the right to information increase and develop in societies when the fundamental ethics of communication are not compromised, such as the pre-eminence of truth and the good of the individual, the respect for human dignity, and the promotion of the common good. Furthermore, new technologies have an important role to play in the advancement of the poor. As with health and education, access to the wealth represented by communications would certainly benefit the poor, as recipients of information to be sure, but also as actors, able to promote their own point of view before the world's decision makers. Given the ever increasing ease of access to information of every possible kind, the Holy See also stresses the need to protect the most vulnerable, such as children and young people, especially in the light of the increase of content featuring violence, intolerance and pornography. Perhaps the most essential question raised by technological progress is whether, as a result of it, people will grow in dignity, responsibility and openness to others. In this context, the Holy See has set up a unique continentwide initiative called the Digital Network of the Church in Latin America ("Red Informática de Iglesia en America Latina" -- RIIAL) which promotes the adoption of digital technologies and programs in media education, especially in poor areas. The success of this project has drawn the attention of the Observatory for Cultural and Audiovisual Communication in the Mediterranean and in the World (OCCAM) and other international organizations. The Holy See also supports the continued promotion of the traditional role of libraries and radios in formation. It is to be hoped that the Second Phase of the U.N. World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), to be held in Tunis shortly, will lead to further concrete efforts to build a more inclusive digital society which will reduce the widespread "info-poverty." It would be well if a new dynamic were created which goes beyond the political and commercial logic usually at play in these fields. My delegation believes that the Information Society should be one endowed with the ability, capacity and skills to generate and capture new knowledge and to access, absorb and use effectively information, data and knowledge with the support of information and communication technology. Already in society there are many "agents of meaning" or "knowledge workers," such as the family, schools, the state, opinion makers and leaders, not to mention religious institutions. Knowledge is essential in establishing presence in the international marketplace, and is key to participating in the global economy of which the Internet is an increasingly important vehicle. Moreover, knowledge should be recognized in its role in the development of information and communication technology. At the same time, there is a fundamental need to develop an ability to discern information received, given the enormous sea of information available. This process can flourish only where there is a recognized hierarchy of values. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. -- Robert Guerra <rguerra(a)privaterra.org> Director, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility (CPSR) WSIS Civil Society Bureau, Focal Point for North America & Europe Tel +1 416 893 0377 Fax +1 416 893 0374 _______________________________________________ Plenary mailing list Plenary(a)wsis-cs.org http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/plenary

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Autoreply: RE: [Kictanet] Logistics update...
by fetta＠idrc.or.ke 19 Oct '05

19 Oct '05

With effect from Wednesday 19th October 2005, I would have completed my time with the IDRC as the Kenya ICT Policy Project has come to an end. I am therefore moving on after 6 years with IDRC's ACACIA Initiative. If your inquiry is about IDRC Nairobi please get in touch with the IDRC at www.idrc.ca/earo. I can be contacted through email on: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk On telephone on: +254-20-7121506: Cell +254-733-621851: Fax +254-20-7121506 Postal Address: c/o P.O. Box 41081, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Florence Etta Co-Ordinator, Kenya ICT Policy Project International Development Research Centre Liaison House, State House Avenue P.O. Box 62084, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2713160-1: Cell +254-733-621851 Fax: +254-20-2711063 E-mail: fetta(a)idrc.or.ke Web:http// www.idrc.ca/acacia

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Logistics update...
by Alex Gakuru 19 Oct '05

19 Oct '05

(see attached copy) GSM Consumer Protection Public Meeting Program (25-10-2005) Time Activity Person 8:30 am Breakfast Everyone 9:00 - 9.05 Welcome Remarks Dorcas Muthoni 9.05 - 9.15 Objectives of the Forum Alex Gakuru 9:15 - 9.20 Announce Forum Format and Introduction of Panellists Muriuki Mureithi 9:20 -10.00 Panellist's Presentations (5 minutes each) Panellists 10.00-10.30 Question and Answer Session Everyone 10:30-11.00 Issues Prioritisation Moderator/Hosts 11.00-11.30 Issues Discussion Public/Audience 11:30-12.00 Panellist's Reactions (5 minutes each) Panellists 12.00-12.10 Refreshments 12:10-12.30 pm General Conclusions/Recommendations and clarifications Rapporteurs 12:30 pm Official Launch of the KICTANet Consumer Campaign Minister Information and Communications 12.45 pm Vote of Thanks Communication Commission of Kenya (CCK) 1.00 pm Press Briefing Professor Meoli Kharshoda and Muruiki Mureithi Panellists 1.. Hon. Raphael Tuju, Minister, Ministry of Information and Communications 2.. Eng. James Rege, PS, Ministry of Information and Communications 3.. Mr. Gerhard May, CEO, Celtel (Kenya) Limited 4.. Mr. Michael Joseph, CEO, Safaricom Limited 5.. Mr. Sammy Kirui, CEO, Telkom Kenya Limited Observers: 6.. Eng. John Waweru, Director General, Communications Commission of Kenya 7.. Dr. Kulubi, Secretary, National Communications Secretariat Special Guests 8.. Maj. Gen. Hussein Ali, Commissioner, Kenya Police Service 9.. Mr. Haron Ndubi, CEO, Kituo Cha Sheria 10.. Ms Jennifer Miano, Executive Director, Kenya Human Rights Commission 11.. Hon. Secretary, The Secretary, Law Society of Kenya 12.. Keriako Tobiko, Director of Public Prosecutor, State Law Office 13.. Mr. Carstens, Chief Technical Officer-Governance, Justice, Law, and Order Sector Reform Program (GJLOS) 14.. The Executive Director, Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA) 15.. Ms Muthoni Wanyeki, The Executive Director, FEMNET Rappoteuers 1.. Professor Meoli Kharshoda 2.. Tim Waema Regards, Alex

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Autoreply: [Kictanet] WENT Africa 2005: Announcement and call for applications
by fetta＠idrc.or.ke 19 Oct '05

19 Oct '05

With effect from Wednesday 19th October 2005, I would have completed my time with the IDRC as the Kenya ICT Policy Project has come to an end. I am therefore moving on after 6 years with IDRC's ACACIA Initiative. If your inquiry is about IDRC Nairobi please get in touch with the IDRC at www.idrc.ca/earo. I can be contacted through email on: feanywhere(a)yahoo.co.uk On telephone on: +254-20-7121506: Cell +254-733-621851: Fax +254-20-7121506 Postal Address: c/o P.O. Box 41081, 00100, Nairobi, Kenya Florence Etta Co-Ordinator, Kenya ICT Policy Project International Development Research Centre Liaison House, State House Avenue P.O. Box 62084, 00200, Nairobi, Kenya Tel: +254-20-2713160-1: Cell +254-733-621851 Fax: +254-20-2711063 E-mail: fetta(a)idrc.or.ke Web:http// www.idrc.ca/acacia

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WENT Africa 2005: Announcement and call for applications
by alice＠apc.org 19 Oct '05

19 Oct '05

Please respond to Fatima Bhyat on email fbhyat(a)sn.apc.org > > Deadline for applications - 1 November 2005. > > APC-Africa-Women : Announcing Women's Electronic Network > Training (WENT) Africa 2005 > > WENT Africa training workshops aim to build the capacities of > women and their organisations in Africa to utilise new Information > and Communication Technologies in social development work and > policy advocacy. APC-Africa-Women held the first WENT Africa > workshop in 2003 with a focus on the strategic use of ICTs . > > The focus of WENT Africa 2005 is Free and Open Source Software > Solutions (FOSS) in women's organisations in Africa. Building > awareness and support for the use of FOSS. > > APC-Africa-Women in partnership with WOUGNET, Women'sNet, > Linux Chix Africa, Isis-WICCE and Bellanet Africa, is hosting a > regional workshop to build awareness of the potential and use of > Free and Open Source Solutions (FOSS) in the non-profit sector, > and in women's organisations specifically. The workshop will be > held in Kampala, Uganda 5-10 December 2005. > > Building on the success of the first FOSS for women workshop in > the SADC region hosted by Women'sNet in 2004, APC-Africa- > Women has partnered with organisations active in FOSS for > women's empowerment to continue and expand this work. > > WHY FOSS? > > Being able to use information technology strategically and effectively > is an important source of empowerment and skills development for > women who often feel isolated and disempowered by rapidly > advancing technological change. At the same time, there is growing > awareness of the potential role of free/open source software > (FOSS) in particular in harnessing ICTs for socio-economic > development. > > Among the potential benefits: > * Open source software is royalty- and license free, which means > that the cost of acquiring the software is lower than that of > proprietary software. > * Because the source code is accessible, open source software can > be modified to meet the needs of users in particular contexts and > languages. > * Users are not trapped into ongoing dependency on a particular > vendor for upgrades and support. > * The collaborative open source model of software > development offers greater opportunities for local skills and > economic development. > * Some free software is recognized as more stable and more > secure than its proprietary counterparts. > > PURPOSE OF THE WORKSHOP > > The uptake of open source software is growing in Africa, and APC- > Africa-Women and partner organisations are implementing more > initiatives aimed specifically at using open source to support > women's organizations and networks. In order to assist women's > organisations to realize the potential of open source software it is > necessary to > > * Raise awareness of open source tools at a variety of levels > including policy, management, technical staff and end-users. > * Provide easy access to open source tools. > * Develop skills among end-users, technical staff and potential open > source developers. > * Ensure the ongoing development of support and > training materials. > * Develop capacity for planning and decision-making around > implementing open source solutions, including an awareness of > factors such as total cost of ownership. > > The workshop has two overall objectives: > (i) stimulating awareness and adoption of free and open software > source (FOSS) solutions among women's organisations in the > region, and > (ii) deepening understanding and skills among women technicians > in providing technical support to women's organisations in the > assessment, adoption and use of FOSS applications within > women's organisations. > > STRUCTURE OF THE WORKSHOP > > The workshop will run over 5 days, from Monday 5 December to > Friday 10 December 2005. The workshop will be structured into 2 > parallel tracks, with some overlapping sessions. > > **Track 1: ** > > During the 5 day event, Track 1 participants and facilitators will > share technical skills and experiences, discuss key challenges in > realizing F/OSS projects, and develop concrete strategies for > supporting women's NGOs in their technology decision-making > processes and effectively integrating ICT into their operations and > future plans. > > Track 1 will target women computer technicians - mainly > technical support staff and system administrators - to build their > capacity to support women's organisations in their assessments of > technical hardware- and software-related needs and, where > required, in migrating to and implementing FOSS solutions. > > The agenda will cover issues such as: > * Social and NGO context > * Customizing/configuring and deploying GNU/Linux distributions > * Configuring clients for desktop and network applications > * Open Source database and online publishing tools > * Existing desktop FOSS applications and application development > * Migrating to FOSS > > **Track 2: ** > > This track is targeted at decision-makers and end-users in women's > organisations, with a view to building their ability to asses and > choose between different technical (especially software) solutions. > This track will also demonstrate the use of some FOSS software > solutions that facilitate web publishing and information-sharing, to > illustrate the ease with which women's organisations can maintain > their a web site - e.g. by pooling content and collaborative online > publishing - at the regional level, using only basic word processing > skills. > > The agenda will include: > * review of different desktop and networking applications including > FOSS > * decision-making processes on technology options, including > FOSS understanding theory and practice around use of ICTs for > equality; > * developing inclusive ICT strategies > * measuring the impact of your ICT strategies on gender equality, > using Gender Evaluation Methodology > * collaborative online publishing, using FOSS applications like > ActionApps > > WHO CAN APPLY? > > Track 1: > > We encourage applications from women who meet the following > criteria: > > * a solid (3-4 years) ICT training and/or work background > [troubleshooting, sysadmin, technical support staff ) > * good communications skills > * programming skills desirable but not required > > also: > * interest in doing work with the non-profit community, especially > women's NGOs working towards gender justice and supporting > them in effectively integrating ICTs into their daily operations > * interest in facilitating sound decision-making processes within > women's organisations that consider all the possible technical - > hardware and software - solutions including FOSS. > > Track 2: > > We encourage applications from staff within women's NGOs in the > region, especially those with the responsibility to make decisions on > technologies used within the organisation. > > FEES AND SUBSIDIES > > The costs of participating in the workshop is fully funded. > APC-Africa-Women will cover the costs of participants' return > airfares (economy class), visa costs, as well as accommodation and > a per diem (to cover the cost of dinners) for the duration of the > workshop. > > APPLICATION PROCEDURE > > Please complete the questionnaire below and return to > fbhyat(a)sn.apc.org > > Deadline for applications is Tuesday 1 November 2005. Please > apply soonest as space at this workshop is limited. There are only > about 8 spaces per track. > > APPLICATION QUESTIONS > > Please answer the following questions. Please provide us with > enough information to understand your skills and interests, and to > have a sense of why you want to attend this workshop, what you > hope to learn, and what you can contribute to the event. > > 1) Basic personal information: > a. Name: > b. Gender: > c. Nationality: > d. Country where you live and work now: > e. E-mail address: > f. Telephone and emergency contact number(s): > g. Anything else we should know about you (allergies, diet, medical > condition, special needs): > h. Do you need a visa to come to Uganda? > > 2) Which track are you applying for? > > 3) What, if any, Free and Open Source technologies do you work > with? Please describe your experience and expertise. > > 4) Have you been involved with any technology projects for non- > profit or civil society organizations? If so please briefly explain them. > > 5) What is your current professional affiliation (organization you > work for, mission of the organization, position you have in the > organization, is your organization a non-profit, etc.)? > > 6) What FOSS applications are you currently implementing in your > (non profit) women's organisation? For which purposes? Which > applications are you most interested in learning more about? > > 6) Why are you interested in attending the FOSS Workshop for > women's organisations? What do you hope to learn? > > 7) We encourage participants to share their own expertise and skills > during the workshop by leading discussion on topical issues such as > - for example - ICTs for social development and gender equality, > technology issues in running women's NGOs, the social/political > contexts of where you operate and how that affects operations, > issues in content development and information sharing, current > strategies for deploying ICTs in your work, etc. What tutorials, > development sessions or discussions would you like to lead (or help > lead)? > > This event is organised by APC-Africa-Women, with training, > strategic and logistic inputs from WOUGNET, Women'sNet, Linux > Chix Africa, Isis-WICCE and Bellanet Africa. The workshop was > made possible through support from HIVOS. > > http://www.apcafricawomen.org > > [END] > > > _______________________________________________ > Grace mailing list > Grace(a)apcafricawomen.org > http://mailman.greennet.org.uk/mailman/listinfo/grace >

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