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Noam Chomsky and the Struggle Against Neoliberalism
by Alex Gakuru 30 Jun '07

30 Jun '07

Taking a break from ICT websites.... http://www.chomsky.info/onchomsky/19990401.htm Neoliberalism is the defining political economic paradigm of our time - it refers to the policies and processes whereby a relative handful of private interests are permitted to control as much as possible of social life in order to maximize their personal profit. Associated initially with Reagan and Thatcher, neoliberalism has for the past two decades been the dominant global political economic trend adopted by political parties of the center, much of the traditional left, and the right. These parties and the policies they enact represent the immediate interests of extremely wealthy investors and less than one thousand large corporations. Aside from some academics and members of the business community, the term neoliberalism is largely unknown and unused by the public at large, especially in the United States. There, to the contrary, neoliberal initiatives are characterized as free market policies that encourage private enterprise and consumer choice, reward personal responsibility and entrepreneurial initiative, and undermine the dead hand of the incompetent, bureaucratic, and parasitic government, which can never do good (even when well intentioned, which it rarely is). A generation of corporate-financed public relations efforts has given these terms and ideas a near-sacred aura. As a result, these phrases and the claims they imply rarely require empirical defense, and are invoked to rationalize anything from lowering taxes on the wealthy and scrapping environmental regulations to dismantling public education and social welfare programs. Indeed, any activity that might interfere with corporate domination of society is automatically suspect because it would impede the workings of the free market, which is advanced as the only rational, fair, and democratic allocator of goods and services. At their most eloquent, proponents of neoliberalism sound as if they are doing poor people, the environment, and everybody else a tremendous service as they enact policies on behalf of the wealthy few. The economic consequences of these policies have been the same just about everywhere, and exactly what one would expect: a massive increase in social and economic inequality, a marked increase in severe deprivation for the poorest nations and peoples of the world, a disastrous global environment, an unstable global economy, and an unprecedented bonanza for the wealthy. Confronted with these facts, defenders of the neoliberal order claim that the spoils of the good life will invariably spread to the broad mass of the population - as long as the neoliberal policies that exacerbated these problems are not interfered with by anyone! In the end, proponents of neoliberalism cannot and do not offer an empirical defense for the world they are making. To the contrary, they offer - no, demand - a religious faith in the infallibility of the unregulated market, drawing upon nineteenth century theories that have little connection to the actual world. The ultimate trump card for the defenders of neoliberalism, however, is that there is no alternative. Communist societies, social democracies, and even modest social welfare states like the United States have all failed, the neoliberals proclaim, and their citizens have accepted neoliberalism as the only feasible course. It may well be imperfect, but it is the only economic system possible. Earlier in the twentieth century some critics called fascism "capitalism with the gloves off," meaning that fascism was pure capitalism without democratic rights and organizations. In fact, we know that fascism is vastly more complex than that. Neoliberalism, on the other hand, is indeed "capitalism with the gloves off." It represents an era in which business forces are stronger and more aggressive, and face less organized opposition than ever before. In this political climate they attempt to codify their political power and enact their vision on every possible front. As a result, business is increasingly difficult to challenge, and civil society (nonmarket, noncommercial, and democratic forces) barely exists at all...... ____________________________________________________________________________________ Sick sense of humor? Visit Yahoo! TV's Comedy with an Edge to see what's on, when. http://tv.yahoo.com/collections/222

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Looking for Vision 2030..??
by Bill Kagai 29 Jun '07

29 Jun '07

If you have been searching for this document on the net, then look no further, it is now available in Nigeria and they are discussing it in blogs. Scroll down to the bottom where the duscussion is posted after the Nairobi fotos we take for granted!!! http://www.nairaland.com/nigeria/topic-51356.0.html -- -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] - Authorised Information Vendor Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorp.co.ke --

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report, re-sent
by Rebecca Wanjiku 29 Jun '07

29 Jun '07

i have re sent the report just incase it did not open first time regards becky Tel. 254 720 318 925 blog:http://beckyit.blogspot.com/ --------------------------------- Be a PS3 game guru. Get your game face on with the latest PS3 news and previews at Yahoo! Games.

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Fw: [gu-new] (06/26/07) ICT-Learn2007 Conference in Cairo, Egypt and our final paper
by Florence Etta 29 Jun '07

29 Jun '07

fyi sorry for crossposting. FE Florence Etta P.O. Box 14285,00800 Westlands-Nairobi, Kenya Tel: Mobile + 254-733-621851 Terrestrial: + 254-20-7121506 Fax: + 254-20-7125732 Alternative Email:florence.etta@gmail.com ___________________________________________________________ Copy addresses and emails from any email account to Yahoo! Mail - quick, easy and free. http://uk.docs.yahoo.com/trueswitch2.html

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Communication Tariffs
by Alex Gakuru 29 Jun '07

29 Jun '07

> --- Barrack Otieno <otieno.barrack(a)gmail.com> wrote: > >its in order to give CCK and the rest of the Mobile >Sector players a pat on the back the tariffs have >reduced considerably in the last months. there is >increased competition due to Introduction of new Value >added Services, so far i guess CCK is doing fine [not quite so and beware of telcos' reinvigorated PR campaigns and advertisement assault. Only comparative, data based (NOT perception oriented) regulatory intervention can ensure "fair play". Remember the absence of war does not mean "prevailing peace and harmony". Thank though the democratic space lending consumer complaints an ear. The more consumers complain the less hilly and more flat the world gets.] [EASTANDARD] "Mobile telephone charges likely to fall again, PS says" By Tom Mogusu [snip] The Government has commissioned a study on mobile telephone industrys tariff and taxation levels in what is hoped would trigger a decline in the cost of calling. Permanent Secretary for Information and Communication, Dr Bitange Ndemo said this was response to public demand that taxes on use of mobile telephones be lowered. He said Treasury is under pressure to lower tariff levels for mobile calls. "We are expecting more changes in this sector over the coming year because Government will launch a taskforce to investigate the costs of mobile calls." "There is an expectation that the tariff levels will drop further," he said. http://eastandard.net/hm_news/news.php?articleid=1143970580&catid=14 [snip] ------------ [DAILY NATION] Cutting edge Story by Watchman Publication Date: 6/27/2007 One report says Kenyans are becoming poorer. Another says the economy is booming, and companies are announcing profits in billions of shillings, notes Morrison Muleri. But ironically, he says, the banks, oil companies, Safaricom and others serve a wide spectrum of Kenyans, millions of whom survive on less than Sh100 a day. His biggest grouse is that Kenyan firms charge more than what is paid for similar services in wealthy America. He poses: Is it morally right to make huge profits from the poor who have no choice? <http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate…> --------- LETTERS Safaricom can do more for the poor Publication Date: 6/27/2007 Safaricoms huge Sh17 billion profit for last year is good news to the owners but ordinary subscribers have nothing to smile about. The profit should have been ploughed back into the economy for citizens to benefit. CEO Michael Joseph should not boast of hefty profits when the firm is not doing enough to uplift the lives of Kenyans. Safaricom must come up with initiatives to help the Government eradicate poverty and boost health and education projects. It should launch programmes to spur development. Small reductions in call and SMS rates are not enough. DENNIS ODHIAMBO, Kisumu. <http://www.nationmedia.com/dailynation/nmgcontententry.asp?premiumid=0&cate…> ____________________________________________________________________________________Ready for the edge of your seat? Check out tonight's top picks on Yahoo! TV. http://tv.yahoo.com/

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Another 'IGADD' plans bringing broadband to everyone
by Alex Gakuru 28 Jun '07

28 Jun '07

Investor Group Against Digital Divide (IGADD) is conceived as a global coalition of investor institutions, now in formation, whose purpose is to close the Digital Divide. It aims to recruit onto its advisory board the chairmen of the worlds major global technology corporations operating in emerging markets. On top of its agenda is high-speed internet: to reduce the alarming disparity in broadband penetration. Some countries give their citizens full access to the powerful learning experiences made possible by fast internet. Other countries isolate themselves and their citizens by making the internet unavailable, too expensive and unreliable. Broadband, increasingly, is the precondition of anyones empowerment in todays global age. It could be called a fundamental human right for the 21st Century. http://www.digitaldivide.org/dd/igadd.html ____________________________________________________________________________________ Shape Yahoo! in your own image. Join our Network Research Panel today! http://surveylink.yahoo.com/gmrs/yahoo_panel_invite.asp?a=7

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Re: [kictanet] Is 999 a local BPO opp?-beyond the BPO
by John Walubengo 28 Jun '07

28 Jun '07

Actually am for the idea...and understand perfectly well the front-end (customer-focus) capability the local BPO (call center) would offer these utilities. However, the moral of my story was that an efficient front-end would be quickly be frustrated by an in-efficient and sometimes non-existent back-end (supplier of services). In other words, all our BPO strategies must recognise our inadequacies precisely in some of the services u mention (the value chain) and ugrade them accordingly...preferably before the famous fiber-cables hit our shores. I think it was KenCall or another local BPO that said how their Operational Expenditure is increased simply because they have to meet the extra cost of security(guards), transport(taxi) and power (generators) - thinks that investors in other economies rarely bother to think about. walu. --- Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> wrote: > Walu, > > > In addition, its not just about reporting crime. How > about domestic > accidents and incidents that require either ambulances, > directions on > first aid/CPR to save a life, fire brigade services etc. > > In essence, i dont think all functions of the 'emergency > services' > should be crippled based on the 'non-responsive' nature > of one > supporting element (i.e police). > > Just an opinion. > > Regards, > > John Walubengo wrote: > > Michuki, > > > > the problem with our 999 is complex. Apart from the > fact > > that it rarely works (goes thro), i suspect that if it > did > > go thro' it may not make a difference. > > > > Imagine u r being attacked by Mungikis at your > residence, u > > pick up your phone, dial 999 or 911 and the local BPO > > provider efficiently links to your nearest police > station. > > > > Its only early evening (8.30pm) and you feel lucky as > the > > Policeman at the other end picks up the phone...but > then > > you realise your luck is out because he says, he has no > > fuel and/or a car to bring his 'mboys' to your > rescue...u > > suddenly realise your problem was much bigger than the > BPO > > - local or otherwise. > > > > walu. > > > > --- Michuki Mwangi <michuki(a)kenic.or.ke> wrote: > > > >> There has always been complains and concerns raised on > >> the emergency > >> service numbers 999. As a result, the enterprising > >> Kenyan's amongst us > >> have opted to provide similar emergency numbers that > come > >> at a fee to > >> its subscribers i.e the 911 service. > >> > >> On the other hand, we are seeking to provide BPO for > >> multi-nationals and > >> others at significant investment costs. While i > support > >> the initiative > >> and its opportunities, i believe we also need to > review > >> the local > >> opportunities for outsourcing that may come with a > less > >> 'investment > >> price tag'. With this in mind is the 999 service which > is > >> a national > >> service to 32M plus Kenyans ... that would probably be > >> the largest call > >> center. > >> > >> If this was to work am would be certain most of the > other > >> call center > >> requiring service providers would follow suit. > >> > >> Regards, > >> > >> -- > >> Michuki Mwangi > >> KENIC > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> kictanet mailing list > >> kictanet(a)lists.kictanet.or.ke > >> http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/listinfo/kictanet > >> > >> This message was sent to: jwalu(a)yahoo.com > >> Unsubscribe or change your options at > >> > > > http://lists.kictanet.or.ke/mailman/options/kictanet/jwalu%40yahoo.com > > > > > > > > > > > ____________________________________________________________________________________ > > Building a website is a piece of cake. Yahoo! Small > Business gives you all the tools to get online. > > http://smallbusiness.yahoo.com/webhosting > > > > > > -- > Michuki Mwangi > KENIC > ____________________________________________________________________________________ Choose the right car based on your needs. Check out Yahoo! Autos new Car Finder tool. http://autos.yahoo.com/carfinder/

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NSE Authorised Information Vendor
by Bill Kagai 27 Jun '07

27 Jun '07

Dear Colleagues, We are pleased to announce that we have today been appointed 'Authorised Information Vendors for the Nairobi Stock Exchange'. This means that we are now authorised to stream 14 realtime data feeds on the internet. -Instrument -Bid Price -Bid Quantity -Ask Price -Ask Quantity -High Price -Low Price -Trade Price -Trade Quantity -Close Price -Change: Up or Down -Total Trade -Total Turnover -Total Volume This service will be available at no cost to MediaCorp Premium Subscribers on our websites. Premium Subscribers will be availed a password to access the live data feed as the market trades in the coming days. www.mediacorp.co.ke -- -- Bildad Kagai MD - MediaCorp Limited Authorised Information Vendor - Nairobi Stock Exchange [NSE] Suite B2 Tetu Apartments StateHouse Avenue P. O. Box 20311-00200 Tel. 254 20 272 8332 Fax. Rendered Obsolete URL. www.mediacorp.co.ke --

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Wireless Technology { with a light touch ;-) }
by Wainaina Mungai 27 Jun '07

27 Jun '07

After digging to a depth of 100 meters last year, Russian scientists found traces of copper wire dating back 1000 years, and came to the conclusion that their ancestors already had a telephone network one thousand years ago. So, not to be outdone, in the weeks that followed, American scientists dug 200 meters and headlines in the US papers read: " US scientists have found traces of 2000 year old optical fibers, and have concluded that their ancestors already had advanced high-tech digital telephone 1000 years earlier than the Russians." One week later, the Ken yan newspapers proudly reported the following: "After digging as deep as 500 meters, Ken yan scientists have found absolutely nothing. They have concluded that 5000 years ago, their ancestors were already using wireless technology. Na ndio maana najivunia kuwa Mkenya!!! --- Wainaina Mungai Made in Kenya Network P. O. Box 72031 - 00200 Nairobi. Kenya. Tel: +254-20-780669 Cell: + 254-722-811171 http://www.madeinkenya.org/

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Is 999 a local BPO opp?
by Michuki Mwangi 27 Jun '07

27 Jun '07

There has always been complains and concerns raised on the emergency service numbers 999. As a result, the enterprising Kenyan's amongst us have opted to provide similar emergency numbers that come at a fee to its subscribers i.e the 911 service. On the other hand, we are seeking to provide BPO for multi-nationals and others at significant investment costs. While i support the initiative and its opportunities, i believe we also need to review the local opportunities for outsourcing that may come with a less 'investment price tag'. With this in mind is the 999 service which is a national service to 32M plus Kenyans ... that would probably be the largest call center. If this was to work am would be certain most of the other call center requiring service providers would follow suit. Regards, -- Michuki Mwangi KENIC

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