[Reader-list] Digital Opportunity Channel- this week's newsletter

Thu Oct 9 01:03:48 IST 2003

Please find subscription information at the bottom of the newsletter.
With apologies for any cross-posting.
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What's New at Digital Opportunity Channel
http://www.digitalopportunity.org

  + ---------------------------------------------------- +
  For all the news and analysis about the WSIS summit
  from a civil society perspective, please visit our
  Special Coverage section at:
  http://www.digitalopportunity.org/section/dochannel/wsis
  + ---------------------------------------------------- +

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Latest News
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1138
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OH MY NEWS! ANYONE CAN BE A REPORTER 
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  Which online news service recently played an instrumental role in the
  election of a President? The South Korean on-line news service 'Ohmynews'
  is probably the only example to date of a Net-based initiative that has
  made a decisive difference in a presidential election. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69902/1138/493

$53.7M FOR TECH-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL US
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  Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced 128 awards
  totalling $53.7 million for rural tech-based economic development
  initiatives. The 84 distance learning and telemedicine grants, which
  total $32.4 million, are aimed to provide greater educational
  opportunities and medical service to rural citizens in 41 states. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69867/1138/493

ARAB YOUTH LEARN COMPUTER SKILLS AT TRAINING CENTRES
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  An after school programme for Arab youth in the West Bank city of
  Ramallah is providing students a safe place to interact and be creative
  while learning technology skills. Youth, ages 10 to 18, have access to
  high-tech equipment, professional software and adult mentors to help them
  develop the self-confidence and enthusiasm for learning they need to be
  successful in the future. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69866/1138/493

CHINA RELEASES CYBER DISSIDENT QI YANCHEN 
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  The Chinese government has released from prison cyberdissident Qi Yanchen
  before completion of his four-year sentence for alleged subversion and
  “putting out anti-government news” by posting pro-democracy articles on
  the Internet, Reporters Without Borders has confirmed. China remains by
  far the world's biggest prison for cyber dissidents and Internet users,
  with at least 37 currently in jail for speaking out online. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69737/1138/493

CRIS WELCOMES INCLUSION OF COMMUNICATION IN WSIS DRAFT DECLARATION
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  The Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS) campaign has
  welcomed the inclusion of Paragraph 4 - which refers to communication as
  a basic human need - in the draft declaration of the World Summit on the
  Information Society (WSIS). It called on all governments, however, to
  ensure that communication as a central and crucial human activity remains
  in the final declaration that will be presented at the summit in December
  2003. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69735/1138/493

PAKISTAN TO SET UP WIRELESS EXCHANGES
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  Pakistan plans to establish Wireless Local Loop (WLL) system exchanges
  all over the country, including rural areas and mountainous terrains. The
  aim is to tackle unemployment and usher in development in areas that have
  remained untouched. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69734/1138/493

CIVIL SOCIETY PONDERS ALTERNATIVE DECLARATION FOR WSIS
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  Civil society organisations (CSOs) are frustrated that a large number of
  their proposals have been ignored by state officials crafting the
  declaration for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in
  December 2003. CSOs are now deliberating on an alternative declaration of
  their own for delegates' consideration at the summit.  
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69632/1138/493

NEW ONLINE RESOURCES FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE AMERICAS
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  The Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) has launched the
  latest version of the Virtual Parliament of the Americas, an online tool
  enabling parliamentarians to communicate and work together on issues of
  hemispheric importance. The project intends to address the communication
  needs expressed by FIPA's member parliamentarians.   
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69628/1138/493

MICROSOFT TO SUPPORT ANGOLA'S TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY
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  Microsoft will support the Angolan government in formulating its
  information technology strategy and assist with projects worth US$ 10
  million. It will work with the government to set up partnership with
  Angolan firms dealing in computing and select five to officially
  represent the country at the World Summit on the Information Society. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69623/1138/493

U.S. GOVT ANNOUNCES TOP GRANT AWARDS
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  The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the award of almost $14
  million in Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants to 28 nonprofit
  organizations. The grants demonstrate how ICTs can address public
  concerns over areas such as economic development, housing, public safety,
  health and e-government. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69539/1138/493

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Analysis
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1134
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AN OPEN LETTER TO FELLOWS OF TWAS 
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  Most scientists in the developing world do not get all the information
  they need. Subbiah Arunachalam of the M. S. Swaminathan Research
  Foundation, in this open letter to fellows of the Third World Academy of
  Sciences (TWAS), stresses the need to support institutional
  self-archiving and open access for better access and visibility of such
  information. TWAS is meeting soon in Beijing. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69744/1134/493

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Get Involved
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1112
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AIDS DAY COMPETITION FOR YOUNG RADIO, TV PROFESSIONALS
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  If you're aged between 18 and 34 and fancy yourself as a budding radio or
  TV director, now's the time to get creative. MTV and OneWorld are running
  a global competition in the run up to World AIDS Day, on 1 December 2003,
  to enable young people to produce and submit original audio or video
  public service announcements that convey the messages of MTV's award
  winning HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, Staying Alive.  
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69641/1112/493

COMPETITION FOR ETRANSPARENCY CASE STUDIES
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  The eGovernment for Development Information Exchange is seeking short
  case studies involving use of ICTs to improve public sector transparency
  in developing/transitional economies. All case studies accepted for
  publication will receive a £150 payment.  The best three cases will
  attract a total £300 payment. You can submit case studies using the
  online form or by email to
richard.heeks at man.ac.uk Last date for
  submissions: 10 October 2003. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69640/1112/493

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Partner News
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/4678
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BELLANET COMES OUT WITH NEW ANNUAL REPORT
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  Bellanet has published its Annual Report for April 2002-March 2003.
  Included in this report (910kb, PDF) are the highlights of important
  initiatives such as: the new strategic programme directions, results of
  the external evaluation, present initiatives and a snap shot of
  Bellanet's financial situation. 
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69739/4678/493

IEARN SIERRA LEONE, TAKINGITGLOBAL ORGANISE WSIS AWARENESS ACTIVITIES 
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  Interactive online and offline discussions and phone-in programmes were
  held recently in Sierra Leone to increase the level of awareness about
  the World Summit on the Information Society. Organised by the youth
  groups of the TakingITGlobal Sierra Leone Network, they received an
  overwhelming response and brought ICT and young people in the mainstream
  of the nation's public discussion and opinion.  
http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69064/4678/493

Digital Opportunity Channel
http://www.digitalopportunity.org
Promoting Digital Opportunities for All
Editor: Kanti Kumar
Email: kanti.kumar at oneworld.net

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