I wasn't going to get into this one, but will offer that I've stopped using "Third World" for some time. It's a legacy term, if you will, and it's not surprising that it is still in circulation (and it's better than some other legacy terms in the field, like "underdeveloped"). I understand its origins - at least in part - were half a century ago in the so-called non-aligned movement of countries professing allegience to neither the West or the Eastern bloc. Since "third" can also define a ranking, and the countries in the "third world" were generally among those with lower living standards, it was easy to make the association. Hence in the 70s the emergence of the term "fourth world" and so on.
As for "developing," I'm not so comfortable with that either. Although the intent is clear, there is also a real sense in which we all are "developing," though obviously some are materially richer or poorer, and some countries have more elaborate and productive infrastructures than others, etc. All terms seem to have their strong and weak points, but the lesson I get from this is that maybe it is a good thing not to rely on such labels too much. Choose words and terms to fit the context, choose well and make the definitions clear. What that means in terms of inconvenience of not having a ready category to put whole countries under, perhaps more than compensates in obliging us to keep analysis appropriate, sharp, and adaptable. Don Osborn Bisharat.net Quoting Linda Ullah <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>: > David, > > I don't see disagreement as much as the desire to find the best > semantic fit. I like the word developing better than most of the > other terms. It implies progress and positive energy. > > In terms of your advise to Beth.. I absolutely agree that it is > critical to focus on development and sustainability of resources, She > might look to local foundations. We have reasonably successful with > this approach. > > Linda Ullah > Teacher in Residence > Foothill College Krause Center for Innovation > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > http://www.foothill.edu/kci > > > On Nov 5, 2005, at 10:48 AM, Dave A. Chakrabarti wrote: > > > > > Hi Vasu, Linda, Beth, > > > > I'm not sure I agree with you here. Why does "Third World" imply such > > negative connotations? It may just be a difference in how we > > understand the semantics, but I've also used "Third World" the way a > > geographer or economist uses it, i.e. to mean "developing". > > Personally, I've often found greater beauty and more humanity in the > > third world than in more developed nations. I would certainly never > > use it in a negative sense...my emphasis in meaning has always been > > "developing, perhaps in alternative ways" rather than "underdeveloped" > > or "backwards". > > > > Beth: > > > > In terms of best practices for running a community technology center, > > I'd say you should focus on development and sustainability of > > resources, which in your case will be mostly funding. Don't forget to > > line up sustainable sources of in-kind donations, such as > > laptop-repair and consulting, or donated space to work in, etc. > > > > I would suggest creating a system where the graduates of your program > > contribute back to the program, either monetarily or by donating their > > skills to teach the next generation of students. Similarly, being able > > to expand so you can retain a percentage of your graduates as > > instructors / administrative staff would also be a good goal to keep > > in mind. > > > > I'm also strongly in favor of teaching open sourced technologies and > > philosophies...i.e. Open Office instead of MS Office, etc. I'm of the > > opinion that the cost of running and maintaining a lab is often much > > lower using open source tools, even in areas where software is not > > always paid for anyway...simply because open source architecture can > > sometimes be more robust, more scalable, and more user-supported. > > > > D. > > > > -- > > > > Dave A. Chakrabarti > > Project Coordinator > > CTCNet Chicago > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > > > > Linda Ullah wrote: > > > >> Vasu, > >> > >> I absolutely agree with you. Third World really does imply that there > >> are multiple levels of people/countries. There are so many ways that > >> we can use Internet technology to help the children of the world > >> learn to understand and appreciate each other 's cultures. I'm > >> looking for help connecting teachers and students in meaningful ways > >> to help build tolerance and mutual respect for the future generations > >> (as you've so well stated the need). There are many organizations > >> and schools trying to promote projects that do foster tolerance and > >> global understanding Here is what I've tried to do: > >> > >> 1. Global Project-based Learning Web Resource List: > >> http://my-ecoach.com/online/rldevelop.php?rlid=6499&action=edit (I'd > >> really appreciate any resources that anyone on this list would be > >> willing to share with me. > >> > >> 2. Global Project-based Learning Online Course (offered though > >> Foothill College for credit, but the course materials are open > >> source) http://www.garlic.com/~lullah/gpbl/ > >> > >> 3. Monthly Global-based Learning After School Online Discussion in > >> Tapped In: http://www.tappedin.org (Next discussion on Nov. 17 at > >> 4:00 p.m. PST). I'd love to have you all join me for this > >> discussion. > >> > >> Linda Ullah > >> Teacher in Residence > >> Foothill College Krause Center for Innovation > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> On Nov 3, 2005, at 8:36 PM, Vasu Murthy wrote: > >> > >>> > >>> Hello everyone > >>> > >>> I dont know why every one tends to proclaim themselves as belonging > >>> to a Third World. > >>> > >>> There is only one world - as it is known to mankind and it is the > >>> earth. > >>> > >>> Donot denigrade yourself or your country or your citizens. They may > >>> be poor but not have sold their self respect to the educated few. > >>> > >>> Respect every person, every country and acknowledge the differences > >>> whether in terms of language or religion or physical features. > >>> > >>> At least in the field of education, we have to build tolerance and > >>> mutual respect for the future generations. Economics is not > >>> important when not backed with moral values and humility. > >>> > >>> Self respect is very important for any nation or group to come up in > >>> life. > >>> > >>> Sorry if I offended any person > >>> > >>> Vasu Murthy > >>> New York > >>> Nov 3, 2005 > >>> Beth Kanter <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > >>> Hello all, > >>> > >>> I am seeking some advice for a project we're planning to implement in > >>> Cambodia next year for The Sharing Foundation > >>> (www.sharingfoundation.org). > >>> > >>> The Sharing Foundation supports many different development projects > >>> in a > >>> small village about an hour outside of Phnom Penh. Education is at > >>> the > >>> center. We have a pre-school, support the village school, support > >>> english program and school library for K-8, a khmer literacy > >>> headstart > >>> school for poorest residents as well as high school and now college > >>> scholarships. We are hoping to add computer instruction K-8 as well > >>> as > >>> for high school/college students. > >>> > >>> Right now focusing on the K-8 - we'd like to add a mobile computer > >>> lab > >>> (using laptops) that can be used in the various locations. We're > >>> looking at all the issues (instructional support, curriculum, > >>> hardware, > >>> software, sustainability, etc.). > >>> > >>> But, I have a question about hardware acqusition which is not my > >>> strong > >>> expertise. We have some options. > >>> > >>> Option A: Get donated laptops in US, recondition them, have staff > >>> hand-carry on the plane to Cambodia or raise money to purchase > >>> refurbished laptops from a place like pcretro. (Note, we have lots of > >>> individuals who support us and we could do a little campaign where > >>> donors contribute and they get their name on a screensaver or > >>> something) > >>> > >>> > >>> There are local sources for repair as I understand it, although not > >>> fast > >>> repair. I'm also researching locally to see if there are particular > >>> computer brands available and only limit donations to those types. > >>> Also, there are students who are studying this in local colleges - > >>> so we > >>> could provide some employment for a student. > >>> > >>> Option B: Purchase computers in country. There is a small, but > >>> growing > >>> market. I've had some referrals to vendors who have worked with ngos > >>> in country. The pricing is comparative to US market and vendors also > >>> offer support. We'd have to raise a lot more money to go this route. > >>> > >>> So, I'd like to know about your experiences with hardware acqusition > >>> in > >>> third world countries. I want to know the success stories and the > >>> horror stories. For that matter, I'm also seeking any case studies, > >>> best practice guides, etc of running computer training room in third > >>> world country. I know there are a lot of differences based on local > >>> issues, but I'm sure there are some basic best practices. > >>> > >>> Advice, help would be appreciated. > >>> > >>> Thank you. > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > >>> DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > >>> http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > >>> To unsubscribe, send a message to > >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in > >>> the body of the message. > >>> _______________________________________________ > >>> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > >>> DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > >>> http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > >>> To unsubscribe, send a message to > >>> [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in > >>> the body of the message. > >>> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > >> DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > >> http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > >> To unsubscribe, send a message to > >> [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in > >> the body of the message. > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > > To unsubscribe, send a message to > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the > > body of the message. > > > > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org > http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. > _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@mailman.edc.org http://mailman.edc.org/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
