A meeting of minds is far from difficult: western techniques are easier to transport than western technology - and netting via medicine men is virtually how the Edna McConnell Clark foundation almost wiped out Trachoma (http://www.trachoma.org/).
It's a lot more complicated than condoms imply, since it takes disclosure to deal with condoms, and that disclosure is pretty culture-bound. Hence 52% of the new HIV cases in the US are black women. The newest rage of PEP pill pushing is much, much more controversial - if anybody has any real interest in ending the epidemic - since (a) we've known for more than a decade that it works, and waited until pharma found a financial incentive to make it popular and (b) we've also known that it doesn't take a lifetime of pill taking, in spite of last week's notice that it is precisely that treatment that pharma is now pushing. The corruption of the west is something that spreads a lot faster and easier than our benevolence. On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 4:19 PM, Steve Eskow <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > There is the digital divide, and the health divide. And perhaps those > divides are related. > > Westerners live longer than those in the poor countries, or so the > mortality > tables tell us. > > Western hard and software interests: are they the ones who are promoting > the > digital divide idea for their shareholders and executives? Is this list > part > of a Microsoft/Intel conspiracy? > > And big pharma: are they the ones promoting antiretrovirals for their > shareholders? > > "Western" DDT almost wiped out malaria in parts of sub-Saharan Africa until > it was banned--and the mosquitoes and malaria returned with a vengeance. > > There seems to be little evidence that local medical knowledge can prevent > or treat malaria. The bed netting developed in the West, but certainly able > to be produced locally, can. What, if anything, is the right thing to do or > not do, say or not say, about bed netting and malaria in sub-Saharan > Africa? > And should the help of the local medicine man be enlisted in the bed > netting > campaign? > > Condoms can reduce the frequency of death-dealing AIDS in Africa. Big > pharma > medications can keep people alive once they have contracted the disease. > ICT > can bring information about these life-enhancing possibilities to Africa. > What do we do, or not do, about life and death in Africa, and who will > involve the local medicine man, and how, and what to do if he is not > interested but has his own routines? > > Steve Eskow > > On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 12:39 PM, Joe Beckmann <[EMAIL PROTECTED] > >wrote: > > > To get back to that medical model, don't under-estimate the medicine man > vs > > the doctor. Last week's HIV/AIDS Conference in Mexico City "discovered" > > that > > pre-exposure prophylaxes (PEP) actually work, but framed that "working" > in > > terms of a daily dose of an anti-viral and/or use of microbicides (which > > are > > still in testing). There is over 15 years of research that proves fairly > > conclusively that PEP has always "worked" about 87% of the time, and > that, > > in most cases, a single dose of a microbicide before exposure is all it > > takes. It is not coincidental that Bush signed a $55billion subsidy the > > week > > before the PEP announcement, and that lots of big pharma can support any > > "solution" that guarantees a daily pill, subsidized, will achieve that > same > > 87% prevention rate. Bah and humbug. > > > > Surely, before celebrating the universal solutions of the west, it makes > > some sense to look more closely at solutions locally, and explore how > some > > synergies might accomplish more with less for more people. Promoting > > western > > medicine means more than promoting western big pharma way beyond the > scale > > of either need or good practice. Yet when big pharma pays for the > > promotion, > > and the social research remains unclear, the benefits ought not be > presumed > > for the high tech solution. > > > > Just as big pharma has "unexamined consequences," it benefits any culture > > to > > explore what those consequences may be in crossing the digital divide > > without a map for what's to come. > > > > On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 3:07 PM, tom abeles <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > > > > > > > Thanks for this post Steve. Perhaps some insights from a few "gray > > beards" > > > on the list are needed from time-to-time. > > > Let me suggest some other issues: > > > > > > a) The problem with science is that it works, to a certain extent, for > > the > > > natural environment. As many have pointed out > > > the idea of finding universal laws, programs that can be cloned, etc in > > > social systems, the false notion of western Enlightenment, might be > > called > > > as in Levin's book, "The Tyranny of Reason" > > > The political philosopher John Gray (not the Mars Venus person) points > > out > > > similar ideas in his collection, "Heresies". Yet, in the development > > > community > > > hope springs eternal, like the milk horse hoping to catch that elusive > > > carrot held out by the driver > > > > > > b) Natural or human created Tsunamies- weather or changing political > and > > > economic acts, across the oceans can change a small village in a small > > > country in Africa at the click of a mouse. > > > Many in the development community keep hoping for such a perfect storm, > > > like the Cargo Cults, unwilling to accept that life is fragile for all > > > creatures on the earth and there > > > is no guarantee that on this planet change will not lead to losses. > After > > > all, most development has a strong polyanna element. Triage is not > seen > > as > > > an option. > > > > > > c) we are enamored with technology (things and social technology). Thus > > the > > > problems between the enfranchised and disenfranchised (in all > dimensions) > > is > > > knowledge- > > > educate and the rising tide will equalize all boats on the seas and > raise > > > all ships equally. Hence the problem has been cast as a "digital > divide". > > > Instead of the US political cliche, a chicken > > > in every pot, it is now a smart phone in every home. > > > information/knowledge/education, hopefully digitally distributed, is > the > > > equivalent of the 6-gun in the US west, the great equalizer. It's the > > > liberal (or progressive) > > > answer to problems created by a conservative past. > > > > > > Esperaremos > > > > > > tom > > > > > > > Date: Thu, 14 Aug 2008 09:41:46 -0700 > > > > From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > To: digitaldivide@digitaldivide.net > > > > Subject: Re: [DDN] Google Insights - social networking > > > > > > > > Joe Beckmann's warning about the limits of the "first things first" > > axiom > > > is > > > > well taken--and it's the danger that the "ecology" metaphor intends > to > > > > avoid. There is no necessary linearity in a web of interconnections, > > and > > > no > > > > obvious starting point. > > > > > > > > Those who have watched developments, or in many cases lack of > > > developments, > > > > in some of the poor countries--who have watched billions of dollars > of > > > > well-intentioned "aid" result in no visible betterment of human > > > > conditions--might understandably question the utilty and the accuracy > > of > > > > such a notion as "an indigenous capacity to succeed." At times, > indeed, > > > it > > > > seems as if there is an indigenous capacity to fail. > > > > > > > > The "positive deviants" notions is another usefl idea that can have > > > > disastrous results in practice. Those who the intervener sees as > > > "positive > > > > deviants" might be seen as "negative idiots" by those locals whose > > > > cooperation is crucial to the success of an intervention. > > > > > > > > And even the universally applauded notion of "home grown" and locally > > > > controlled development is often a fiction. Quite often the "positive > > > > deviants" know that the resources and the skills that the community > > needs > > > to > > > > break out of poverty aren't in the local community: if the local > > medicine > > > > man could prevent and cure AIDS they wouldn't need non-local doctors > > and > > > > antiretrovirals. > > > > > > > > So: all the metaphors, and all the formulas, and all of the homilies > > > point > > > > us in important directions, and all of them have to be used with > great > > > care. > > > > > > > > Steve Eskow. > > > > > > > > On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 8:07 AM, Joe Beckmann < > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > >wrote: > > > > > > > > > My only reservation about an "ecology of need" is an implication > that > > > there > > > > > are a sequence of "readiness" opportunities, that it's hard to do > "d" > > > > > before > > > > > doing "a," "b," and "c." There is a need/readiness system, and the > > > system > > > > > also includes - almost inevitably but not at all obviously - an > > > indigenous > > > > > capacity to succeed. Social interventions that ignore those > "positive > > > > > deviants" where success can be a foundation for further success > will > > > almost > > > > > inevitably fail; others, that build on local capacity to enhance > > > locally > > > > > derived strategies for success, are far more sustainable because > they > > > have > > > > > local sponsors, invested in expanding their efficacy. > > > > > > > > > > One of the more interesting approaches is a formal evaluation of > that > > > > > "positive deviance" adapted by the Institute of Positive Deviance > at > > > Tufts. > > > > > http://www.positivedeviance.org/ The Institute of Positive > Deviance > > > has > > > > > begun to ramp up a variety of programs in a variety of social > > services > > > to > > > > > demonstrate this approach. In education, for example, there is > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.teacherdrivenchange.org/teacherdrivenchange/2008/07/index.html. > > > > > Their model is a slightly more academic spin on the older > organizers' > > > > > strategies framed by people like Saul Alinsky (well represented > here > > > > > http://www.itvs.org/democraticpromise/alinsky.html). > > > > > > > > > > In short, this is anti-imperialism: solutions don't come from one > > place > > > and > > > > > get dropped on another; they've got to be home grown, nursed, and > > with > > > > > local > > > > > support. > > > > > > > > > > For the Digital Divide this means well documented local change has > > the > > > > > greatest transportability, since others can see what people went > > > through in > > > > > creating their own solutions. It is the process that can be > > > transferred, > > > > > not > > > > > it's product. > > > > > > > > > > On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 8:46 AM, Jaevion Nelson < > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > > > >wrote: > > > > > > > > > > > Thanks, this is very useful. I really like the last idea of the > > > ecology > > > > > of > > > > > > need. I beleive it is one of the things that are preventing the > > > > > > sustainability for nmany social interventions and programmes > across > > > the > > > > > > world and in the Caribbean. For example in Jamaica, several > persons > > > enter > > > > > a > > > > > > community provide persons with the opportunity but illiteracy, > > > poverty, > > > > > > culture, etc prevents the programme from making that exponential > > > impact > > > > > that > > > > > > it had intended to. The result is that within months the > programme > > > fails > > > > > and > > > > > > is forced to withdraw from the community. The designers then go > > back > > > to > > > > > the > > > > > > drawing board. To be able to understand the ecology of need we > > cannot > > > > > just > > > > > > recognise a problem in a handful of persons and beleive then that > > it > > > > > > warrants intervention. Proper research must be done at phase one > to > > > > > > determine the needs of the individuals living wthin a specific > area > > - > > > the > > > > > > truth is these programs really need a wholistic approach. You may > > be > > > > > going > > > > > > to reduce illiteracy but you will have to include poverty > reduction > > > > > > components such as school feeding programmes, uniform allowances, > > > travel > > > > > > stipend, etc. > > > > > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > > > Jaevion Nelson > > > > > > Marketing & Partnerships Coordinator > > > > > > Jamaica Youth Advocacy Network > > > > > > www.jamaicayouthadvocacynetwork.org > > > > > > > > > > > > Asst. Programmes Officer > > > > > > Violence Prevention Alliance > > > > > > www.vpajamaica.com > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > Jaevion Nelson (Jae) > > > > > > > > > > > > > Date: Wed, 13 Aug 2008 10:36:26 -0700> From: > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]> > > > To: > > > > > > digitaldivide@digitaldivide.net> Subject: Re: [DDN] Google > > Insights > > > - > > > > > > social networking> > The intervener--all of us who want to > > > help--studies > > > > > the > > > > > > culture and the need> before choosing a path. Before choosing a > > > > > technology.> > > > > > > > Where there is a "digital divide" there are > often--usually--other > > > > > > divides.> For example: there may be no Internet in the area to be > > > served. > > > > > Or > > > > > > there may> be Internet but many of the intended beneficiaries > have > > no > > > > > > electricity.> > Or they cannot read. Cannot read what is on the > > > computer > > > > > > screen, whether it> is in English or Twi.> > That is: there is an > > > > > "ecology > > > > > > of need." If the good-hearted social> entrepreneur does not have > a > > > > > complete > > > > > > map of the territory of need, it is> almost certain that he or > she > > > will > > > > > > blunder.> > Steve Eskow> > > > On Wed, Aug 13, 2008 at 4:57 AM, > > Taran > > > > > > Rampersad <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:> > > This post from the > > > Trinidad > > > > > and > > > > > > Tobago Computing list may be of interest> > to some. It > > demonstrates > > > > > > geographical distribution of social network> > use. It is a nice > > > > > datapoint, > > > > > > I think.> >> > Richard Jobity wrote:> > > > > > > > > > > ********************************************************************> > > > > > > > > > > > Computing - General Discussion on Computing in Trinidad and > Tobago> > > > > > > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ********************************************************************> > > > > > > > > > > > http://royal.pingdom.com/?p=336> > >> > > With the help of > Google > > > data, > > > > > we > > > > > > have looked at 12 of the top social> > > networks to answer a > > simple, > > > but > > > > > > highly interesting question:> > >> > > Where are they the most > > > popular?> > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > > The social networks we included in this survey were > MySpace, > > > > > > Facebook,> > > Hi5, Friendster, LinkedIn, Orkut, Last.fm, > > > LiveJournal, > > > > > > Xanga, Bebo,> > > Imeem and Twitter.> > > Popularity by country > > (how > > > we > > > > > got > > > > > > the data)> > >> > > Google Insights for Search makes this quite > > easy > > > for > > > > > > you. For a search> > > term (for example "MySpace"), it will > > > highlight > > > > > the > > > > > > regions where that> > > search term is the most popular. Google > > calls > > > > > this > > > > > > "regional interest".> > >> > > This "regional interest" should > give > > a > > > > > good > > > > > > indication of which regions> > > (in this case countries) a > social > > > > > network > > > > > > is most popular in.> > >> > > Google also provides a nice heat > map > > of > > > the > > > > > > results. We have included> > > the heapmaps for all the social > > > networks > > > > > > below.> > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.google.com/insights/search/#cat=&q=imeem&geo=&date=&clp=&cmpt=q > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> > >> > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > http://www.google.com/insights/search/#cat=&q=facebook&geo=&date=&clp=&cmpt=q > > > > > > > > > > > > > >> >> > --> > Taran Rampersad> > Presently in: San Fernando, > > > Trinidad> > > > > > > > > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED]> >> > http://www.knowprose.com> > > > > > > > http://www.your2ndplace.com> >> > Pictures: > > > > > > http://www.flickr.com/photos/knowprose/> >> > "Criticize by > > > creating." — > > > > > > Michelangelo> > "The present is theirs; the future, for which I > > > really > > > > > > worked, is mine." -> > Nikola Tesla> >> > > > > > > > _______________________________________________> > DIGITALDIVIDE > > > mailing > > > > > > list> > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net> > > > > > > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide> > To > > > > > unsubscribe, > > > > > > send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] > > > word > > > > > > UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.> >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________> DIGITALDIVIDE > > > mailing > > > > > list> > > > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net> > > > > > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide> To > > > unsubscribe, > > > > > > send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with > the > > > word > > > > > > UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message. > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > > > > News, entertainment and everything you care about at Live.com. > Get > > it > > > > > now! > > > > > > http://www.live.com/getstarted.aspx > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > > > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net > > > > > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > > > > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to > > > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] the word UNSUBSCRIBE > in > > > the > > > > > body of the message. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > > > > Joe Beckmann > > > > > 22 Stone Avenue > > > > > Somerville, MA 02143 > > > > > 617-625-9369 > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net > > > > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > > > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] the word UNSUBSCRIBE in > the > > > body of the message. > > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > > > > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net > > > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to > > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in > the > > > body of the message. > > > > > > _________________________________________________________________ > > > Got Game? Win Prizes in the Windows Live Hotmail Mobile Summer Games > > Trivia > > > Contest > > > http://www.gowindowslive.com/summergames?ocid=TXT_TAGHM > > > _______________________________________________ > > > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > > > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net > > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > > > To unsubscribe, send a message to > > [EMAIL PROTECTED] the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the > > body of the message. > > > > > > > > > > > -- > > Joe Beckmann > > 22 Stone Avenue > > Somerville, MA 02143 > > 617-625-9369 > > _______________________________________________ > > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net > > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > > To unsubscribe, send a message to > [EMAIL PROTECTED] the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the > body of the message. > > > _______________________________________________ > DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list > DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net > http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide > To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] the word UNSUBSCRIBE in > the body of the message. > -- Joe Beckmann 22 Stone Avenue Somerville, MA 02143 617-625-9369 _______________________________________________ DIGITALDIVIDE mailing list DIGITALDIVIDE@digitaldivide.net http://digitaldivide.net/mailman/listinfo/digitaldivide To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the body of the message.
