Kris,
Many countries do definitely need to provide the basic necessities for
their citizens. The poverty can be overwhelming. It problems and
issues are complex, as probably are the ways to overcome them. However,
when I was in El Salvador this fall teaching a technology class to
teachers and Ministry of Education folks, my students there believed
that educational technology would help their students learn the skills
that could help their country develop a greater presence in the world
economy. They believed that this would help grow their economy and in
turn help them deal with the issues caused by poverty. I can see the
logic behind their thinking. No one thing is going to improve the
living conditions for the poor. It takes real commitment and caring
from a variety of sources. However, the technology that has allowed
this global discussion to take place could create the resources to
really tackle, and not just talk about these issues.
Linda Ullah
Foothill College Krause Center for Innovation
[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.foothill.edu/kci
On Dec 11, 2005, at 6:57 PM, Kris Dev wrote:
Dear all,
I think, people in the third world and most under privileged nations
need
the very basic necessities of life, for a decent living. In the
absence of
these basic necessities, no amount of superfluous things, can transform
society, as a whole. It can transform part of a socirty, but create
more
problems, than before, due to the stark contrasts.
Water, food, clothing, shelter, a decent living conditions, roads,
rails,
ships and planes, radio, TV, phone, etc are essential, before we can
think
of a computer - be it $10 or $1000!!
If we the elite of the world and those in the developed world, can
stop the
atrocities being committed around the globe, preveny arms and drugs
trade,
corruption and terrorism and all the money wasted in the so called
security
of nations, then we can create a more peaceful and prosperous world.
For this to happen, we need to first ban currency circualtion, freeze
all
the assets of all individuals and organizations, including political
parties, partcularly, those ill gotten wealth, stashed in swiss banks
and
others and make all transactions transparent for everyone to see.
If the basic necessities are taken care, then, we can use ICT as a
wagon of
transformation, to transform communities and society as a whole.
We can create good global health standards, literacy and ICT education
and
help children and communites grow. Scince and technology should be
used as a
cementing force for uniform growth and not a sa dividing foece for
distorted
growth, lest at sometime in future, it would have a disastrous effect
on the
whole humanity.
We have come thus far in life and we should now be careful to proceed
further, so as not to loose what we have gained. Technology alone can
help
us achieve this, provided we know how to use it!!
Kris Dev.
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