*** Democracies Online Newswire - http://www.e-democracy.org/do *** For those following digital divide issues around the world, this is an excellent newsletter. Subscribe from: http://www.bridges.org/newsletter/subscribe.html Steven Clift Democracies Online ---------- Forwarded message ---------- Date: Thu, 08 Feb 2001 11:20:01 +0000 From: Steve Wendel <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Bridges.org Newsletter, 7 Feb 2001, vol 2.2 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- BRIDGES.ORG NEWSLETTER Volume 2.2, 7 February 2001 *This newsletter is also available online at: http://www.bridges.org/newsletter/newsletter2_2.html -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- <INTRODUCTION> <UPDATE ON BRIDGES.ORG> Bridges.org Adds Two New Staff Members <BRIDGE BUILDER> * Sustainable Development Community Network <NEWS> * ILO Says New Technology Creates a �Larger Rift Between Rich and Poor� * G8 DOT-Force Seeks to Eliminate the Digital Divide * UNESCO Holds International Seminar on Digital Divide in Sri Lanka * Consumers International Issues Privacy@Net Report on Internet Privacy * OECD Forum Warns about Growing IT Access Gap Between Rich and Poor * EPF Study Predicts End of US Digital Divide * Stop Signs on the Web: Increased Internet Regulation * Embattled ICANN May Chase Lead Role in Pacific Region * Web Site Helps Impoverished Rice Farmers Fetch a Better Price, But Computer Access Remains a Problem * Packard Foundation Report Says Children's Computer Use Grows, But Gaps Still Persist <CONFERENCES & UPCOMING EVENTS> * MIT / Harvard E-Development Conference Archive Now Online * EU & US Digital Democracy: Technology and the Future of Local and Regional Governance * The Impact of Information Technology on Civil Society * 11th Annual Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference * Knowledge and Information Systems of the Urban Poor in Developing Countries E-Conference <LINKS> > NORTH AMERICA < * Mexico Has Been Slow to Develop Telecom * Mexicans Wait for Telephone Service * South Bronx (US) Report Card Mixed on Free Computers for Students > LATIN AMERICA < * The Hall of Mirrors: The Internet in Latin America > AFRICA < * Zimbabwe Liberalizes Telecommunications * Nigerian IT Professionals Task Government on Local Manufacture of Computers * Ugandan Minister Blames Hi-Tech for Crime * Lease Lines Offer New War Front for ISPs (Kenya) * How to Lend Small Sums to Poor Africans to Set Up Small Businesses (The Economist) * Taking Telecom Services to the Rural Communities (Nigeria) * Companies Floundering in E-Business Confusion (South Africa) * Plans to Set Up Infocom Development Authority (Mauritius) * Recycling Unwanted Computers to Needy Users in Africa > EUROPE < * Gov.uk Meets Cyber Targets * Internet Access Divides Workers * Analysis from Washington: Linking Russia Together > ASIA, PACIFIC < * Cisco Plans Network Schools, Says India Poised for Net-Driven Leap * India�s IT Boom: What�s Next * India�s Tech Boom Beginning to Reach the Poor * Pakistan Government Bans Use of Internet * Community Post Offices Go Online * Singapore Gives Internet Boost to Career Planning > MIDDLE EAST < * Egypt Gets First Free Access Internet Portal * Dubai Worried About Digital Divide * Turkish Children Arrested at Internet Cafes * OIC Networks to Bridge Digital Gap for Islamic Countries * Kuwait to Host First E-Business Conference in February <COPYRIGHT STATEMENT> <END> -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- INTRODUCTION -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Welcome to bridges.org�s monthly newsletter. Bridges.org is an international, nonprofit organization with a mission to help people in developing and emerging countries benefit from the opportunities offered by information and communications technology. This newsletter serves a number of functions. First, we aim to provide current news on issues related to the international �digital divide� through the �News�, �Conferences�, and �Links� sections of the newsletter. In the �Bridge Builder� section, we highlight the efforts of a particular organization or individual working to bridge the digital divide and put technology to use. In the �Update on bridges.org� section, we tell about our activities and projects. This newsletter is free and re-distributable as Open Content under the Open Publication License (www.opencontent.org). Please see our �copyright statement� below for more details. We would be happy to include input from our readers in this newsletter. We invite you to forward relevant news and stories that you would like to see covered. Finally, we will develop and expand this newsletter over time, and we welcome your comments. Please email the [EMAIL PROTECTED] -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- UPDATE ON BRIDGES.ORG -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- BRIDGES.ORG ADDS TWO NEW STAFF MEMBERS Bridges.org is pleased to welcome Kara Suter and Ellen McDermott to our team. As a program associate Kara will help us with organizational and project development. She will contribute by leading and supporting parts of the project work, coordinating volunteers and human resource matters, and helping build collaboration with other organizations. Ellen joins us on part-time loan from BusyInternet, a New York-based .com that is opening a series of Internet cafes in developing and emerging countries, starting in Accra, Ghana. As a bridges.org researcher and writer, Ellen will put together this newsletter and support our other project work. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- BRIDGE BUILDER -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT COMMUNICATIONS NETWORK The Sustainable Development Communications Network, SDCN, is a group of leading international non-governmental organizations working together to find ways of using the Internet to meet the goals of sustainable development. SDCN delivers sustainable development information and integrates the Internet with traditional communications media. Its various projects dealing with sustainability are carried out with partnership with other organizations throughout the world. The Network members co-operate to: * develop new tools and content about sustainable development; * build capacity for using electronic communications more effectively; * promote member information; and * share experiences about managing sustainable development communications. Through their Sustainable Development Gateway, SDCN: * makes available over 1200 documents related to sustainable development and such issues as business, communities & society, danger signs, environment, managing sustainability and regions. (see http://sdgateway.net/topics/); * recently launched "Sustainable Cities" to provide readers with an in-depth look at the innovative solutions being implemented by communities, non-governmental organizations, governments and the private sector. (see http://sdgateway.net/indepth.htm); * launched "Webworks," for non-profit organizations that deal with sustainable development and issues of Internet technology and presentation. Part of its structure is to share experiences (good and bad) regarding publishing to the web. (see http://sdgateway.net/webworks/default.htm); and * provides services such as a calendar of events, job bank, web ring, a roster of web sites on sustainable development, and links to news sites. The Sustainable Development Communications Network (SDCN) grew out of "Spinning the Web", a joint project of the Canadian-based International Development Research Council (IDRC) and the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) in August 1996. In October 1999, the Network refined its focus and changed its name to the Sustainable Development Communications Network. The SDCN is comprised of eleven members, three affiliates and two donor members. For more information or to contact SDCN, see http://sdgateway.net/. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- NEWS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- ILO SAYS NEW TECHNOLOGY CREATES A 'LARGER RIFT BETWEEN RICH AND POOR' In its annual World Employment Report, the International Labour Organization says that while ICTs have created new jobs in industrialized countries, in developing countries the growth has been slow. Further, even in countries where gains have been made, the gap between men and women is still significant. One possible solution, the study suggests, is more subsidies for emerging high-tech markets. Currently, the World Trade Organization restricts those kinds of government subsidies to the poorest countries. For more information see: http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/internetnews/story/0,7369,427268,00.html http://www.boston.com/dailyglobe2/024/business/Third_World_nations_threatened_as_digital_divide_grows_report_says+.shtml For the ILO�s World Employment Report see: http://www.ilo.org/public/english/employment/strat/stwer/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- G8 DOT-FORCE SEEKS TO ELIMINATE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE Next month, the G8's Digital Opportunity Task Force, or DOT Force, will release a preliminary plan on how it intends to fulfill its mandate of spreading the use of telecommunications and information technology throughout the developing world. Some of the details that have already emerged include a focus on human resources development, IT language training, the use of the Internet for e-commerce and government, and ensuring that telecommunications and IT development are integral to all future development programs. The DOT Force grew out of last year�s G8 meeting in Japan, where leaders of the world�s eight major industrialized democracies focused attention on the growing global digital divide. The DOT Force includes representatives from the public, private, and non-profit sectors of each of the G8 nations, as well as participants from developing countries. For more information see: http://www.oneworld.net/anydoc2.cgi?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww%2Etotaltele%2Ecom%2Fview%2Easp%3FArticleID%3D35534%26Pub%3Dtt%26categoryid%3D626 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- UNESCO HOLDS INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR ON DIGITAL DIVIDE IN SRI LANKA On January 22nd, UNESCO opened a week-long workshop to address issues of the digital divide in some of the poorest countries of the world. Participants discussed case studies and models, and exchanged experiences, views, strategies and techniques for the successful integration of the full spectrum of communication and information technologies at the community level. UNESCO also used the opportunity to announce its new program for Community Multimedia Centers, which combine community broadcasting with ICTs. For more on the seminar see: http://www.oneworld.net/anydoc2.cgi?url=http://www.unesco.org/webworld/news/000712_g8.shtml -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- CONSUMERS INTERNATIONAL ISSUES "PRIVACY@NET" REPORT ON INTERNET PRIVACY "Privacy@Net", a new report produced by Consumers International, compares international consumer privacy on the Internet. The report claims that although the EU has strict privacy and data protection legislation in place that is lacking in the US, some US firms seem to be doing a better job protecting privacy online than their European counterparts. For instance, the most popular US sites were more likely than the EU sites to give users a choice about being included in the company's mailing list or having their name passed on to third parties, despite legal obligations for EU-based sites to provide users with this choice. Nonetheless, the report concludes that many consumers are not aware of how much personal information they are giving away online, and that both US and European sites fall short of international standards for privacy protection. For the full report see: http://www.consumersinternational.org/news/pressreleases/fprivreport.pdf -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- OECD FORUM WARNS ABOUT GROWING IT ACCESS GAP BETWEEN RICH AND POOR At the OECD Emerging Market Economy Forum held in Dubai on 12-15 January, officials warned that the digital divide between rich and poor countries continues to grow. Herwig Schlogl, deputy secretary-general of the OECD, encouraged developing nations to make IT available through deregulation, infrastructure building and creating models for individual access. He cited Dubai's success with Internet integration and e-commerce initiatives -- including Dubai's "Internet City," the region�s first IT tax-free zone -- as a model for government development of a technology sector. For more information see: http://www.boot.co.za/reuters/jan01/divide18.htm For presentations made at the forum see: http://www.oecd.org/dsti/sti/it/ec/act/dubai_ec/index.htm For more information on Dubai's 'Internet City' see: http://www.dubaiinternetcity.com -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- EPF STUDY PREDICTS END OF US DIGITAL DIVIDE The Employment Policy Foundation (EPF) says that the "digital divide" in the United States will disappear of its own accord by 2009, with virtually all upper income households and 95 percent of lower income households owning computers. This optimistic view contrasts with the most recent �Falling Through the Net� study conducted by the US Department of Commerce stated that while progress has been made towards 'digital inclusion,' "much work remains to be done". For more information see the EPF Study at: http://www.epf.org/forecasts/2001/tf20010112.pdf For Falling Through the Net, October 2000, see: http://search.ntia.doc.gov/pdf/fttn00.pdf -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- STOP SIGNS ON THE WEB: INCREASED INTERNET REGULATION Despite the diffuse international nature of global networks, governments are starting to take a serious look at stricter Internet regulations at the national level. Government controls under consideration include giving the police access to email (Britain), outlawing access to gambling sites (South Korea), and requiring schools that receive federal funds for Internet connections to block material deemed harmful to children (United States). In an extreme case of regulation, China has essentially blocked its citizens from seeing the international Internet, creating instead a kind of national intranet, the content of which the government can control. For more information see: http://www.economist.com/printedition/PrinterFriendly.cfm?Story_ID=471742&CFID=373067&CFTOKEN=66875893 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- EMBATTLED ICANN MAY CHASE LEAD ROLE IN PACIFIC REGION The Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) indicated last week that it wants to play a leading role in assigning Chinese-language domain names. However, Mike Roberts, chief executive of ICANN, said that ICANN would work closely with the Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF), which is due to issue a report on the Chinese language domain name issues next month. Since ICANN oversees some of the fundamental elements of the Internet including domain name registration its actions are always closely scrutinized for democratic participation. The IETF develops many of the underlying technical standards used in the Internet. For more information see: http://www.totaltele.com/view.asp?ArticleID=35762&pub=tt&categoryid=0 For the IETF report, due in February, see: http://www.ietf.com/ -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- WEB SITE HELPS IMPOVERISHED RICE FARMERS FETCH A BETTER PRICE, BUT COMPUTER ACCESS REMAINS A PROBLEM A new web site called "TropRice" is helping Southeast Asian rice farmers get better access to market information. TropRice provides information about what kinds of rice are in demand, what market prices are, and what market trends are emerging, so farmers can earn more for what they raise and sell. Unfortunately, so far only the wealthiest farmers who have access to computers can take advantage of it. For more information see: http://www.thestandard.com/article/display/0,1151,21402,00.html To view TropRice see: http://www.isnar.org/irri/Troprice/Default.htm -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- PACKARD FOUNDATION REPORT SAYS CHILDREN'S COMPUTER USE GROWS, BUT GAPS STILL PERSIST According to "Children and Computer Technology", a new report by the Packard Foundation, seventy percent of US households with children ages 2 to 17 have computers, and 52 percent are connected to the Internet. A closer look at those numbers, however, reveals that only 22 percent of very low-income households have computers, compared to 91 percent of upper income households. For more information see: http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/22/technology/22COMP.html To read the report, see: http://www.futureofchildren.org/cct/index.htm -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- CONFERENCES & UPCOMING EVENTS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- MIT / HARVARD E-DEVELOPMENT CONFERENCE ARCHIVE NOW ONLINE The E-Development Conference, "Enabling Communities to Shape Their Future", held jointly by the MIT Media Lab and Harvard University in October 2000, has published transcripts of its sessions, which include: * Visions of E-Development, moderated by Hiawatha Bray of the Boston Globe * Technology, moderated by Jonathan Zittrain of Harvard Law School * Learning, moderated by Charles Nesson, Harvard Law School * Entrepreneurship, moderated by Deborah Spar, Harvard Business School The archive can be viewed at: http://cyber.law.harvard.edu/events/edev/ The E-Development conference was featured in the 1 December 2000 issue of this newsletter - see http://www.bridges.org/newsletter/newsletter1_4.html -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- EU & US DIGITAL DEMOCRACY: TECHNOLOGY AND THE FUTURE OF LOCAL AND REGIONAL GOVERNANCE European Union Center, University of Missouri, 8 March 2001 Discussions will include key issues for theory, practice and policy in advancing democracy and civil society through regional online government. Sessions will compare pertinent EU policies and programs on these issues to the US experience and articulate a trans-Atlantic research agenda to address this topic. For registration and more information see: http://www.cpac.missouri.edu/digdemo/index.htm -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- THE IMPACT OF INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY ON CIVIL SOCIETY Omni Shoreham Hotel, Washington DC, 15-16 March 2001 Sponsored by The Independent Sector The conference's four themes will be: (1) Charting the future of new technology: implications for civil society; (2) Creating vibrant spaces for civil society organizations on the Internet after e-commerce; (3) Building Community: is technology a unifying force?; and (4) At the speed of light: online philanthropy and resources serving the common good. For registration and more information: http://www.independentsector.org/programs/research/SRF2001.html -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- 11th ANNUAL COMPUTERS, FREEDOM AND PRIVACY CONFERENCE Hyatt Regency Hotel, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 6-9 March 2000 Each year at the Computers, Freedom and Privacy Conference (CFP), key members of the technical, government, business, education, non-profit, legal, law enforcement, security, media and hacker/cracker communities gather together to address the cutting edge questions in computing, freedom and privacy. For registration and more information: http://www.cfp2001.org/home.html -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- KNOWLEDGE AND INFORMATION SYSTEMS OF THE URBAN POOR IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES E-CONFERENCE 22 January-30 March 2001, Online (See Below) Discussion topics include: Where and how poor people get information; the role of information in the development of settlements and livelihoods; and modeling & analyzing information flows strengthening systems and processes. The conference is part of the research study undertaken by the Intermediate Technology Development Group (ITDG - http://www.oneworld.org/itdg/) and funded by DFID, on ways in which the information systems and knowledge of poor urban dwellers can be strengthened. To subscribe online see: http://www.jiscmail.ac.uk/cgi-bin/wa.exe?SUBED1=urban-poor-info&A=1. To subscribe by email, send the following message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] "join URBAN-POOR-INFO FIRSTNAME LASTNAME" -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- LINKS -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- === North America === MEXICO HAS BEEN SLOW TO DEVELOP TELECOM While Mexico�s telecom market has grown four times faster than its economy in the last decade, only 11 percent of the population has a fixed telephone line. Many say that considering Mexico�s relative wealth, this number should be much higher. http://www.totaltele.com/view.asp?ArticleID=35426&pub=newci&categoryid=735 MEXICANS WAIT FOR TELEPHONE SERVICE Despite deregulation of the telecom market, Mexico still has one of the lowest phone-lines-to-people ratios in Latin America. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/24/technology/24TELE.html SOUTH BRONX (US) REPORT CARD MIXED ON FREE COMPUTERS FOR STUDENTS Last year, every student in the South Bronx�s "Knowledge is Power" Program received a free computer for home use. Though some students have used their computers to excel in school, others cannot afford Internet access or use them to play video games. http://www.nytimes.com/2001/01/17/education/17COMP.html ===Latin America=== THE HALL OF MIRRORS: THE INTERNET IN LATIN AMERICA Ricardo G�mez of the IDRC's PAN Research Program explores the social implications of the Internet's explosive growth in Latin America. http://www.idrc.ca/pan/pubhall_e.htm ===Africa=== ZIMBABWE LIBERALIZES TELECOMMUNICATIONS After resisting deregulations for years, the Zimbabwean government announced that it is liberalizing the telecommunications industry and putting out industry guidelines for new private companies to follow. http://www.boot.co.za/news/jan01/zimbabwe15.htm NIGERIAN IT PROFESSIONALS TASK GOVERNMENT ON LOCAL MANUFACTURE OF COMPUTERS Nigerian IT executives have called on the Nigerian government to introduce policies that will encourage computer manufacturing in the country. http://allafrica.com/stories/200101180202.html Ugandan Minister Blames Hi-Tech for Crime http://allafrica.com/stories/200101140114.html Lease Lines Offer New War Front for ISPs (Kenya) http://allafrica.com/stories/200101160258.html How to lend small sums to poor Africans to set up small businesses (The Economist) http://www.economist.com/world/africa/displayStory.cfm?Story_ID=472432 Taking Telecom Services to the Rural Communities (Nigeria) http://allafrica.com/stories/200101180200.html Companies Floundering in E-Business Confusion (South Africa) http://allafrica.com/stories/200101180093.html Plans to Set Up Infocom Development Authority (Mauritius) http://allafrica.com/stories/200101190191.html Recycling Unwanted Computers to Needy Users in Africa http://www.balancingact-africa.com/news/back/balancing-act44.html ===Europe=== GOV.UK MEETS CYBER TARGETS More than 40 percent of UK government services are now online; the government expects that number to reach 75 percent by 2002. http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/uk_politics/newsid_1121000/1121862.stm Internet Access Divides Workers http://www.guardianunlimited.co.uk/internetnews/story/0,7369,423377,00.html Analysis from Washington: Linking Russia Together http://www.rferl.org/nca/features/2001/01/10012001104655.asp ===Asia/Pacific=== CISCO PLANS NETWORK SCHOOLS, SAYS INDIA POISED FOR NET-DRIVEN LEAP Cisco�s chairman John Chambers addressed a meeting of Indian technology experts, telling them their countries had significant potential to capitalize on its already strong cadre of world class engineers. In a related story, Chambers announced that Cisco would establish training centers in India to train 100,000 new engineers, to make up for an expected shortage of engineers by 2005. http://dailynews.yahoo.com/h/nm/20010116/tc/india_cisco_dc_1.html http://www.siliconindia.com/tech/tech_pgtwo.asp?newsno=7058&newscat=Technology India�s IT Boom: What�s Next http://www.unesco.org/webworld/observatory/in_focus/index.shtml#EN IBM India Supports Center for Training the Blind http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/160507.html India�s Tech Boom Beginning to Reach the Poor http://www.cnn.com/2001/TECH/computing/01/16/india.tech.ap/index.html Pakistan Government Bans Use of Internet http://www.hindustantimes.com/nonfram/221200/detFOR04.asp Community Post Offices Go Online http://vietnamnews.vnagency.com.vn/2001-01/16/Heads.htm#Community_post_offices_go_online Singapore Gives Internet Boost to Career Planning http://asia.internet.com/biz/2001/01/0111-singapore.html ===Middle East=== EGYPT GETS FIRST FREE INTERNET PORTAL Egyptians can now get free Internet access, thanks to Egyptian start-up Noor Advanced Technology, in partnership with U.S.-based Cisco Systems and Japan's NCR. http://www.totaltele.com/view.asp?ArticleID=35824&pub=tt&categoryid=626 Dubai Worried About Digital Divide http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/middle_east/newsid_1119000/1119690.stm Turkish Children Arrested at Internet Cafes http://www.zdnet.co.uk/news/2001/1/ns-20113.html OIC Networks to Bridge Digital Gap for Islamic Countries http://asia.internet.com/biz/2001/01/0111-malaysia.html Kuwait to Host First E-Business Conference in February http://search.ft.com/search/multi/globalarchive.jsp?id=000918001645 -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- COPYRIGHT STATEMENT -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Bridges.org believes in providing free resources and information for anyone to use. This newsletter is freely distributable and reusable in accordance with our Open Publication License. Please distribute it! Our formal copyright statement is below. Copyright (c) 2001 by bridges.org. This material may be distributed only subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Open Publication License, v1.0, 8 June 1999 or later (the latest version is presently available at http://www.opencontent.org/openpub/). Distribution of substantively modified versions of this document is allowed, however, we request that you notify us. Articles referenced in this newsletter naturally remain property of their respective copyright holders. -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Comments on the newsletter? Topics you would like to see covered in the future? Please email the [EMAIL PROTECTED] How to contact bridges.org: Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Web: http://www.bridges.org/ United States office: 2000 P Street, NW Suite #240 Washington, D.C. 20036 Tel: +1 202 776 0120 Fax: +1 202 776 0110 South Africa office: PO Box 1159 Durbanville 7551 Tel: +27 21 970 1302 Fax: +27 21 970 1303 To subscribe this newsletter, please send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "subscribe news" in the body (not the subject line). To unsubscribe, send a message to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with "unsubscribe news" in the body. If there are any problems, please email the [EMAIL PROTECTED] <END> *** Please send submissions to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** To subscribe, e-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED] *** *** Message body: SUB DO-WIRE *** *** To unsubscribe instead, write: UNSUB DO-WIRE *** *** Please forward this post to others and encourage *** *** them to subscribe to the free DO-WIRE service. ***
