New Web portal will promote digital opportunities worldwide OneWorld <www.oneworld.net>, the online sustainable development and human rights network, is preparing to launch Digital Opportunity Channel, in collaboration with the Benton Foundation <www.benton.org>, the Washington-based non-profit that works to realize the social benefits made possible by the public interest use of communications technology.
Digital Opportunity Channel <www.digitalopportunity.org> will focus on the use of ICTs (information and communications technologies) for global sustainable development, with a special emphasis on developing countries. The site will be launched publicly the week of 17 May 2002 to coincide with UN World Telecommunications Day, which this year is celebrated under the theme, "ICT for all: empowering people to cross the digital divide". Digital Opportunity Channel will build on Benton Foundation's Digital Divide Network (DDN) <www.digitaldividenetwork.org> and OneWorld's seven years experience in ICT for development. The site will present content from OneWorld's partnership of over 1000 NGOs around the world and DDN's network of practitioners and policymakers. Other civil society actors, international organisations, governments and businesses engaged in harnessing the full potential of ICT for sustainable development will also be involved in the initiative. Digital Opportunity Channel will be coordinated from India, which has one of the largest populations of the poorest and marginalized in the world - and at the same time shows the biggest potential in ICT for development. The portal will also act as an online community and innovation lab for people working in the field of ICT for development both in the developing and developed world. Organisations working on ICT and digital divide issues are invited to participate in Digital Opportunity Channel. Further information is available at <www.digitalopportunity.org>. * For enquiries about becoming a participating organisation contact Myriam Horngren, OneWorld partnership and channels co-ordinator, Tel +44 (0)20 7735 4512 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> * For media enquiries and launch information contact Glen Tarman, OneWorld publicity manager, Tel +44 (0)20 7735 4541 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> * For corporate support and sponsorship opportunities contact Ann Longley, OneWorld corporate relations manager, Tel +44 7091 4509 Email <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Notes: 1. OneWorld <www.oneworld.net> is a non-profit network (made up of 10 OneWorld centres in the North and South and a partner community of over 1000 organisations) that aims to harness the democratic potential of the Internet for human rights, sustainable development and an end to world poverty. OneWorld is a global policy advisor on ICT for development. The organisation is a representative of the G8 DOT Force <www.dotforce.org> and other international alliances taking appropriate action on ensuring new technology is a vital tool in promoting social and economic justice globally and effectively supports initiatives that aim to meet the basic needs of the most disadvantaged peoples in our world. 2. The Digital Divide Network <www.digitaldividenetwork.org>, a project of the Benton Foundation, is a virtual network offering a range of information, tools and resources on digital divide developments for people and communities interested in working together to bridge the divide. The Benton Foundation (www.benton.org) is a non-profit leader in accelerating digital opportunity, serving as a catalyst for developing innovative strategies to bridge the digital divide across the US and around the world. Benton also works with fellow non-profit organisations to improve the ways they use the Internet to communicate effectively. ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, an NGO that is a GKP member*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. In the 1st line of the message type: subscribe gkd OR type: unsubscribe gkd Archives of previous GKD messages can be found at: <http://www.edc.org/GLG/gkd/>
