New Digital Opportunity Web Initiative To Elevate Voices >From Developing Nations
17 May 2002, New Delhi: Digital Opportunity Channel <www.digitalopportunity.org>, a Web portal and online community focused on information and communications technologies for global sustainable development, launched here today on UN World Telecommunications Day. Digital Opportunity Channel is a joint initiative of OneWorld <www.oneworld.net>, the online sustainable development and human rights network, and the Benton Foundation <www.benton.org>, the Washington-based non-profit organization that works to realize the social benefits made possible by the public interest use of information and communications technology (ICT). The visiting Director of OneWorld International Foundation, Anuradha Vittachi, spoke about the merits of the new channel and how it will help narrow the divide between developed and developing communities. ìThe point is that none of us has to rely just on our own isolated efforts any more. To amplify our power, there is the blendability of the new digital technologies, the multiplying power of networks, the interdependability of human beings - and, most important of all, the boundless power of goodwill.î Coordinated from India, Digital Opportunity Channel has a special emphasis on developing countries. "Developing countries have largely been marginalized in the global dialogue on the benefits and negative impacts of digital technologies,î said Kanti Kumar, channel editor. ìOur portal aims to give organizations and community leaders in the South a platform for their voice to be heard, a place where they can work together with colleagues around the world striving to develop smart strategies for using ICT to make a real and lasting difference in the lives of people living in poverty." Digital Opportunity Channel builds on OneWorld's experience of seven years in ICT for development and presents content from OneWorld's worldwide partnership of over 1250 development, human rights and environment NGOs. All these organizations are now using the Internet and other ICT to share knowledge and take action on poverty and human rights or in support of programmes that aim to meet the basic needs of the most disadvantaged peoples in the world. In the current issue of Foreign Policy magazine, UN Secretary General Kofi A. Annan has recommended OneWorld.net as one of his top Web sites, reflecting his belief that "Information and communications technologies are enormously powerful tools for development. One of the most pressing challenges is to harness this extraordinary force, spread it throughout the world, and make its benefits accessible and meaningful for all humanity, in particular the poor." The channel also brings in the invaluable experience of the Benton Foundation's Digital Divide Network <www.digitaldividenetwork.org> in building a community of practitioners, academics, policy leaders and people from ICT industries to help shape a shared responsibility in creating opportunity for all the world's people through appropriate use of emerging technologies. Benton Foundation's Andy Carvin, co-editor of the new portal, said: "Information about how the digital divide is being addressed in the U.S. and Europe is widely available. However, until now, there has not been a place to gain a global picture and explore the viewpoints, challenges and successes of grassroots communities in around the world. With this channel we aim to fill that gap." People without access to new information and communications technologies are increasingly excluded from education, healthcare, good governance and the ability to improve their own livelihood. The challenge is to ensure ICT no longer increases the gap between the rich and the poor but becomes an opportunity to help bring greater equality, understanding and solidarity. Digital Opportunity Channel seeks to help tackle this challenge. Available on the Web at www.digitalopportunity.org <http://www.digitalopportunity.org/>, the channel will feature news from around the globe, campaign actions, success stories, opinion pieces by leading commentators, in-depth analysis and research, events listings, a beginner's guide to digital divide issues, funding information, email digests and a dedicated search facility on ICT for development. OneWorld is funded for Digital Opportunity Channel by the UK Government Department for International Development <http://www.dfid.gov.uk/> and the Netherlands Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Directorate General for International Co-operation <http://www.minbuza.nl/english/>. The Benton Foundation's involvement in Digital Opportunity Channel is supported by the AOL Time Warner Foundation <http://www.aoltimewarnerfoundation.org/> and the Markle Foundation <http://www.markle.org/>. Kanti Kumar Editor, Digital Opportunity Channel OneWorld South Asia Third Floor 17 Panchsheel Commercial Centre Panchsheel Park New Delhi 110 017 Tel: +91-11-6498791, 6498794 Fax: +91-11-6498795 Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Digital Opportunity Channel: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/ OneWorld Home Page: http://www.oneworld.net/ OneWorld South Asia: http://www.oneworld.net/southasia/ ------------ ***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/>
