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What's New at Digital Opportunity Channel http://www.digitalopportunity.org + ---------------------------------------------------- + For all the news and analysis about the WSIS summit from a civil society perspective, please visit our Special Coverage section at: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/section/dochannel/wsis + ---------------------------------------------------- + ********************************* Latest News http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1138 ********************************* OH MY NEWS! ANYONE CAN BE A REPORTER ------------------------------------- Which online news service recently played an instrumental role in the election of a President? The South Korean on-line news service 'Ohmynews' is probably the only example to date of a Net-based initiative that has made a decisive difference in a presidential election. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69902/1138/493 $53.7M FOR TECH-BASED ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN RURAL US ------------------------------------------------------ Last week, the US Department of Agriculture (USDA) announced 128 awards totalling $53.7 million for rural tech-based economic development initiatives. The 84 distance learning and telemedicine grants, which total $32.4 million, are aimed to provide greater educational opportunities and medical service to rural citizens in 41 states. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69867/1138/493 ARAB YOUTH LEARN COMPUTER SKILLS AT TRAINING CENTRES ---------------------------------------------------- An after school programme for Arab youth in the West Bank city of Ramallah is providing students a safe place to interact and be creative while learning technology skills. Youth, ages 10 to 18, have access to high-tech equipment, professional software and adult mentors to help them develop the self-confidence and enthusiasm for learning they need to be successful in the future. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69866/1138/493 CHINA RELEASES CYBER DISSIDENT QI YANCHEN ------------------------------------------ The Chinese government has released from prison cyberdissident Qi Yanchen before completion of his four-year sentence for alleged subversion and ìputting out anti-government newsî by posting pro-democracy articles on the Internet, Reporters Without Borders has confirmed. China remains by far the world's biggest prison for cyber dissidents and Internet users, with at least 37 currently in jail for speaking out online. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69737/1138/493 CRIS WELCOMES INCLUSION OF COMMUNICATION IN WSIS DRAFT DECLARATION ------------------------------------------------------------------ The Communication Rights in the Information Society (CRIS) campaign has welcomed the inclusion of Paragraph 4 - which refers to communication as a basic human need - in the draft declaration of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS). It called on all governments, however, to ensure that communication as a central and crucial human activity remains in the final declaration that will be presented at the summit in December 2003. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69735/1138/493 PAKISTAN TO SET UP WIRELESS EXCHANGES ------------------------------------- Pakistan plans to establish Wireless Local Loop (WLL) system exchanges all over the country, including rural areas and mountainous terrains. The aim is to tackle unemployment and usher in development in areas that have remained untouched. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69734/1138/493 CIVIL SOCIETY PONDERS ALTERNATIVE DECLARATION FOR WSIS ------------------------------------------------------ Civil society organisations (CSOs) are frustrated that a large number of their proposals have been ignored by state officials crafting the declaration for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in December 2003. CSOs are now deliberating on an alternative declaration of their own for delegates' consideration at the summit. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69632/1138/493 NEW ONLINE RESOURCES FOR PARLIAMENTARIANS OF THE AMERICAS --------------------------------------------------------- The Inter-Parliamentary Forum of the Americas (FIPA) has launched the latest version of the Virtual Parliament of the Americas, an online tool enabling parliamentarians to communicate and work together on issues of hemispheric importance. The project intends to address the communication needs expressed by FIPA's member parliamentarians. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69628/1138/493 MICROSOFT TO SUPPORT ANGOLA'S TECHNOLOGY STRATEGY ------------------------------------------------- Microsoft will support the Angolan government in formulating its information technology strategy and assist with projects worth US$ 10 million. It will work with the government to set up partnership with Angolan firms dealing in computing and select five to officially represent the country at the World Summit on the Information Society. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69623/1138/493 U.S. GOVT ANNOUNCES TOP GRANT AWARDS ------------------------------------ The U.S. Department of Commerce has announced the award of almost $14 million in Technology Opportunities Program (TOP) grants to 28 nonprofit organizations. The grants demonstrate how ICTs can address public concerns over areas such as economic development, housing, public safety, health and e-government. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69539/1138/493 ********************************* Analysis http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1134 ********************************* AN OPEN LETTER TO FELLOWS OF TWAS ---------------------------------- Most scientists in the developing world do not get all the information they need. Subbiah Arunachalam of the M. S. Swaminathan Research Foundation, in this open letter to fellows of the Third World Academy of Sciences (TWAS), stresses the need to support institutional self-archiving and open access for better access and visibility of such information. TWAS is meeting soon in Beijing. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69744/1134/493 ********************************* Get Involved http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/1112 ********************************* AIDS DAY COMPETITION FOR YOUNG RADIO, TV PROFESSIONALS ------------------------------------------------------ If you're aged between 18 and 34 and fancy yourself as a budding radio or TV director, now's the time to get creative. MTV and OneWorld are running a global competition in the run up to World AIDS Day, on 1 December 2003, to enable young people to produce and submit original audio or video public service announcements that convey the messages of MTV's award winning HIV/AIDS awareness campaign, Staying Alive. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69641/1112/493 COMPETITION FOR ETRANSPARENCY CASE STUDIES ------------------------------------------ The eGovernment for Development Information Exchange is seeking short case studies involving use of ICTs to improve public sector transparency in developing/transitional economies. All case studies accepted for publication will receive a £150 payment. The best three cases will attract a total £300 payment. You can submit case studies using the online form or by email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] Last date for submissions: 10 October 2003. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69640/1112/493 ********************************* Partner News http://www.digitalopportunity.org/article/archive/4678 ********************************* BELLANET COMES OUT WITH NEW ANNUAL REPORT ----------------------------------------- Bellanet has published its Annual Report for April 2002-March 2003. Included in this report (910kb, PDF) are the highlights of important initiatives such as: the new strategic programme directions, results of the external evaluation, present initiatives and a snap shot of Bellanet's financial situation. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69739/4678/493 IEARN SIERRA LEONE, TAKINGITGLOBAL ORGANISE WSIS AWARENESS ACTIVITIES ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Interactive online and offline discussions and phone-in programmes were held recently in Sierra Leone to increase the level of awareness about the World Summit on the Information Society. Organised by the youth groups of the TakingITGlobal Sierra Leone Network, they received an overwhelming response and brought ICT and young people in the mainstream of the nation's public discussion and opinion. http://www.digitalopportunity.org/link/gotoarticle/addhit/69064/4678/493 Digital Opportunity Channel http://www.digitalopportunity.org Promoting Digital Opportunities for All Editor: Kanti Kumar Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] You can manage your email digest subscriptions with Digital Opportunity Channel and OneWorld by visiting: http://www.digitalopportunity.org/bulkmail/subscriptionlist/ You will need to log in with your nickname and password, or register for (free) OneWorld/Digital Opportunity Channel membership. ------------ ***GKD is solely supported by EDC, a Non-Profit Organization*** To post a message, send it to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To subscribe or unsubscribe, send a message to: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>. 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