WE IN GOA have long been using the Internet... since a little before 1997, when expats and people then active on Goanet lobbied for an Internet node in Panjim.
But what are we really using the Net for? Some interesting examples have come up, but, for the most, this potent tool lies grossly underused. Can those interested at Goanet informally work towards using the Net as a tool to empower the average man or woman in Goa? Specifically, if we all focussed on initiatives that help, the Net could be used to (a) end isolation and give the citizen a voice (b) as a tool for networking and for social advocacy (c) to strengthen the participation and power of the average citizen in the political process, from which the average person is largley left out (apart from a token vote once every five years) (d) to outline expectations and improve the performance of elected officials (e) to improve the citizen's access to government and its services (f) for education and (g) for disseminating knowledge, including that of the indigenous kind. These ideas hit me while reading a book on empowerment through information technology, and it seemed there is much to do in a Goan context. Just thinking aloud... FN -- ------------------------------------------------------------------------- Frederick Noronha (FN) | http://www.fredericknoronha.net Freelance Journalist | http://www.bytesforall.org http://goalinks.pitas.com | http://joingoanet.shorturl.com http://linuxinindia.pitas.com | http://www.livejournal.com/users/goalinks ------------------------------------------------------------------------- T: 0091.832.2409490 or 2409783 M: 0 9822 122436 ------------------------------------------------------------------------- ########################################################################## # Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts # # More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others # ##########################################################################
