http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/ What's on the minds of young leaders from around the globe? en-us http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/68845
From November 26th to December 16th, join us as we demystify the terms of Internet governance, decode acronyms like IGF, and discuss a proposal for meaningful participation of young people in the next IGF meeting in Rio de Janeiro in November 2007.

Background

Young people were active contributors to the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process – raising awareness of important issues; mobilizing at the national, regional and international levels to provide policy input; and creating networks to support local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects.

The WSIS process gave birth to a multitude of action lines, one of which is the Internet Governance Forum. In particular, the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society invited the Secretary-General to convene a new forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue (Para 67). The Internet Governance Forum (www.intgovforum.org) was convened October 30th – November 2nd in an open and inclusive process as indicated in Para72 of the Tunis Agenda.

Why?

1. To build on the past activities of the World Summit on the Information Society youth caucus while empowering a new generation of young leaders interested in follow-up activities around the Internet Governance Forum

2. To provide an opportunity to learn more about Internet governance in an informal, online environment.

3. To identify areas of interest and importance to young people within the context of Internet governance

4. To help plan for youth leadership at the Internet Governance Forum 2007

When?

From November 26th to December 16th 2006 a three week moderated discussion will take place.

What?

Week 1: Demystifying Internet Governance

Week 2: Decoding the Internet Governance Forum

Week 3: Progressive Involvement: Youth @ Rio - IGF 2007

There will be a moderator for each week to help guide and shape discussions including an overall expert who is a respected voice in the realm of Internet Governance.

Who?

§ Young people passionate about the potential of Internet technologies who want to get involved in a global debate about its governance;

§ Youth working in the area of the Information Society/ICT4D

§ Youth-oriented organizations

§ Networks/Community of Practice on IG

§ Youth issue supporters

§ You!

Where?

To subscribe, please send a blank email to YouthandIG-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org For enquiries, please email titi@mindset.co.za ]]> Tue, 21 Nov 2006 02:21:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/68845 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/24218
Do you feel you know more of computers and technology than your teachers/educators/peers?
Do you feel you could even improve/build on/adapt the technology you use?
Do you use this technology to broaden your horizon and communicate with people all over the world?

Then please fill out the questionnaire at www.101research.nl/powerusers for an international research project by the Education Development Centre (EDC.

For people whose mother tongue is not English we apologize: the questionnaire is only available in English. We nevertheless hope you will take the effort to participate in this project and be able to influence this research which is, after all, about you.

For teachers, intermediaries:

After a decade of work focusing on building the capacity of youth and adults to use technology as a tool for living, learning and working, the Education, Employment and Community programmes at the Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC) launched a long-term research initiative to learn from and with children who are the power users of technology.

This Power Users of Technology Initiative attempts to focus on Power Users on a large scale. Questions include: What happens to youth when their technology capacity is highly developed? How does this capacity shape thinking and reasoning, educational and career decisions, family and social interactions? How do youth translate their technology skills and interests into “currency” in a global information society?

An important goal in the initiative is to hear from Power Users themselves what they think. A first step is therefore to identify these Power Users and ask them how they would define themselves. In collaboration with EDC / EDC Europe, the Dutch research company 101 Research has formulated a questionnaire on this topic. Although the questionnaire is in English, we would like as many potential Power Users from as many countries as possible to fill out this survey.

Please spread far and wide across your networks.

We appreciate your support in bringing this great initiative to a success!

The questionnaire can be filled in at: www.101research.nl/powerusers

Thank you very much!

www.edc.org


]]> Mon, 25 Apr 2005 04:21:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/24218 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22543 1. Engaging on the 'documents: A lot more preparation on all grounds including Youth caucus to feed into these but first a proper orientation around the issues at hand. Major parts are shifted till the next prepcom - IG mainly.
2. On Words to Action: NYC Phase II up and Running with initial 8 countries, WSYA and Radio on Better track, partnership with Milset for Parallel Youth COngress on Track, ICV and YC collarborating on national strategies...great...did Ileave anything out? Reserved a whooping 300 m2 for the Pavillion today with no idea who would be paying - hope we get the request and can have a jamboree...
3. People: So many 'new' faces to the whole process - missing a lot of actors from phase II - what happens to conitnuity? Pressure becomes a lot more on those who have been engaged so far even though they find this phase a bit blurry as well
4. Supporters: A huge thanks to the following organisations fo rthier support - SchoolNet Africa (www.schoolnetafrica.org) as the Executive Secretariat (hey if they don't say 'Go' I may no tbe able to; IISD www.iisd.ca - For Terri :-); CTA (www.cta.nl) for the First mini-grants for the Rural National Youth Campaigns; to the World Summit Award and ICNM (www.wsis-award.org); to TIG for the Technical Platform;to the various organisations the Youth Caucus memebrs who were aroudn belong to...If I have forgotten any please forgive

Hmmm...]]> Fri, 25 Feb 2005 13:32:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22543 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22480 1. Does not speak any language outside of Ticket, Passport and amount of Swiss Francs
2. Does not care that you had to run to catch the bus because you were late for a meeting since they are such timely people
3. That a weekly ticket really is better if you are staying for a week or not...

Hmmm...I owe them a lot of money...but now have a had a full well grounded and rounded experience of the Genevan Canton...Though a friend tells me these 'Greenbeings' only show up at the end of the month when they are trying to meet thier monthly quota's :-)]]> Wed, 23 Feb 2005 05:23:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22480 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22469 Discussionon Implementation and FOllow-up after Tunis - has been transferred to Prepcom 3 and no assurances that any formal follow-up wil be done in between...Hmmm
What does this portend for other discussions around Financing and Internet Governance...And most folks still have global funding mechanisms in mind- no light on the Nation's capabilities to support little 'unglobal' schmes and initiatives within the information society in thier boundaries - or maybe they are not forgettign it simply that it is not well articulated...Hope the fog gets clearer as we move along to the end of the meetings...The Rural Youth National Cmapaigns (we are looking for a better acronym so I will try various ones out as the days go by) were annouced and a mail sent to the wider list...Looking for more funding so if you know of any one or organisations- please buzz and bug me with the information...WSYA is also getting into better shape (www.youthaward.org) so is the Radio channel (www.wsya-radio.org)

Forgive all Typos in this email as I type at 8:40 pm Genevan time in the Cyber Cafe in the wise and ancient UN A Building next to the only entrance still open (I got locked in last week Tuesday as I thought it was the glory days of CICG at Perpcom I when we could work till late and still get out without trying to talk to a Camera :-))
Enjoy...Till I find space to sit again...]]> Tue, 22 Feb 2005 14:34:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22469 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22446 Add to this the fact that I personally find the Palais quite daunting navigatinally...
The prepcom issues: Financing, Internet Governance, follow-up to the Summit, Political chapeau etc etc...well lwill fill you in as I go along though I have been here for a week by tomorrow - more of House Keeeping and Planning around the National Youth Camapigns, World Summit Youth Awards and Partnerships with the International Conference of Volunteers...

Working for the organisation that is the Executive Secretariat (www.schoolnetafrica.org)also means I have to wear that hat intermittently depending on who els eis around form there...welll all good...]]> Mon, 21 Feb 2005 12:28:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/22446 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/15867 Is the hand white or Yellow and is it on 'top'? (See buddhagurl8's comments in the Global Gallery)
Look again - it comes from the upper part of the painting but holds the lower part of the globe - while the other, emerging from where the race is most dominant, comes from the lower part of the picture to hold tight to the upper part of the globe - One world, One Unity irrespective of where one comes from, Peace is universal...
As to clothes - its reflective of the dominanat cultural attire - the peoples of the South predominantly do not wear long sleeved clothes and the Peoples of the North do...probably has a lot to do with the weather...:-)
Note that both 'were' bound by fetters of iron which are partly broken...my question would be where is the source/origin/beginning of this? Who 'secures' it?
The Globe with the hands is such a poignant picture filled with mysteries it largely over-shadows the presence of the myriad races reflected behind, the scroll with 'Rights' clearly visisble and the symbols of equal justice above; and the shadow figures underneath.
I see the deeply affected Africa, haltingly held together by 'band aid'...striking right through its heart and civilisation...it brings to mind Chinua Achebe's masterpiece...'Things Fall Apart and the centre cannot hold, Mayhem, Anarchy is loosed upon the land'...A result of mans' inhumanity to man...
Will the world survive its present mayhem? For a time and a season yes - but we have too look inward before we totally self-destruct...

Faith...Hope...Love...Unity...Peace]]> Thu, 22 Apr 2004 15:56:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/15867 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/15122 By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN

Published: February 29, 2004

BANGALORE, India

Indians are so hospitable. I got an ovation the other day from a roomful
of Indian 20-year-olds just for reading perfectly the following
paragraph: "A bottle of bottled water held 30 little turtles. It didn't
matter that each turtle had to rattle a metal ladle in order to get a
little bit of noodles, a total turtle delicacy. The problem was that
there were many turtle battles for less than oodles of noodles."

I was sitting in on an "accent neutralization" class at the Indian call
center 24/7 Customer. The instructor was teaching the would-be Indian
call center operators to suppress their native Indian accents and speak
with a Canadian one ? she teaches British and U.S. accents as well, but
these youths will be serving the Canadian market. Since I'm originally
from Minnesota, near Canada, and still speak like someone out of the
movie "Fargo," I gave these young Indians an authentic rendition of "30
Little Turtles," which is designed to teach them the proper Canadian
pronunciations. Hence the rousing applause.

Watching these incredibly enthusiastic young Indians preparing for their
call center jobs ? earnestly trying to soften their t's and roll their
r's ? is an uplifting experience, especially when you hear from their
friends already working these jobs how they have transformed their
lives. Most of them still live at home and turn over part of their
salaries to their parents, so the whole family benefits. Many have
credit cards and have become real consumers, including of U.S. goods,
for the first time. All of them seem to have gained self-confidence and
self-worth.

A lot of these Indian young men and women have college degrees, but
would never get a local job that starts at $200 to $300 a month were it
not for the call centers. Some do "outbound" calls, selling things from
credit cards to phone services to Americans and Europeans. Others deal
with "inbound" calls ? everything from tracing lost luggage for U.S.
airline passengers to solving computer problems for U.S. customers. The
calls are transferred here by satellite or fiber optic cable.

I was most taken by a young Indian engineer doing tech support for a
U.S. software giant, who spoke with pride about how cool it is to tell
his friends that he just spent the day helping Americans navigate their
software. A majority of these call center workers are young women, who
not only have been liberated by earning a decent local wage (and
therefore have more choice in whom they marry), but are using the job to
get M.B.A.'s and other degrees on the side.

I gathered a group together, and here's what they sound like: M. Dinesh,
who does tech support, says his day is made when some American calls in
with a problem and is actually happy to hear an Indian voice: "They say
you people are really good at what you do. I am glad I reached an
Indian." Kiran Menon, when asked who his role model was, shot back:
"Bill Gates ? [I dream of] starting my own company and making it that
big." I asked C. M. Meghna what she got most out of the work:
"Self-confidence," she said, "a lot of self-confidence, when people come
to you with a problem and you can solve it ? and having a lot of
independence." Because the call center teams work through India's night
? which corresponds to America's day ? "your biological clock goes
haywire," she added. "Besides that, it's great."

There is nothing more positive than the self-confidence, dignity and
optimism that comes from a society knowing it is producing wealth by
tapping its own brains ? men's and women's ? as opposed to one just
tapping its own oil, let alone one that is so lost it can find dignity
only through suicide and "martyrdom."

Indeed, listening to these Indian young people, I had a déjà vu. Five
months ago, I was in Ramallah, on the West Bank, talking to three young
Palestinian men, also in their 20's, one of whom was studying
engineering. Their hero was Yasir Arafat. They talked about having no
hope, no jobs and no dignity, and they each nodded when one of them said
they were all "suicide bombers in waiting."

What am I saying here? That it's more important for young Indians to
have jobs than Americans? Never. But I am saying that there is more to
outsourcing than just economics. There's also geopolitics. It is
inevitable in a networked world that our economy is going to shed
certain low-wage, low-prestige jobs. To the extent that they go to
places like India or Pakistan ? where they are viewed as high-wage,
high-prestige jobs ? we make not only a more prosperous world, but a
safer world for our own 20-year-olds.
]]> Wed, 24 Mar 2004 02:27:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/15122 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9869
Given that sentiment, it's tempting to think Jefferson would have approved of a new Web-based repository intended to close what the site's developers describe as an ever-widening gap between citizens' ability to monitor the government and the government's ability to monitor its citizens.
Researchers at the MIT Media Lab unveiled the Government Information Awareness, or GIA, website Friday. Using applications developed at the Media Lab, GIA collects and collates information about government programs, plans and politicians from the general public and numerous online sources. Currently the database contains information on more than 3,000 public figures.
Read more @ http://www.wired.com/news/privacy/0,1848,59495,00.html

How replicable this will be for Southern Countries where information is mainly not virtually located.
Great though!
]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2003 07:12:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9869 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9868 Great though!
]]> Wed, 09 Jul 2003 07:10:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9868 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9844 The word hass not much menaing for me guess it does express how i think of me now..in need of definite movement..
Have a great week all!]]> Mon, 07 Jul 2003 05:25:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9844 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9707 Hmm...]]> Tue, 01 Jul 2003 04:25:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9707 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9269
The eContent programme was adopted by the Council on the 22 December 2000 for a period covering the years 2001 to 2005,
with a budget of 100 MEURO.
In particular, the eContent programme, as part of the eEurope Action Plan, contributes to its third objective:
" [to] stimulate the use of the Internet"

The Commission adopted on the 15t[th] March 2001 the eContent Work Programme covering the actions to be undertaken during the period 2001 - 2002.
Continuous submission scheme for feasibility projects open until 28 May 2004 at 1700. Candidate countries to participate in eContent programme: Czech Republic, Romania, Slovenia, Malta, Estonia, Latvia, Poland, Turkey and Hungary.
Read more @ http://www.cordis.lu/econtent/policy.htm
]]> Mon, 02 Jun 2003 10:15:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/9269 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8584
PRESS RELEASE
14 April 2003

Mobile Content to Change Lives: The right local information at the right time in the right place

The Vodafone Group Foundation has announced support for OneWorlds pioneering work using mobile phones in Africa for sharing local knowledge. The system to be piloted in Kenya and South Africa will focus on vital information for local communities like market prices and HIV/AIDS.
This project is part of The Open Knowledge Network (OKN), a major cross sector initiative emerging from the G8 Digital Opportunity Task (DOT) Force, aimed at overcoming the digital divide through the provision of local content. The OKN will connect existing knowledge centers in developing countries into a new network to unlock the potential of the poorest communities to use Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs) for development.
Distributing OKN content by SMS and voice will expand the reach of the OKN in impoverished communities in the developing world where mobile penetration is rapidly increasing, says Ann Longley, Mobile Product Manager with OneWorld International. The Open Knowledge Network aims to promote content and information exchange on knowledge that can make a life or death difference to the majority
of the worlds population - from AIDS to education, agriculture to human rights. Mobile telephony will be a critical communication channel in this initiative.
The project will take the form of a 6-month pilot study in Kenya, Senegal, South Africa and India and will be designed to achieve proof of concept with a view to integration across the OKN network. The pilot will use commodity market
prices delivered to phones via SMS and voice as market research identified market information as one of the most critical information requirements for the key
target groups.Providing relevant, accurate and timely information via mobile phones is expected to enhance the quality of life and life chances for the small businesses and poor families in the communities who will be invited to take advantage of this service. These advantages should be set in the context of the broader OKN initiative. OKN aims fundamentally to harness the power of ICTs to enable
marginalised people to make positive changes to their lives. The UN Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) focusing on poverty, hunger, education, gender, health and
environmental sustainability provide a framework within which to qualify the impact that the OKN intends to make.

John Logan, Director of the Vodafone Group Foundation says, The Foundation is pleased to support this ground-breaking work. It has a strong fit with our global aim to share the benefits of mobile technology as widely as possible and we
are delighted to have OneWorld as a partner.]]> Wed, 16 Apr 2003 06:24:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8584 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8458 Here Goes...

The Africa-America Institute and the African Studies Association announce the 2003 Claude Ake Memorial Awards Program competition, funded by the Ford Foundation.

The Claude Ake Memorial Awards Program seeks to encourage young and mid-career African scholars-activists to carry out research, reflection and writing about their ideas and activities. The award is intended for Africans, working in Africa, who are engaged in knowledge-based and reality-informed problem solving to address the continent's development challenges, in the tradition of Claude Ake.


"Africa is not winning [the battle to control its development agenda] because the struggle has been construed too narrowly as one over economic and political power. But it is much more than that. It is also a struggle of ideas and knowledge….Scientists are a major part of the problem. To begin with, we ourselves have no faith in the power of scientific knowledge or in our ability to use it to solve problems. If we did, we would talk less about how our governments constrain science and concentrate on using the power of our knowledge to change them so they can value science, support it and exploit its potential. It is not very useful to lament incessantly the persistence of traditional and popular attitudes which are detrimental to the production and utilization of scientific knowledge. Why not problematize this scientifically and devise a means for changing these attitudes?...Without articulating how to proceed and why, our march to development cannot really begin. Can we [scientists] live with this tragic betrayal of our mission?" From Knowledge, Public Policy and Development: The Case of Social Science.

These are the words of the late Claude Ake, an activist for democracy, a visionary, and a scholar of global standing. They were presented as part of the challenge he issued a decade ago to colleagues in the Nigerian scholarly community who, at his invitation convened at the Nigerian Institute for International Affairs in Lagos to envision the institutional mission of what later became the Centre for Advanced Social Science (CASS). Throughout his professional life, Ake was critically engaged with the political and economic realities in his country and was at the forefront among scholar-activists who championed social justice, economic development, and democracy. He challenged African intellectuals to help construct an African consciousness about development, a consciousness that would guide Africans in conceiving of African solutions to African problems and, indeed, problems faced around the world. A remarkable leader, he was an expert on political theory, political economy and development studies. This awards program was created to honor his life and work.

Ake understood that education was part of the solution but that with the declining state of much of the continent¹s higher education system, more was needed. This awareness and conviction informed his decision in 1990 to turn down a research fellowship at major think tank and several lucrative teaching positions in the U.S. in order to return to Nigeria to found CASS. He died in 1996 in a plane that crashed after take off over Lagos.


The Claude Ake Memorial award will recognize the work of African intellectuals functioning in various capacities in Africa. It will support research projects that are applicable to a country, region, or other defined setting within Africa. Successful applicants will receive stipends of $6,000 for innovative research aimed at meeting challenges that face the continent of Africa. In addition, Ake Scholars will travel to the U.S. on or about October 27 to attend the African Studies Association's (ASA) Annual Meeting in Boston, Massachusetts, where they will present their research to a representative cross section of the Africanist community from around the world. Following the ASA Meeting, from October 3 to November 13, award recipients will travel to various American college campuses where they will network with community and faculty members who have similar research or advocacy interests. The Africa-America Institute will compile a resource book with syntheses of the Ake Scholars' research and distribute it widely to academic and other audiences.

Application Process

The application packet may be downloaded via the internet here: Application Form. Applications will be reviewed by a panel of distinguished scholars of African studies in the humanities and social sciences. Complete applications must be received in hard copy at the Africa-America Institute no later than April 15, 2003. Fax and email applications will not be accepted.

Notification of the awards will take place on or about June 2, 2003.
Eligibility

This program is intended primarily for young and mid-career African scholar-activists residing on the continent of Africa. Awards may also be made to select African applicants residing outside of Africa. Preference is given to individuals who have not recently visited North America. Applications may be submitted in English, French or Portuguese. However, proficiency in written spoken English is preferred for participation in the U.S. study tour.

Themes

The following are suggested areas of research. We welcome proposals in all areas related to the social sciences and humanities, and especially those that address issues in the researchers' fields in creative ways.

Democracy and Citizenship: New Political Processes and Popular Participation

Gender Relations and the Empowerment of Women

Use of Information Technology in the Production of Knowledge, Social Change and Activism

Culture and the Arts

The Impact of the "Brain Drain": Strategies of Reintegration.

Refugees and Disrupted Communities

Conflict Resolution

Community Activism

Environmental Issues

Science and Health with Social Implications

Completed applications should be sent to:

The Africa-America Institute
Claude Ake Memorial Awards
1625 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W., Suite 400
Washington, D.C. 20036-2259
U.S.A.

For inquiries, please contact the Africa-America Institute at the above address or by email: award@aaionline.org

The mission of The Africa-America Institute (AAI) is to promote enlightened engagement between Africa and America through education, training and dialogue. Founded in 1953, AAI is a multi-racial, multi-ethnic, nonprofit organization, with offices in New York and Washington, DC, and a presence in 20 African countries.

The African Studies Association (ASA) was founded in 1957 as a nonprofit organization open to all individuals and institutions interested in African affairs. With over 3,000 individual and institutional members worldwide, ASA is the leading North American organization that promotes African studies. Its mission is to bring together people with a scholarly and professional interest in Africa.

©2003 The Africa-America Institute



]]> Mon, 07 Apr 2003 05:19:00 EDT http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8458 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8257 The aim is to diminish the digital divide and to create an information society for all. African projects have for many years been underrepresented in Stockholm Challenge although there are projects going on in Africa in this field. Nominations are therefore being sought for projects that meet the Stockholm Challenge criteria. The competition is open to private, public and academic contestants.
Read more about Stockholm Challenge on their website:

http://www.challenge.stockholm.se

]]> Mon, 24 Mar 2003 09:30:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8257 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8183 Behind the eyes of the leaders, each with a point but i know ego has a lot to do with this situation. Please Lord, Protect Rufaidah and the Iraqi people.
I am scared in an unusual way, not fear, but cos i know the 'children' that this war will birth into the politics and economy of the future will be borne by my generation.
By our Generartion for goodness sake, not thiers! Angry, yes anger at the 'old generation' that in the name of a better world turn it all upside down for us.
Angry at the inepititude of the UN, or is it ineptitude?
I am ANGRY at and with the nations that believe they have the right to right the perceived wrong in other nations - Neo Colonialism??? - with or without the nations consent.
Maybe i am just an angry confused girl? No angry yes, confused, no. From my point of view 'down here' My generation will have to spend considerable energy cleaning up (is that even remotely possible?) the religious, cultutral, political etc etc etc mess THIS has created.
My heart bleeds, bleeds tears and blood for i feel the fall of the mortar, missiles and bombs upon heads like mine, i feel the fear of the mother and child with a father, sister and brother at war.
War is a necessary evil i was brought up to accept but i deny that 'truth ' today. Killing another man in the name of justice debases you to the same rank as the one killed. We build to destroy and destroy to destroy yet again in a vicious cycle.
Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh...
My heart beats a rythm out of tandem
My soul dances to the distant rhythm of the drums of war
My body jerks to the 'feeled' pain of people in WAR
My mind floats in a confused and sacred vacum of what the future holds
My head is angry , angry, ANGRY!!!]]> Thu, 20 Mar 2003 03:02:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8183 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8120 47th Session of the United Nation's Commission on the Status of Women,
March 2003.

Statement from the African Women's Caucus on African Women and Information
and Communication Techonologies (ICTs).

On March 4 2003, the Working Group on Media and ICTs of the
African Women's Caucus read out its statement on African women's concerns
on ICTs to government delegations during the General Debates session. Other
participants included UN agencies, international agencies and NGOs. ABANTU
for Development and African Women's Development and Communications Network
(FEMNET) worked together to produce the statement which
was based on background information produced by FEMNET for the CSW and
whose recommendations included those set by the WSIS Gender Caucus during
the Bamako preparatory meeting.


Thank you, Mr. Chairperson. My name is Nish-Muthoni Matenjwa. I work for
ABANTU for Development, an African NGO with an international presence and
also represent the African Women's Caucus for the CSW.

Despite efforts to review ICT international regulations, African women's
perspectives have not always been taken into consideration. The potential
for ICTs to contribute to human development in Africa is negatively
impacted by the uneven spread of ICTs and the differential effects that
their diffusion produces in economic and social structures. In addition,
African women face cultural, economic and social challenges tht limit
their access to, use of and benefits from ICTs.

During the African Regional Preparatory Meeting for the World Summit on
the Information Society (WSIS) held in Bamako, Mali in July 2002, the
following concerns about African women and ICTs were identified.

The marginalisation of Africa is characterised by increased poverty, lack
of infrastructure, deepening rural/urban disparaties and high illiteracy.
African women represent the majority of the poor and illiterate.

The few complete ICT and telecommunications policies in Africa are not
gender-responsive. African women continue to be seen as passive receivers
of information rather than actors able to contribute to decision and
policy-making.

The use of the Internet to perpetuate violence against women and as a
platform for hate speech is of concern. The impact of the Internet on the
proliferation of pornography must be addressed. There is also an awareness
of the dillema of calling for government action against this. Proposing
control on these areas could enable censorship to be extended to limit
freedom of expression in other areas.

Privacy, security and Internet rights are also issues of concern for
African women. Having secure on-line spaces where women, free from
harassment can enjoy freedom of expression have also recently been
threatened by the events of 9/11/2001.

Engagement on the regulation of ICTs is thus critical for African women.
But the level of awareness about ICTs is still low. Most African countries
lack the infrastructure to engage in the Information Society. The high
cost of ICT training further aggravates the problem as few African women
can afford training in the new technologies.

The weakness in representation of African concerns in interational
regulatory processess is also very low. The number of African women's
organisations involved is even lower.

RECOMMENDATIONS

The Bamako meeting for the WSIS urged African states "to ensure better
gender balance in ICT use while instituting specific programmes that
address the needs of women, particularly those aimed at rural and
disenfrenchised areas.

Considering the critical role that women play in society and their
potential contribution to developing the Information Society, the Gender
Caucus, during the Bamako meeting, urged the UN system and agencies
including the ITU, UNDP, UNECA, UNESCO and UNIFEM to ensure the following:

1. Continue working towards ratifying treaties and protocols that
recognise women's human rights, including the right to communication and
include provisions for supporting implementation of these in all action
plans including those arising from the WSIS process.

2. Develop gender-dissagregated data on women' participation in the
Information Society and to caryy out research to identify impacts of
exclusion and opportunties for increased participation.

3. Apply gender analysis frameworks in the development of national,
regional and international policies and strategies.

4. Ensure that there is gender equality in education, specifically by
providing opporunties for women and girls to access fair and equitable
participation in science and technology education at all levels.

5. Support capacity-building and training to raise awareness of the
gendered nature of the Information Society.

6. Strengthen co-operation among UN agencies working on gender and ICTs
including support for the working relationship established between the
ITU, UNDP and UNIFEM.

7. Reform decision-making processes to ensure good governance and greater
accountablity to all stakeholders.

8. Ensure licensing for women's intellectual property rights.

9. Apply gender-analysis frameworks in the development of national,
regional and international policies and strategies.

We urge that these recommednations are taken into account during this
meeting as they are key and integral to African women's advancement.

]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2003 05:22:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8120 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8119 "eNigeria 2003 has come - but it has not gone. For once, we are making a demand that Nigeria does not end the at the level of the communique - or even action plan. We ask that the appropriate authorities raise the banner to the level of implementation. ICTs for Development is not Nigeria's latest/best chance, it may be the LAST." - Gbenga Sesan

FINAL STATEMENT

1.0 Introduction

The eNigeria 2003 event, an annual international conference on Information Technology organized by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA), holds between the 10th and 12th of March, 2003. The focus for this year’s event is to discuss current and future developments in the Information Technology as it relates to the public service at Federal, State and Local Government levels as well as enhancing eGovernment.

This document presents the pre-event views of young people, from online discussions and a strategy session. Online discussions started on the 20th of February and will continue throughout the event to enable a 300-stong youth network achieve participation even without their physical presence at the event. The strategy session saw the coming together of about 56 young people who represent various regions of the country.

2.0 Preamble

It is true that today’s efforts decide tomorrow’s outlook. We, as young people who believe in the necessity and active participation of Nigeria’s in the emerging global Information Society cannot afford to fold our arms and watch the nation’s Information Technology industry future drown. Beginning from the terrible omission in the 2003 budget, and to the unhealthy handling of major projects, we have seen signs that tell us that we must join forces to make it happen.

3.0 Participants of the eConference made the following recommendations:

* Nigeria must pursue the application of Information Technology in all areas of national life, including (but not limited to) education, health, transportation, security, politics, commerce, administration, etc
* Government, at all levels, must create an enabling legal environment for Information Technology (IT) development. We believe that the National Policy on Information Technology deserves accelerated processes. We must go beyond seminars, strategic plans, conferences and communiques in IT development. Proactive action is the only identification tag among the global members of the Information Society!
* Nigeria’s cyber-security must be given utmost attention through the active collaboration of all stakeholders – government, civil society and private sector. The menace of cyber-crime must also be addressed through the appropriate means.
* [We appreciate Nigeria’s decision to adopt Simple, Moral, Accountable, ! Responsive and Transparent eGovernance but] ask that individuals or institutions do not stand in the way of justice and professional service delivery.
* [We are excited by the various initiatives (or activities) that presently exist in Nigeria and are targeted at helping Nigeria to bridge the digital divide.] We believe that high-end and transparent partnerships between the academia, private sector, civil society and government (at all levels) will help awake Nigeria’s latent potentials.

4.0 Conclusion

In all our efforts, we are motivated by the fact that we do not want our heads to drop in shame when our colleagues, younger ones or children ask, “What did you do when you had a chance to help Nigeria out of her giant’s sleep?” This explains our reason for active participation during the eNigeria 2003 event, and beyond.

We know that the fact that Nigeria will be a major player in the Information Society is incontestable, but also acknowledge the fact that it will take extra commitment on the parts of all stakeholders to achieve the objectives. We therefore call on all stakeholders of the Nigerian IT industry to forget business as usual in order to attend to IT development and application as a national emergency.

www.yahoogroups.com/group/enigeria
]]> Mon, 17 Mar 2003 04:52:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8119 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8058 Its an enlightening collection...
http://gallery.sjsu.edu/exhibits
Enjoy the tour;-)
]]> Thu, 13 Mar 2003 06:22:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8058 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8042 My COmputer is out on sick leave and all my documents ipray i loose not:-(
Happy Reading
Quotes...
“Many of the lecturers still use lecture notes that were only valid ten years ago”. When Professor Omole (former Vice Chancellor of
Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile Ife) said this, more people than those present at the morning session agreed! Nigerian
students are presently found everywhere except in their classrooms. Parents can no longer predict when their children
will graduate. Lecturers are not excited about the whole scenario. The curriculum is in need of urgent review, the
content of such is at least one generation behind its time, and the delivery modes are often embarrassing. It may not be
wrong to say that for the University system (and even the tertiary system in general) in Nigeria, things are falling apart -
and the center can no longer hold.
It has been correctly argued that the academia is one sure avenue for building staying power for Nigeria’s IT endeavours
and future (research, human capital development, etc) but it is unfortunate that the same sector is not good to go. Global
trends do not give room for any lame excuse, as the walls that divide different nations have collapsed at the feet of
globalization and the emerging Information Society. Where does this leave the Nigerian graduate who does not
know how to switch on a computer but has to compete with colleagues on a global scale? Sincerely, Nigeria needs
to pay serious attention to the issue of Human Resource Development. If nations that borrowed oil palm seeds from
us can proceed to be relevant players in the global Information Society, we have no excuses!
Today’s session featured brilliant presentations which include discussions on Security and Infrastructure Protection,
Challenges of Building eGovernance Infrastructure, Management of Top Level Domain, Integration of IT into the
Nigerian University System, Public-Private Partnership in Nigeria’s IT Development, Sectoral Application of IT in
Education, Promoting the Rule of Law and Good Governance, Creating Enabling Legal Environment for IT
Development, and IT National Health Management. We are not careful to re-state that the time has come for
Nigeria to activate the dynamic recommendations of her many brilliant sons, daughters and well wishers.
Ø “I thought someone was
operating it...”
Ø “I’m sure that doesn’t happen
here ...”
Ø “...furniture allowance, and
even Computer allowance!”
The Information Technology Corps (InfoTech Corps) is a
community development group of the National Youth Service
Corps of Lagos State. The group consists of about 50 IT-savvy
corp members and is the first of its kind since the inception of
the NYSC scheme in 1973. The InfoTech Corps has embarked on
initiatives that will help bridge the digital divide, such as
training IT-illiterate corps members and secondary school
students and hosting inter-school IT competitions. The team is
presently designing a website for the NYSC and is responsible
for maintaining the secretariat’s computer systems.
The team was founded by Ayobami Oguntuase, a Computer
Science graduate of University of Ibadan. He is presently
completing his NYSC assignment with Future Technology
Systems (JKK Group) as an SMS solution developer, and can be
reached via joeayo@yahoo.com or 01-4931535 (office).
The eNigeria Youth Caucus
operates from the venue of the
event, and online at
www.yahoogroups.com/group/
enigeria.
Tomorrow begins today!
11 March 2003 Vol.1 No. 2
Quotes... InfoTech Corps A National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) Community Development Group
We have no excuses!]]> Wed, 12 Mar 2003 02:36:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8042 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8028 Its so unclear, will they actually in this age and time use human sacrificies? Will they pull wool over our eyes and go ahead saying they would not but yet do it in secrecy? Or will it not be done at all??? I know this is rampant in a lot of Cultures and traditions worldwide but i wonder i really wonder...Hmm.
Any thots on this???
]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2003 03:21:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8028 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8026 But i am very optimistic - youths are involved!!!
I'll post more on eNigeria and the Mobile Units later...
Enjoy!]]> Tue, 11 Mar 2003 02:34:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/8026 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/7923 Will update more on as soon as i do some concrete work to earn my pay;-)]]> Mon, 03 Mar 2003 02:56:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/7923 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333 http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/7747 DESPERATE GHANA TELECOM SHUTS OFF INCOMING ISP LINES, BLAMES VOIP BUT...
____________________________________________________________________________

Ten days ago Ghana Telecom put all the country's ISPs on one-way circuits so
that they could only receive incoming calls. In a move uncannily reminiscent
of Kenya Telkom's ISP shutdown before Christmas, Ghana Telecom is seeking to
blame the loss of its international call revenue on ISPs doing VOIP. Eric
Osiakwan and Russell Southwood seek to untangle the truth in this second
high-profile, African clash over VOIP.

One of the first signs that something was wrong came from a participant in a
local mail-list who wrote:"Is Ghana Telecom cutting off ISPs???????????
Dial up to your ISP and u get beep beep beep. If it was one ISP it could be
the usual lack of QOS (Quality of Service). But if it's all of them. IS
GHANA TELECOM CUTTING OFF THE ISPs?."

Before that Ghana Telecom had leaked to the Ghanaian press, the scale of its
losses on international revenue. As we reported in last week's issue, the
company has gone from earning US$42 million a year on its international
telephone traffic to losing US$14 million over the last four years.
In 1998, the International Telephone Traffic Revenue yielded US$42 million.
The following year, it dropped by $8.14 million to $33.98 million followed
by a further drop in 2000 of $7.63 million to $26.4 million in 2001. This
further reduced by $7.06 million to $14.14 million last year.

In a move that looked as if it had been planned with Ghana Telecom, Ghana's
independent regulator, the National Communication Authority (NCA) announced
that it was commissioning a technical team to among other things investigate
how some ISPs caused the loss of more than US$30 million to Ghana Telecom.
The acting Director General of the NCA, Major (rtd) J.R.K. Tandoh says there
is evidence to show an increasing decline in revenue from international
calls.

The Chair of the Ghanaian ISP Association (GISPA), IDN's Francis Quartey
(jailed previously for allegedly operating VOIP calls) issued a statement
refuting the charge that GT's losses were the responsbility of GISPA's
members.

The statement opens by saying that since the operations of IDN and others
were closed for 9 months and GT's revenues did not increase in the period,
it can hardly be held responsible. It then makes the point that:"GT has not
established clearly how this revenue is being lost. GT should establish the
means by which it is losing (revenue)".

It then goes on to list the reasons for the likely decline in its revenues:

- consumers choosing e-mail over phone;

- competition from Westel, the second national operator, whose
international revenues have gone up.

- the massive increase in non GT mobile subscribers whose operators have
the capability to switch or terminate traffic directly into their own
network.

- The number of phone lines being used by ISP¹s cumulatively (IDN has 200)
is not in excess of 2000 lines. At the same time active ISP subscribers
number somewhere between 15,000-20,000. So even if the ISPs were using the
lines to terminate traffic, the impact would not be as purported by Ghana
Telecom. (Our guesstimate would be that the grey market locally accounts for
between 10-15% of traffic.)

- A number of foreign satellite providers such Thuraya and others are in
operation. Their activities cannot be discounted as contributor to GT¹s
revenue decline.

- The overall drop in the cost of international traffic. GT's accounting
rate at the beginning of the period cited was approximately US$1 and is now
currently 9 cents; a 90% drop in the value of traffic to GT.

- And finally, its most serious allegation:"Ghana telecom has provided
huge number of phone lines to companies whose businesses are no way related
to telecom or dependent on telecom services. Indeed, some of these company¹s
posses more phone lines than the providers ( us ). Management of GT has
conveniently turned blind eye to the activities of aforementioned
businesses".

Indeed when the issue of losses was covered in the local press a year ago
there were allegations that GT staff members were colluding with outsiders
to take revenues of this kind.

In its recommendations to Government, GISPA makes the point that losses at
GT mean lower contributions to the Universal Access Fund. However if
Government were to legalise VOIP, the it could tax the operators and get
back this revenue and provide an opportunity for Ghana to be the telecom
gateway in the sub-region.

On Wednesday last week GISPA met with the new ICT advisor to the Minister
Adu Gyan in the absence of the Minister himself. Sources close to those who
attended the meeting say that the adviser agreed with the GISPA
representatives that GT should restore all lines to the ISPs. It was also
clear that GT's move was a breach of Ghana's anti-competition laws. It was
also agreed that GISPA would work with the regulator and government to
facilitate the development of a framework for legalising VOIP operations.
The Government agreed that it would shortly make a formal response to the
situation.

In Kenya the showdown over VOIP happened to coincide with a major change in
the political administration. This opened the way for a consortium of ISPs
to request a licence to handle their own international connectivity which is
being sympathetically considered by the country's independent regulator.

In Ghana, the situation is different. The Kufor Government was elected as a
"reform" government but in the area of ICT has yet to make much of an
impact. When we asked Francis Quartey about when VOIP would be legalised in
an interview in the last issue he said:"The Director General of the NCA
which is the regulating body of communications in the country as well as the
Minister of Communication have both publicly stated their readiness to
license VOIP operators. In any case, I do not believe VOIP is illegal in
Ghana- at least not in the eyes of the rule of law of the land. When will
VOIP be legalised in Ghana? I suppose when we gather the political will".
Will Ghana's Minister demonstrate that he has the will to make this change?]]> Mon, 17 Feb 2003 05:28:00 EST http://titiakinsanmi.tigblog.org/post/7747 -26.2 28.0833333 -26.2 28.0833333