News: Environment & ICTs
Indonesia bans website for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission
The website for the International Gay and Lesbian Human Rights Commission is the latest victim of censorship in Indonesia. It joins a number of other LGBT rights organisations which have been blocked by pornography filters.
ICTs, climate change and development workshop
In partnership with the University of Manchester, APC co-hosted a workshop from January 22 – 24 in Johannesburg to discuss findings, challenges and key actions going forward on how ICTs can help mitigate climate change and help communities better adapt to the increasing changes in their local environments.
APC launches new GreeningIT site
While ICTs can help the environment, they can also be harmful. APC’s GreeningIT project takes a look at the green and not so green side of ICTs to find out how they can be used more sustainably by civil society, governments, service providers and users in general.
APC member Bytes for All condemns SMS keyword filtering in Pakistan
Bytes for All, APC’s member in Pakistan, has written an open letter to the Prime Minister and the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority criticising the proposed plan to filter keywords in sms messages.
E-waste in Egypt: How do you solve a problem you can't quantify?
ICT related e-waste in Egypt is a growing problem, but addressing it is difficult since there is no official research or data on the subject, says a new report written by ArabDev for the APC. APCNews talks to author Leila Hassanin about putting e-waste on the policy map.
Bangladesh: Focus on climate change means that e-waste has been ignored
Bangladesh has committed to becoming “Digital Bangladesh” by 2021. But fifteen years after liberalising the telecommunications industry, the country faces a significant e-waste problem. And because e-waste belongs to no specific sector but rather, crosses over into several, it is a challenge to create any policies for its management and disposal, says a new report commissioned by APC and written by Partha Sarker and Munir Hassan.
APC member Bytes for All condemns Pakistan's new censorship policy
The Pakistan Telecommunications authority has issued a directive to all cellular providers to begin filtering SMS keywords, the latest in a series of restrictions to freedom of expression in the country.
Mexico: ICT and environmental policies must be linked
There is a lack of awareness in Mexico of the environmental harm caused by the present models of production, consumption and disposal of electronic waste. However, there is also a lack of awareness of the positive role that ICT can play in mitigating climate change.
ICT and environment in Costa Rica: Closing the gap between words and deeds
Laws on climate change and waste management in Costa Rica have existed since 2009. However, despite appearing on paper, there has been little progress in putting them into practice. If the situation does not change, the country will not become carbon neutral by 2021.
APC in Qatar for an interfaith dialogue on social networking
Followers turned to Twitter to receive words of guidance from the Archbishop of Canterbury, the Chief Rabbi and Muslim leaders during the London riots in August. APC’s Dafne Plou was in Qatar to follow how today’s religious progressives are using social networking to spread their messages.
90% of India's e-waste is recycled informally – when will gov't policy recognise this?
According to the GISWatch 2010 report, electronics is the fastest growing sector in India and are purchased by about 52 million people. From 1993 to 2000 the number of PCs owned by Indians grew 604% and one can only imagine how many computers have been bought since then.
Computer Aid launches new guide for advocacy on e-waste issues
Computer Aid recently launched a guide for NGOs and civil society working on issues of e-waste in their country. The free resource provides practical information and tools on how to conduct campaigns to reduce the impacts of electronics on the environment and people.
Where does your laptop come from?
It’s normal to buy a new laptop when we can afford it. But do you know about the waste or the environmental damage that result from its production? See this new APC video to learn more.
Turkey abandons unpopular filtering software
Turkey abandons plans to install mandatory filtering software after months of widespread protest. The reversal of this controversial policy shows the power of determined advocacy.
Most influential Twitterati in Pakistan include 5 working to end violence against women
The Express Tribune has named 5 Take Back the Tech! campaigners as among the most influential “Twitterati” in Pakistan. Thanks to the MDG3 funding, these women are using ICTs to raise the visibility of violence against women on and offline.
Take Back the Tech! allows abused women to unburden in Pakistan: But what next?
Denouncing sexual abuse in Pakistan is a risky move. But after over six years of abuse by her biological father, a young woman who attended an APC Take Back the Tech! workshop in Peshawar could contain herself no more.
Pakistan blocks sex, drugs AND rock and roll
Pakistani authorities have blocked Rolling Stone magazine’s website for criticising the country’s level of military spending. But other banned sites are back online, APC has been informed.
Pro-democracy protesters in Malaysia warn of internet clampdown
As the Bersih 2.0 protesters campaign for free and open elections, signs of a stuttering internet from various providers are becoming apparent, and are pointing to a possible internet and telco blackout warns the group . APC supports the Bersih protesters in their fight for democracy.
APC questions new Pakistan petition to filter the internet
A recent petition which calls on Pakistani internet service providers to filter the internet has sparked concern among internet rights advocates. APC criticises the proposal as inappropriate in a democratic society which values freedom of expression and the right to information.
APC and IDRC host climate change, ICT and water workshop
APC and Canadian development agency IDRC are hosting this four-day workshop with expert participants from around the world in Johannesburg on July 7-10. This is a new strategic area for the IDRC to support applied policy-relevant research to help people adapt to the water-related impacts of climate change.
