News: Strategic use of the internet
CSISAC Job Opening: Community Manager and Liaison to OECD
The Civil Society Information Society Advisory Committee Liaison (CSISAC) is seeking a community manager and liaison to act as a point of contact with the OECD’s OECD’s Committee for Information, Computer and Communications Policy (ICCP). The position is half time on a one-year contract. Candidates should be available to begin in February 2012, and should be based in Europe, ideally Paris. The deadline for applications is December 31.
Computer Aid seeks new Chief executive officer
APC member Computer Aid international is currently seeking a new Chief executive officer (CEO). The candidate must have previous experience in international development, and ideally information and communication technology for development. Find out more about how to apply. Deadline for applications is Tuesday, December 6 2011.
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.
London Riots: Social media does not cause social problems say APC and GreenNet
Following last week’s riots, British PM David Cameron said that his government is considering a crackdown on online communications. However he forgets that the same websites and phone networks were also used to locate friends and plan safe exits from trouble-spots. APC and GreenNet issue a statement.
Sexuality 2.0: Online socialising and internet regulation
Experts from Brazil, India, South Africa and the USA will be presenting APC’s groundbreaking EroTICs research in Madrid at the VIII International Association for the Study of Sexuality, Culture and Society Conference on July 9.
"Gay Girl in Damascus" needs to Man Up, says APC
Tom MacMaster’s masquerading as blogger activist “Gay Girl in Damascus” was harmful, say APC in a statement, and endangers the right to use the internet anonymously.
Equal access to the internet can counter discrimination against women, says UN report
Efforts to mitigate violence against women online can backfire explains a report presented at the UN Human Rights Council. APC covered women’s issues and the internet at the HRC in a special edition of the policy and gender bulletin GenderIT.org.
Last week the G8, this week the UN: APC helps Access Now campaign in Geneva
Major international decisions are being made about the internet in the coming weeks – decisions that could affect the internet as we know it forever. This week the United Nations Human Rights Council will receive its first ever official report on freedom of expression online – and APC is helping deliver the message to the UN in Geneva.
From Islamabad to Geneva, Feminist Tech Exchanges creates young reporter
After attending APC WNSP’s Feminist Tech Exchange in Islamabad, 24 year old lawyer and activist Sana Masood attended the she never imagined it would lead her to be a young reporter for the International Committee of the Red Cross. View her new digital story Pakistan: Youth in armed violence. Photo © ICRC / Gassmann Thierry
GISWatcher reports from “the free Tunisia”
“For those who don't know Tunisia,” writes Khaled Koubaa, Global Information Society Watcher based in Tunis. “Tunisia is a small country but a great nation. It was the first Arab country to abolish slavery in 1848, the first Arab country to establish a constitution in 1861, the first Arab country to abolish polygamy in 1956 and legalise abortion in 1973. And now Tunisia is the first Arab country to kick out its dictator and this without the help of any foreign nation!” Read more of Khaled's report on the GISWatch website. Blackout against internet censorship in Hungary
On 1 January 2011, a new law came into effect, which now enables the ruling party to gain control of the internet through the creation of a powerful censorship authority. To show our concern for fundamental rights and free speech we will black out our online presence on the 5 January 2011 for 24 hours. We ask that everyone concerned about fundamental rights and free speech to black out its online presence on the 5th January 2011 for 24 hours. To show your outrage and solidarity with the Hungarian media please include this HTML snippet into your site, which will automatically add a similar black splash screen as seen on this site.
New report asks, how environmentally-friendly is technology?
Computers are creating massive e-waste. The paper industry has had to double to meet printer demand. But smart technologies are bringing huge savings in energy consumption. As the UN conference on climate change starts in Cancun, the new Global Information Society Watch from APC and Hivos looks at ICTs and environmental sustainability in 53 countries, six regions and through ten expert thematic reports. What is the state of the industry in your country? Find out.
Take Back the Tech! 2010 : Explore technology! Defend women's rights!
Women’s rights to expression and information are increasingly under threat. The UN estimates that 95% of aggressive behaviour, harassment, abusive language and degrading images in online spaces are aimed at women. As more and more women go online using computers and mobile phones, many are silenced through acts of violence, sexism and censorship. From November 25 to December 10 Take Back The Tech! calls on women and men to take control of technology to protect the right to freedom of expression and information. Watch the Take Back the Tech! campaign video to find out more on what you can do. Join the moment and get creative!
Fifteen years of hard work: APC member in Argentina celebrates
APC member in Rosario Argentina, Nodo Tau, has been working to help marginalised communities access ICTs for fifteen years. But they do not stop at access – Nodo Tau believes that technologies can change people’s lives, and that technology has its place on the road towards social justice. On behalf of the APC, we wish to congratulate you on your hard work and invite our readers to learn more about Nodo Tau’s work. Photo: Telecentre in Rosario
Join education activists in Palestine on Saturday online
Activists from cities around the world will meet on-line with Palestinian activists on Saturday, October 30, at 14:00 GMT (16:00 in Bethlehem) a to develop a joint program of educational rights. The workshop is organised by APC member in the US May First/People Link’s part of the World Education Forum being held in Palestine this year. Photo: WEF
Could you be a cyber-terrorist? Avoid becoming “collateral damage”
Daniel is a photographer who lives in Europe. He works for a magazine and has recently travelled to Pakistan and the United States to illustrate an article about the architecture of mosques. When he gets home he is arrested – because his internet profile matches that of a cyber terrorist. How could it happen? And could it happen to you?
Opening up e-government in Romania
Activists advocate for “the real deal” in climate change policy during the 2009 UN Copenhagen conference using a site developed by StrawberryNet. Photo: GreendexRozi Bako reports that after researching the state of access to online information for extending democracy in Romania “we are now advocating for open e-government”. Bako of the StrawberryNet Foundation found that technology in Romania is far more advanced than information dissemination practices, and that if Romania is to become a transparent, participatory society, government initiatives and a business community drive have to be backed up by opinion-makers and citizen action groups.
Revolutionary blogfarm for Hungarian activists
APC member in Budapest, Green Spider, is challenging Facebook and YouTube by offering a home-grown Web 2.0 suite for Hungarian activists. “In the face of the overwhelming monoculture of corporate social networking tools, the service has taken off amongst grassroots activists, community organisers and charities in the Hungarian social and environmental movement,” says Green Spider.
Fighting illegal logging in Bulgaria's forests
A campaign to expose illegal logging is a new wall against the extinction of forests in Bulgaria. The campaign combines digital tools and green activism in an online system for filing whistle-blower alerts.
Peru's farmers lack information: Why are telecentres being underused?
Harvesting peachSmallholders in the desert region of Huaral depend on irrigation cooperatives to water their crops. For ten years one coop association has been developing an information system based on telecentres to help them to make informed agricultural decisions. But the system is being under-utilised and they decided to find what was going wrong. Using APC’s Gender Evaluation Methodology (GEM) they found that older people and women over 40 were being left behind. While decision-making spaces are still mainly all-male, at least some issues identified by women are now on the table.
