Fishermen from coastal villages
in southern India can now access information on weather conditions and
the market in their own language via mobile phone. This has not only
improved the standard of living for their entire communities, but it
has also saved the lives of a number of fishermen who would have died
at sea. This article from Global
Information Society Watch 2009 – Advancing human rights and
democracy looks at concrete examples of how
access to information through mobile phones and technology is adding to
the wallets of the poor.
MONTEVIDEO (KAH for APCNews) -
Rozi 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 StrawberryFoundation 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. More >
PRETORIA (Ungana-Afrika for
APCNews) - Broadband for All aims to provide broadband connectivity to
South Africa's under-served areas through a community-centric model
rather than a telco-driven model. The model leverages wireless-mesh
technologies to link priority government sites and high bandwidth users
such as schools, municipalities and government offices, who in turn
provide a link to smaller customers such as businesses, NGOs and
individuals. More >
SCALGARY (LC for APCNews) -
Google has launched a world-wide campaign on how the internet can be
used for peace in support of the worldwide network's nomination for the
Nobel Peace Prize in 2011 on the basis that “the Internet is a powerful
tool that promotes freedom of expression, while fostering the global
spread of democracy”. Support the nomination by selecting
your country on the home page or take part on the debate as
to whether the prestigious Nobel Prize should to go the internet and
its users or not. APC is a campaign affiliate. More >
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