An environmental portal that pools information from eight different environmental partners in the Balkans has become part of a United Nations Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) clearinghouse which showcases good practices. The UN initiative is expected to make implementation of the 1998 Aarhus Convention which aims at improving access to information and public participation in decision-making regarding environmental matters more effective.

"Letsati" is a Setswana word meaning sun. This new discussion forum series, offered by APC member SANGONeT, aims to demonstrate the practical benefits of technology to the South African non-profit sector.

This advocacy document produced by APC member in Senegal, ENDA, presents the major issues faced by African countries in relation to their inclusion in the information society, as perceived by women. It’s a tool for public, private and civil society stakeholders and decision-makers for integrating gender into ICT policies to contribute to a fair, plural and inclusive African information society. The foreword is written by APC.

A major change for APC programmes occurred in July. Karen Banks has moved over to become APC’s Networking and Advocacy Coordinator and her former role of manager of the APC women’s programme (APC WNSP) will be taken on by well-known Philippine gender and technology advocate, Chat Garcia Ramilo.

APC member, the Third World Institute (Instituto del Tercer Mundo, ITeM) has launched a research project intended to contribute to the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) decision-making process. Research will be focused on key issues of interest to developing countries. Based on the research, position and briefing papers will be produced to advise Southern negotiators and working groups on the policy implications of the different proposals they will be considering during the Summit process.

The SisBIM helps decision-makers in local governments make informed decisions regarding planning for development by providing a series of key indicators and essential geo-information. It also serves as a ‘sustainable development observatory’ where citizens can find basic development information and importantly hold government accountable. The system has been developed by APC member Colnodo and coordinated by the Ministry of Environment, Housing and Development.

Until now, a native Cambodian has needed to be able to read in a foreign language to be able to send email in Cambodia. Software was not available in Khmer. But APC’s member organisation in Cambodia, the Open Forum, is changing that. The KhmerOS portal, set up earlier this year to bring together previously isolated developers is starting out by providing Khmer translations of well-known free applications such as the powerful e-mail application, Thunderbird. Thunderbird was ready for use after just two months – sixty days earlier than expected! The Open Forum has sent APC the report on their advances in the first half of 2004.

New partners mean that RITS APC member in Rio de Janeiro is drawing up a blue-print for the set-up and operation of 1000 telecentres in municipalities situated in areas of extreme poverty throughout Brazil. This follows RITS’ experience working with the government in Brazil’s largest city to establish over a 100 free public internet access points in marginalised neighbourhoods.

"The situation that was created in Hammamet makes it plain that there’s an urgent need to overcome the barrier to participation by organisations from civil society in the South." This is the conclusion of APC member in Brazil, RITS, at the conclusion of the first PrepCom of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) held in Tunisia in June. "The massive presence of pro-government Tunisian ‘organisations’ made the work of international civil society present almost impossible because of divisions principally regarding the position of the human rights caucus which was calling attention to the question of rights in Tunisia." In Portuguese.

Carlos Afonso of RITS has been elected to the Brazilian committee which manages the internet in Brazil and controls .br. The election results were announced on July 15. He is one of four representatives from civil society. Other sectors represented are the scientific community, the business and telecommunications sectors, and internet service providers. It is the first time in Brazil that internet governance has been opened up to the public. In Portuguese.