Strategic use of the internet
Wireless technology and blogging in Africa
Following an APC coordinated meeting in London about wireless internet technology in Africa last December, John Dada and Alaa Ahmed Seif al-Islam gave interviews to the BBC World Service. Those of you not based in Africa may have missed the broadcasts. Here they are in mp3 files. Both were broadcasted on the BBC’s Focus on Africa Programme in December 2006.
The Chaos in the Bazaar: The CCC kicks off
Hackers, young zit-faced teenagers, mid-aged technologists and enthusiastic social techies rallied behind the motto “Who Can You Trust?”. It’s called the Chaos Communications Congress (CCC) and attracts several hundred Central and Eastern Europeans, but also North Americans by now.
Dawn of the digital city
“It’s a go for the installation tomorrow, I know I’m last minute, but that’s the life of a ninja,” Alexis Cornellier, director of operations for the Montreal-based community Style information: N/a
Source: Wikipedia and "Wi4D, techies and campaigners look at potential for the social world" (APCNews, 1 December 2006).">wireless
Interview with SANGONeT’s web editor: Getting the tech right
The South African non-governmental organisation net (SANGONeT) is known for being at the forefront of South Africa’s civil society, especially in matters related to information and communication technologies (ICTs) and the internet. How that came to be and how SANGONeT is using technology is discussed with SANGONeT portal editor Fazila Farouk here.
BETINHO PRIZE SPECIAL: Communication technologies, weapons against war in Colombia
In the midst of an armed conflict, organising an audiovisual communication workshop for youth does not tend to be a priority for groups working in the area. Nevertheless, for the International Peace Observatory (IPO), a Colombian organisation that was a finalist for the Betinho prize in 2005, it is essential that small farmer communities – who are the first victims of the war – be able to tell their stories. APCNews spoke to Laura Lorenzi, president of the IPO, about how new technologies can become arms in the struggle against the war.
Harambee project: Call for small grants applications
The Harambee project coordinators are announcing a small grants facility to provide a number of sectoral based networks and
communities in Africa with funding for the development of greater collaborative capacity.
Let the people speak! Days of hope and optimism
Tracey Naughton started off the session on community media at the Highway Africa conference with an old recording of the African National Congress’s underground radio station. As the speakers crackled with an Mkhonto weSizwe song, delegates sat in silence.
BETINHO PRIZE SPECIAL: MetaRecycling: “Noisy environments, unstable computers and curious people" - Part II
The MetaRecycling movement is sustained by solid philosophical pillars. One of the basic concepts consists in treating computers as artisanal products.
APCNews asks, Felipe Fonseca responds
We are, with great pride, very close to certain social movements, especially those that fall within the context of tactical media.
BETINHO PRIZE SPECIAL: MetaRecycling - "Noisy environments, unstable computers and curious people"
The Metarecyclers consider that computers are craft artifacts that must be creatively manipulated. They not only have displayed a natural vocation for experimentation, the finalists of APC’s 2005 Betinho Prize also populated recycling centres all over Brazil. APCNews reports on this open, free and self-organised movement from Brazil.
