WSIS

COMMUNICATIONS: Human Rights at the Information Society Summit

The World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) managed to avoid a scandal over the exclusion of a group of Chinese activists, but controversy will be difficult to defuse when discussion turns to human rights violations in Tunisia, the host country of the Summit's second phase.

COMMUNICATIONS: Future of Civil Society Participation in Doubt

By the end of the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society this November in Tunis, the role to be played by civil society in bridging the digital gap and democratising communications will be clearly defined. But many activists are less than optimistic about the eventual outcome.

EDUCATION-SOUTH AFRICA: From Blackboard to SMARTboard

The electronic board in front of the class flickers, and a periodic table is projected onto the screen. "Do you all know what this is?" booms a voice from the loud speaker. "Yes!" the students chorus, as any typical class would.

DEVELOPMENT: Digital Divide Becoming a Vast Chasm

While information and communications technologies (ICTs) have an important role in meeting internationally agreed development goals, one in every six people still does not even own a telephone, according to experts meeting here.

COMMUNICATIONS: No Agreement on Internet Governance

The script for the final act of the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) will begin to be written on Sep. 19 in this Swiss city, with the participation of a cast that will be made up - for the first time on the international stage - of a wide range of actors: governments, business and civil society.

CHILE: Free Software Activists Criticise Low-Cost Computer Deal

The "My First PC" campaign launched by private companies in Chile with government support has drawn criticism from free software activists, who are working on their own initiatives to expand access to the Internet and the information society.

TECHNOLOGY-KENYA: On the Way to Getting Wired

In 1961, there was just one to be had. By 1985, that figure had increased to 1,800 - and at the beginning of last year, it stood at about 520,000, according to government figures.

LATIN AMERICA: Reg’l Meet Promotes Inclusive Information Society – In Theory

Non-governmental organisations and networks protested their exclusion from the Regional Preparatory Ministerial Conference of Latin America and the Caribbean for the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society, held this week in Rio de Janeiro.

POLITICS-TUNISIA: Little Room for Taking Government to Task

The plight of Tunisian attorney Mohamed Abbou has been in the spotlight for several weeks now, with U.S. State Department spokesman Richard Boucher being quoted earlier this month as saying Washington was "very concerned" about Abbou’s imprisonment.

RIGHTS: Tunisia Failing To Do Enough

A group of human rights organisations have expressed grave concern over continuing denial of freedom for media groups and civil society in Tunisia.

MEDIA-EUROPE: Forum to Review Rights

Protection of the diversity and independence of media in Europe was proclaimed as a vital goal at the seventh ministerial conference on mass media policy organised by the Council of Europe (COE) here this week.

MEDIA: European Policies Put Under the Lens

A conference took a close look Thursday at what European media can do by way of reporting issues such as terrorism and globalisation, and defending human rights in the information society.

INT’L WOMEN’S DAY: Think of These Three Women

International Women's Day asks you to think of half the world, but two writers groups asked Tuesday for attention particularly to three women "under attack for using new information technology to challenge their governments."

FRACTURE NUMERIQUE: Geneve inaugure les « ordinateurs solidaires »

Brancher les exclus d’internet en prélevant 1% sur les achats publics: le Fonds de solidarité numérique, une initiative africano-genevoise, est plébiscité à l’ONU. Mais Genève se plaint d’être freiné dans cette action par les autorités suisses.

SMSI: La Tunisie va gerer le sommet de l’info comme un commissariat

Les préparatifs de la 2e phase du Sommet de l’info à Tunis s’ouvrent à Genève. Opposants et agents du régime Ben Ali s’affrontent en coulisse. Les ONG suisses demandent à Berne d’intervenir

CoTE D’IVOIRE: Les medias du dialogue se sont tus. Place a la haine

Le journal ivoirien 24heures avait reçu à Genève le prix Presse et Démocratie pour ses efforts de dialogue. Il est réduit en cendres.

DIVERSITE CULTURELLE: La Suisse priee d’entrer en resistance culturelle contre l’hegemonie etasunienne

Quelle différence entre un film suisse, une musique balinaise, un roman burkinabé et une bouteille de Coca ? Aucune, lorsque la culture sera livrée aux forces du marché mondial. C’est l’avis de nombreux créateurs au moment où débute à Paris la négociation pour une convention sur la diversité culturelle à l’UNESCO

MEDIAS: Le Festival medias Nord-Sud plonge dans le petrole

Pour la 20e édition, la rencontre des professionnels des médias aura lieu dans un bâtiment de Genève transformé en plate-forme pétrolière. Le Festival s'internationalise et s’ouvre aux milieux financiers.

INDUSTRIES CREATIVES: Et si la culture devenait un filon pour les pays pauvres ?

Une initiative brésilienne relayée par l’ONU veut traduire la formidable créativité des peuples en termes de marché. « L’industrie créative » peut servir de tremplin au Sud pour imposer une « nouvelle géographie commerciale ». affirme le chanteur ministre Gilberto Gil

VENEZUELA: Paper Trails Hold the Key to Preventing Electoral Fraud

In the paper receipt printed for each vote cast on the electronic voting machines used in Venezuela's presidential referendum lies the main weakness of the opposition alliance's cries of fraud, which the international election observers say are unwarranted.

COMMUNICATIONS: Junk E-Mail Is ‘Epidemic’

All hopes invested in the ''information society'' could be dashed if current - and ever-increasing - abuses of the Internet and electronic mail persist, say experts meeting here this week.

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