knowledge & ICT

19.12.2003 To mark the occasion of the World Summit on the Information Society that took place in Geneva from 10-12 December 2003, the Latin American Information Agency (ALAI - Spanish acronym) has published the book "Se cays el sistema: enredos de la Sociedad de la Informacisn". ("The system's down: The Information Society in Tangles”). The book can be downloaded from the ALAI Website.

19.12.2003 A United Nations human rights expert has voiced concern that the declaration of principles and action plan adopted at the recent global summit on information and communications technologies mostly ignored issues of freedom of opinion and expression.

17.12.2003 Representatives at the Tunisian stand were wreathed in smiles, as they prepared to welcome the world at WSIS 2005. But while negotiators have managed to sweep tough issues under the carpet this time around, it may not be as easy during the second phase of the summit.

17.12.2003 Presidents of Senegal, Mali and Mozambique have commended UNESCO's Community Media Centres (CMC) project which has been piloted in their countries. The heads of state made their comments at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva during an event organised by UNESCO to launch the scaling up of CMC's in the three countries.

17.12.2003 Information technologies have immense potential for strengthening volunteerism, expanding participation, and intensifying their impact, and the information society would not exist without volunteers, said Ad de Raad, executive coordinator of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme at the opening of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

15.12.2003 The first-ever information society summit, which ended in Geneva on Friday, has endorsed a broad list of principles to guide the development of ICTs, but nations could not agree on new international initiatives to boost the use of ICTs in developing countries.

14.12.2003 The first phase of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva ended with the "unanimous adoption" of a declaration on the values of an information society. The "Declaration of Principles" expresses "the common desire and commitment" by governments at the summit to build a people-centred, inclusive and development-oriented information society, where everyone can create, access, utilize and share information and knowledge.

14.12.2003 Civil society representatives presented an 'alternative' declaration on the sidelines of the World Summit on the Information Society in Geneva. The declaration - called “Shaping information societies for human needs” - was needed because the official process has constantly been disillusioning and frustrating, said civil society representatives at a conference. Read the civil society declaration and

12.12.2003 Malaysia is highest in the use of ICTs for human development (known as the ICTforHD Index), well ahead of China and Thailand. A UNDP report examines several of the world’s most populous countries, including some making great strides in ICT and achieving the goals.

12.12.2003 A vast network that collects, shares and spreads information among marginalized people - which can even be life-saving - was launched in Geneva Wednesday at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

12.12.2003 Two innovative African projects that have set the pace in Information Communication Technology content development were recognised by the inaugural World Summit on the Information Society.

12.12.2003 Scientists around the world have pondered what continuing role science should play in pushing the future of the digital age, especially given the critique that the scientific community has been less than active in determining how these technologies can best be utilised.

12.12.2003 Farmers in the Dindigul area of south India's Tamil Nadu state need no convincing when it comes to the value of maintaining a website to get the best prices for the their produce.

12.12.2003 An emerging consensus holds that bridging the "digital divide" will speed human development in Africa. One champion of that position is Abdoulaye Wade - President of Senegal and coordinator of the information and communication technologies aspect of the New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD). On the eve of the World Summit on the Information Society, Mr. Wade offered this exclusive interview for Canada's International Development Research Centre.

11.12.2003 Open Knowledge Network (OKN), a unique way of generating relevant local information at a community level and distributing it to other communities, was launched at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).

11.12.2003 United Nations Secretary-General Kofi Annan appealed to world leaders to share the benefits of powerful information and communications technologies (ICT) with the poorest countries and to shape their use to fight worldwide problems such as illiteracy and poverty.

09.12.2003 TVE's Earth Report series airing first on BBC World TV will broadcast a one-hour long TV debate from the World Summit for the Information Society (WSIS) on 11 December 2003 in Geneva, Switzerland. You, too, can participate.

09.12.2003 Young video journalists from India, Sri Lanka and Uruguay are covering a variety of topics at the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) for OneWorld TV. These diaries will feature video reports from debates, workshops and other events at WSIS, the ICT for Development Platform and other related meetings.

09.12.2003 Young Canadians have managed to push youth issues toward the top of the agenda for the December 10-12 World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) in Geneva. In the year leading up to the event, they have spearheaded a youth caucus, worldwide e-consultations, workshops and more. As a result, some observers expect the final WSIS declaration to include the strongest language on youth ever seen in a UN declaration.

08.12.2003 Le Sommet mondial sur la société de l’information (SMSI) se déroulera du 10 au 12 décembre 2003 à Genève, sous les auspices de l’Union internationale des télécommunications (UIT), une agence des Nations unies. Il s’agît d’une rencontre internationale qui se veut tripartite entre gouvernements, secteur privé et « société civile ». Engagé depuis trois ans dans un mouvement pour la démocratisation de la communication, le CMAQ s’interroge sur le processus de ce sommet.