I see a possibility in this two variable that is why I have decided
to take the bull by the horn to develop both in my country Nigeria.
I run an organization called LIONS-ICTs .
Any one in house that has the same interest ,come join me and lets
see waht we can use this to do in the development of our world,Africa
and beyond.
234-8029495978
Have a look at one of my write ups

Youths! Science and ICTs for development
 ICTs
" The power of computing enables people to pursue their passion and
realize their potential, no matter who their are. Through global
citizenship efforts and local partnerships ;one of the ways we are
helping to strengthening the communities is to extend the benefits of
technology to the people that can benefit most" Bill Gates, Microsoft
Chairman  We realize our shared desire for better economic growth,
information rich environment and improved technology for local,
regional, national and global development. No human settlement and
thus no society can claim to be sustainable if a large proportion of
its population does not have access to information and the emerging
technologies. The development cannot be achieved as long as humanity
remains divided into rich and poor. A sizable minority enjoys
plentiful food s, seemingly unlimited mobility, access to cutting
edge technology and other basic amenities of life in this modern age.
By linking farmers to market information, workers to customers,
patients to doctors, and students to their teachers the economy of
sure nation is sure to grow and develop. ICTs, however, is still
concentrated in the industrial nations, where there are 41 internet
users per 100 people compared to 2.3 per 100 in developing nations.
The enormous gap in phone access between the rich and poor countries
is also alarming. Uganda became the first African country to have a
mobile than fixed line customers; some 30 other nations followed
suit, so that mobile lines   now outnumber fixed lines in African at
a higher ratio than any other continent, which is to show that the
investment of ICTs in Africa will definitely be of greater efficiency.
We realize the need for the involvement of the isolated communities
in the information society, at least each locality in each community
should have the right to one computer per locality, they should the
be equipped with the latest technologies even if not on a wide range.
We discover that local communities have the desire to learn and be
taught so as the young people.
Young people are often free from the responsibilities of the adult
life, energized by new ideas, full of energy and motivation, and they
had long been leading innovators, Bill Gates was one of them. It is
co cliché to say that young people have pushed fro grater freedom to
develop, learn, communicate and escape the restrictions of
established systems. ICTs and Science had made this possible for
development.
 SCIENCE
 "it is often scientist just starting out on their career who
formulate new concepts that later overturn accepted  scientific
paradigms, sometimes being honored with a Nobel Prize, to support
creativity and the progress of knowledge. Is it important to
recognize up- and coming generations of scientist by granting them
the necessary means to ensure the scientist by granting them the
necessary independence to pursue their own ideas" Bertil Anderson,
member of the Nobel Committee and director of European Science
Foundation.Informing is quite different from communication, informing
deals with alerting people and giving advise while communication
deals with conveying ,providing knowledge and sharing experience. At
this juncture there is a question about the public communication od
science and technology. Science is inspired and nourished by
imagination, which is followed by the joy and hard-life of the
laboratory. History had made us know that science involves people
being haunted by the possibility that their reasoning could lead
them  astray, which gave rise fro seeking public opinion, and
empirical proof before publishing their claims.
The much talked about digital divide might not be connected to
the "access" but the ability of using it. This is true in the science
that there are a percentage of people who have access to ICTs but are
not able to maximize its efficiency. A large number of people
subscribe to the idea that science must be communicated, which can be
best achieved through ICTs. Researchers were among the first to use
the Internet to communicate their ideas with numerous publications,
and the likes. As a result, those interested in science can gain
access to the genuine information.Scientific communication must there
fore be an integral part of government's budgets and not considered
as a luxury or a waste of time and money to the downfall of research
work in that country. Science is a passion for those involved, but
there is need for us to make this known to the public and demonstrate
the relevance of the research efforts, which can aid in nation
building. Investing funds in science communication is not a waste but
a way of investing in the future.There is need to capture the
interest of young people, dispelling their doubts and revealing a
career that remains vague in many people mind, and highlighting the
importance of science to nation building.
Raphael Adesiyan, Project director LIONS-ICTs (2006)

Hi

On Sat, Aug 05, 2006 at 10:52:26AM -0000, RAPHAEL ADESIYAN wrote:
> I am of the interest of science and Icts, so is there anyone of a
> interest in same .
> Please lets meet so we could see how we could help Africa use Science
> and ICts to develop.

Have a look at www.aims.ac.za

regards,
Jan

--
.~.
/V\ Jan Groenewald
/( )\ www.aims.ac.za
^^-^^

hi
i m saira form pakistan. here in Pakistan there is
also a great need of making awarness of ICT and
Science.

Kindly tell me in detail abt this. so that i will make
a report of "Science and ICTS" with respect of
Pakistan and developing Asian Countries.

well this a very great misfortune that villages and
rules areas of pakistan is still untouched with the
benefits of ICTS. i think if this opportunity is
available then this will also alleviate problems.


best regards


--- george achieng <georgeachieng@...> wrote:

> The combination of Science and ICTs is a deadly
> combination against  poverty and diseases in Africa.
> I'm very much interested in this noble  idea. Thank
> you.
>
>
>   George Achieng Ombua
>   Systems Administrator
>   Jomo Kenyatta University of
>   Agriculture and Technology
>   P.O.Box 62000 Nairobi.Kenya
>   Tel:254-067-52711 Ext:2335
>   Cell:254-722380340
>
>
>
>
> ---------------------------------
>  All new Yahoo! Mail "The new Interface is stunning
> in its simplicity and ease of use." - PC Magazine


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

--- In ICT4SD@yahoogroups.com, "RAPHAEL ADESIYAN" <ralphy20022003@...>
wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> I am of the interest of science and Icts, so is there anyone of a
> interest in same .
> Please lets meet so we could see how we could help Africa use Science
> and ICts to develop.
>


Hello Jan, I am interested in science and Icts for development of Africa
please me details.

Best Regards,
Ekow Embil NUNOO.
Director.
Craftsmann Academy
Accra Ghana

Hi

On Sat, Aug 05, 2006 at 10:52:26AM -0000, RAPHAEL ADESIYAN wrote:
>    I am of the interest of science and Icts, so is there anyone of a
>    interest in same .
>    Please lets meet so we could see how we could help Africa use Science
>    and ICts to develop.

Have a look at www.aims.ac.za

regards,
Jan

--
    .~.
    /V\     Jan Groenewald
   /( )\    www.aims.ac.za
   ^^-^^

Hi all,
I am of the interest of science and Icts, so is there anyone of a
interest in same .
Please lets meet so we could see how we could help Africa use Science
and ICts to develop.

Hi Dear,

You can order Free Linux Disks (Fedora, Debian, Manriva, Ubuntu, etc.) by
filling up the form on the following website: http://free.thelinuxstore.ca

I have already ordered mine and invite you to do like me :-)

Best Regards,

--
Eng. Elie Martial MABO
University of Douala /Computer Section
Network and System Engineer
PoBOX: 2701 Douala - Cameroon
Telephone Office: +237 340 64 15 post 115
Mobile: +237 751 65 58
YMS: mtadjo@...

Fowarded posting:  New Book on ICTs and Development


Dear Colleague:



I would like to introduce a new book that may be of interest to you:
Information and Communication Technologies for Development and Poverty
Reduction: The Potential of Telecommunications, published for the
International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) by the Johns
Hopkins University Press, with a foreword by Muhammad Yunus.



Drawing upon a series of case studies exploring the relationship
between telecommunications and development in Bangladesh, China,
India, Ghana, Laos, Peru, and East Africa, editors Joachim von Braun
and Maximo Torero seek to answer five critical questions that can help
guide policymakers on how information technology affects the
development of low-income countries:

1)      What link exists between ICT growth and economic growth?

2)      Do weak institutions block effective use of ICTs?

3)      Have ICTs been adapted to low-income countries, and have they
had an impact on SMEs?

4)      Does household access to ICTs remain constrained?

5)      Can ICTs play a role in providing pro-poor public goods and services?



They conclude that while ICTs can offer opportunities for development,
some prerequisites need to be in place. Access to information through
ICTs is a question not only of connectivity, but also of capability to
use the new tools, and relevant content. In order to realize the
potential benefits of this technology, all three "Cs" must be taken
into account.



A 6-page brief based on the book may be downloaded at:

http://www.ifpri.org/pubs/ib/ib40.pdf.



The book may be ordered via Johns Hopkins University Press at:

http://www.press.jhu.edu/books/title_pages/8504.html.



Please feel free to contact me should you have any questions.



Best regards,



Uday Mohan

Senior Communications Specialist

International Food Policy Research Institute

2033 K St., N.W., Washington D.C. 20006 USA

Tel.: 1.202.862-8173, Fax: 1.202.862.4439

__________________________________
John "Tim" DENNY, PhD
Project Assistant – ICT in Teacher Training

UNESCO Bangkok
Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
920, Sukhumvit Road, 10110 Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2 391 0577 Ext. 213  Mobile: +66 (0) 1 572 9135
E-mail: jt.denny@...  or johndenny@...
Vita - http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/VR/drjohndenny

Hi All

New ubuntu release today, with 3 years free security support on the
desktop and 5 years on the server:

Press Release http://www.ubuntu.com/news/606released
Official Ubuntu Book http://www.prenhallprofessional.com/ubuntu
Main site http://www.ubuntu.com/
Download http://www.ubuntu.com/download
Order free CDs by post https://shipit.ubuntu.com/

regards,
Jan
--
    .~.
    /V\     Jan Groenewald
   /( )\    www.aims.ac.za
   ^^-^^

Hie Jan and everyone,

Thanks for that article and I am very pleased to say that one year after
this blog was written, things have changed a little bit. Most ISPs are now
providing wireless connections to subscribers. Dial-up indeed gives a lot
of headache.

But outside communication is still via satellite. Even Inter-ISP
communication is still via satellite because we dont have a local internet
xchange point.

I am also pleased to say that we have also managed to build our own
wireless links at our campus to link distant buildings using Cisco Aironet
bridges. One of these days we will post the pictures.

Cheers,

Bennett Kankuzi
University of Malawi (The Polytechnic)
Malawi

===============
Blog: http://bkankuzi.blogspot.com

> DIY Broadband in Malawi
>
> July 22, 2005 at 7:40 am
>
> I have been told that there is not a single piece of wire that crosses a
> border here. This means that every byte of electronic communication with
> the outside world must go out over a satellite.
>
> Most people here use dialup. Dialing up means dialing the local ISP and
> then getting a connection to their satellite. But you pay about 3 cents
> per minute to the telephone company, and then about $40/month to the
> ISP. Often the ISPs (Malawi Net, Africa Online, Globe) are extremely
> oversubscribed, so 5-10 second hiccup delays or timeouts are normal, and
> despite a 56.6 kbps connection, transfer rates are often stuck at 20kbps
> . What does this crappiness cost the average user? 60 minutes per day *
> 3 cents = 180 cents, almost 2 dollars/day. So it costs $100/month for a
> very poor internet connection.
>
> http://www.vdomck.org/blog/2005/07/22/diy-broadband-in-malawi/
> --
>    .~.
>    /V\     Jan Groenewald
>   /( )\    www.aims.ac.za
>   ^^-^^
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Hi all...

Another African success story of Linksys WRT54Gs running OLSR was published
in the Balancing Act's News Update 302 (24th April 2006).

http://www.balancingact-africa.com/

Enjoy!

Anders Wandahl
"e-Math for Africa"
http://math.golonka.se


____________________________________________________________________________

TOP STORY: BENIN – DIY WIRELESS ENTHUSIASTS LAUNCH WI-FI BROADBAND
AND IP-TO-IP CALLING
___________________________________________________________________________

The do-it-yourself wireless movement has strong roots in the developed
world and its enthusiasts have provided a constant guerrilla challenge
at the edges of the market. But in Africa there have been a number of
factors that have held it back. Regulation has until fairly recently
favoured the incumbent and discouraged wireless innovation. Despite
several attempts to seed the idea and some occasional enthusiasm,
potential techie-activists  have (as with Open Source) seemed more
interested in discussing the idea than actually doing anything about it.
But something seems to have changed with the launch of Contonou-Wireless
by a group of wireless activists, writes Isabelle Gross.

It all started when Mathias and its friends Abslom, Armel, Gildas and
Gilles were shopping around for an affordable internet connection. To
carry on working together on various IT projects, Mathias Houngbo and
his friends needed connectivity in the evening at home after work. The
initial idea was that each of them would get a broadband connection, but
as it turned out, at 45,000 CFA Francs per month each (about US $90) for
128/64 Kbits, the cost of an ADSL connection was too high. Moreover, one
of the five could obtain not obtain a dial up-connection, let alone an
ADSL connection because there were no phone lines available in his area.

Full of hope, they contacted local ISPs offering wireless internet
access but there again, as Mathias tells it the equipment and the
monthly subscription for the connection were well above what they could
afford. From their discussions to find a solution came the idea to build
their own wireless network based on Wi-Fi technology, just as the French
wireless association (www.wireless-fr.org) had already done. But all of
this was great in theory, but in the real world, the problems were just
around the corner.

Like many associations that rolled out a wireless mesh network,
Cotonou-Wireless was confronted right at the beginning with issues such
as cost and reliability. In order to keep equipment costs low they
decided to go for a wireless Linksys router which they “sourced” in
France at an affordable price (about €80). Mathias points out that this
router is reliable and boasts good performance, but more interestingly,
the firmware for the access points is based on the open source Linux
software.

At present each home is equipped with a Linksys WRT54G and either an
omni-directional antenna at 10 dbi for the relay nodes on the mesh
network or a simple antenna at 20.5 dbi for an end user.  Mathias also
told us that the Linksys WRT54GS or the WRT54GL works well too.

With their expertise, Cotonou-Wireless could afford to take the open
access software route to expand their mesh network, using standard
wireless equipment that can be found almost anywhere. However, Mathias
explains that the retail price of these routers is so hugely inflated in
Benin that he and his partners had to obtain a direct supply from
France. The Linksys box works on Linux and the operating system is
therefore accessible and can be improved and updated.

Several groups of developers have worked on it and have released
improved versions of the original firmware, such as Open Wrt, DD-Wrt,
and Hyper Wrt. Cotonou-wireless has opted for FreiFunk Firmware
(Freifunk meaning free wave in German), an adaptation of Open Wrt.
Freifunk’s open source firmware offers a web enabled administration
application as well as the option to integrate the OLSR protocol
developed by the INRIA (Institut National de Recherche en Informatique
et Automatique). OLSR, which stands for Optimised Link State Routing, is
a routing protocol for mobile ad-hoc networks. The protocol is
pro-active, table driven and utilises a technique called multi-point
relaying for message flooding.

Cotonou-Wireless access is protected with a dedicated firewall that runs
on Linux too. Its primary function is to block all unauthorised access,
but it also allows traffic shaping to optimise bandwidth use. Although
the wireless mesh network was primarily intended for data, they have
added voice capabilities and offer IP to IP calls. The idea is to use
one of the computers as an IP PABX, running with Asterisk, an open
source VoIP software. Any member of the wireless network will be able to
install a small piece of software on its computer, then log in and call
anybody else on the network for free, using a headset or an IP phone.

Cotonou-Wireless is a community group which is run on a non-profit
making basis, explains Mathias Houngbo. The association’s aim is to
provide wireless internet access to users throughout the capital city of
Cotonou in the Republic of Benin. Mathias hopes to use open source
software and a selection of affordable Wi-Fi equipment to make the
Internet accessible at more affordable price to a wider number of
members of the community.

He believes that this technology can be used to get people to
communicate with each other, and this will help to create new
communities. Cotonou-Wireless intends to use its access points to
promote exchanges between its users, develop local usage of the Internet
and provide information that will appeal to local people.

So what’s the future for Cotonou-wireless?  Mathias says that they are
looking to add new members to their mesh network, while at the same time
getting all the paperwork ready to make the association official.
Entrepreneurial spirit is clearly a key motivator for Mathias, who
during the day works as developer and network administrator for the
BCEAO (Central Bank for West African States), and the group is keen to
share their experience with others. In parallel, Mathias and his friends
have set up a website, www.cotonou-wireless.org, which they intend to
use to further stimulate communication and the development of local
content to serve the community.

DIY Broadband in Malawi

July 22, 2005 at 7:40 am

I have been told that there is not a single piece of wire that crosses a
border here. This means that every byte of electronic communication with
the outside world must go out over a satellite.

Most people here use dialup. Dialing up means dialing the local ISP and
then getting a connection to their satellite. But you pay about 3 cents
per minute to the telephone company, and then about $40/month to the
ISP. Often the ISPs (Malawi Net, Africa Online, Globe) are extremely
oversubscribed, so 5-10 second hiccup delays or timeouts are normal, and
despite a 56.6 kbps connection, transfer rates are often stuck at 20kbps
. What does this crappiness cost the average user? 60 minutes per day *
3 cents = 180 cents, almost 2 dollars/day. So it costs $100/month for a
very poor internet connection.

http://www.vdomck.org/blog/2005/07/22/diy-broadband-in-malawi/
--
    .~.
    /V\     Jan Groenewald
   /( )\    www.aims.ac.za
   ^^-^^

Hi All,

Please find below a forthcoming workshop announcement and invitation for
applications. The subject matter may be of interest to members of
AIMS-announce and other lists, or their colleagues, so I have BCC'ed it
to all of you. Apologies for any cross-posting. Please distribute as you
see fit!

########################################################################
#                                                                      #
#  Bandwidth management and optimisation (2-6 July 2006)               #
#  Optional pre-workshop Basic Linux skills session (29-30 June 2006)  #
#                                                                      #
########################################################################

Web caching and associated technical bandwidth management tools workshop
Workshop invitation; Closing date for applications, 25 May 2006.

Background:
The International Network for the availability of Scientific Publications
( INASP - http://www.inasp.info ), the Tertiary Education Network (TENET -
http://www.tenet.ac.za ) and the African Institute for Mathematical Sciences
(AIMS - http://www.aims.ac.za ) invite you to participate in an intensive
Web caching and associated technical bandwidth management tools workshop.

Programme details and application forms available from the INASP site at:
http://www.inasp.info/training/bandwidth/bmo-osts/za-caching-2006-01.html
(An application form will soon be available at the link above; meanwhile
please use http://www.aims.ac.za/~jan/za-caching-2006-01-outline.pdf )

Target participants, organisations and countries:
This workshop is specifically aimed at the following kinds of people:

- ICT/Computer centre technical staff responsible for network services
provision and Internet connectivity within their organisation

Participants should be those people who actually have day to day technical
responsibility for the monitoring, support and maintenance of networked
services. It is envisaged that no more than two people from each
institution would participate in this workshop. This is a technical
workshop and a working knowledge of Linux will be required.

Representatives from universities and large research institutions (100+
networked computers) in Sub-Saharan African countries are invited to
participate in this workshop. Due to funding availability, priority will be
given to applicants from the following countries:

- Democratic Republic of Congo, Cote d'Ivoire, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya,
Malawi, Nigeria, Rwanda, Senegal, South Africa, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia,
Zimbabwe

Sponsorship and support available:
TENET and INASP, through the assistance of the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation,
the Flemish Interuniversity Council (VLIR) and the International,
Development Research Centre (IDRC) will cover the costs of participants in
the workshop, this will include;

- Travel to/from the workshop venue
- Accommodation whilst participating in the workshop (if not nearby
  resident)
- Subsistence costs for the duration of the workshop
- Providing participants with all the necessary supporting materials

A reminder again that the closing date is 25 MAY (less that 2 weeks time)
so apologies for the short notice. Application form as attached, please
complete and submit as directed. If you have any questions then please let
me know.

Regards,
Jan
--
    .~.
    /V\     Jan Groenewald
   /( )\    www.aims.ac.za
   ^^-^^

Dear friends,

I just added a few more lists to my wiki list of free software for
windows site...  Please add in some OpenSource entries...  as I am
lacking in that category.

http://www.seedwiki.org/wiki/freesoftware/freesoftware

Peace
Tim


__________________________________
John "Tim" DENNY, PhD
Project Assistant – ICT in Teacher Training

UNESCO Bangkok
Asia and Pacific Regional Bureau for Education
920, Sukhumvit Road, 10110 Bangkok, Thailand
Tel: +66 (0) 2 391 0577 Ext. 213  Mobile: +66 (0) 1 572 9135
E-mail: jt.denny@...  or johndenny@...
Vita - http://www.avuedigitalservices.com/VR/drjohndenny

COMING SOON!

"The Code Breakers"
A BBC World Documentary on Free/Open Source Software and Development

http://www.apdip.net/news/fossdoc

==========================================================================

The famous digital divide is getting wider. A two-part documentary, "The
Code Breakers," to be aired on BBC World starting 10 May 2006 examines
whether free/open source software (FOSS) might be the bridge?

FOSS contains 'source code' that can be used, copied, studied, modified
and redistributed without restriction. It has been around for over 20
years but most PC owners are not aware that the Internet search engines
and many computer applications run on FOSS.

"It's not that FOSS has had a bad press, it has had no press because there
is no company that 'owns' it," says executive producer Robert Lamb. "But
we found that in the computer industry and among the afficionados, it is
well known and its virtues well understood."

The crew of the independent producers who made the film went to nearly a
dozen countries around the world to see how the adoption of FOSS presents
opportunities for industry and capacity development, software piracy
reduction, and localization and customization for diverse cultural and
development needs.

Stories from "The Code Breakers" include computer and Internet access for
school children in Africa, reaching the poor in Brazil, tortoise breeding
programmes in the Galapagos, connecting villages in Spain, and disaster
management in Sri Lanka. The documentary also includes interviews from key
figures around the world.

Intel, IBM, Sun and Microsoft all seem to agree that FOSS is a welcome
presence in computer software.

According to Jonathan Murray of Microsoft "The Open Source community
stimulates innovation in software, it's something that frankly we feel
very good about and it's something that we absolutely see as being a
partnership with Microsoft."

BBC World will air the two-part documentary at the following times:

Episode One

Wednesday 10 May 19:30 GMT
Thursday 11 May 09:30 GMT
Friday 12 May 16:30 GMT
Monday 15 May 01:30 and 07:30 GMT

Episode Two

Wednesday 17 May 19:30 GMT
Thursday 18 May 09:30 GMT
Friday 19 May 16:30 GMT
Monday 22 May 01:30 and 07:30 GMT

For local times, please lookup your country in the TV Listings on BBC
World's website
http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_tvlistings.asp?pageid=668.

The International Open Source Network (IOSN), UNDP Asia-Pacific
Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP), International Development
Research Centre of Canada and UNESCO have participated in the production
of this documentary.


==============================================
Bellanet-l est une liste de distribution réservée à l’échange
d’informations et à la publication d’annonces et d’événements qui
intéressent tous les aspects liés aux technologies de l’information et des
communications. Bellanet ne peut en aucune façon être tenue pour
responsable des informations et des opinions diffusées sur ces liste de
distribution. Pour vous joindre à cette liste, veuillez aller à
http://home.bellanet.org

Bellanet-l is a distribution list to share news, announcements,
opportunities and events related to Information and Communications
Technology issues. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do
not necessarily state or reflect those of Bellanet.
To join this list, please go to http://home.bellanet.org

Bellanet-l es una lista para la distribución de noticias, anuncios,
oportunidades y eventos relacionados con asuntos de Ias tecnologías de
información y las comunicaciones. Las opiniones aquí expresadas no
reflejan necesariamente la posición de Bellanet. Para abonarse a esta
lista, visite http://home.bellanet.org


---
You are currently subscribed to bellanet-l as: [bkankuzi@...] To
unsubscribe, forward this message to
leave-bellanet-l-277422I@...

COMING SOON!

"The Code Breakers"
A BBC World Documentary on Free/Open Source Software and Development

http://www.apdip.net/news/fossdoc

==========================================================================

The famous digital divide is getting wider. A two-part documentary, "The
Code Breakers," to be aired on BBC World starting 10 May 2006 examines
whether free/open source software (FOSS) might be the bridge?

FOSS contains 'source code' that can be used, copied, studied, modified and
redistributed without restriction. It has been around for over 20 years but
most PC owners are not aware that the Internet search engines and many
computer applications run on FOSS.

"It's not that FOSS has had a bad press, it has had no press because there
is no company that 'owns' it," says executive producer Robert Lamb. "But we
found that in the computer industry and among the afficionados, it is well
known and its virtues well understood."

The crew of the independent producers who made the film went to nearly a
dozen countries around the world to see how the adoption of FOSS presents
opportunities for industry and capacity development, software piracy
reduction, and localization and customization for diverse cultural and
development needs.

Stories from "The Code Breakers" include computer and Internet access for
school children in Africa, reaching the poor in Brazil, tortoise breeding
programmes in the Galapagos, connecting villages in Spain, and disaster
management in Sri Lanka. The documentary also includes interviews from key
figures around the world.

Intel, IBM, Sun and Microsoft all seem to agree that FOSS is a welcome
presence in computer software.

According to Jonathan Murray of Microsoft "The Open Source community
stimulates innovation in software, it's something that frankly we feel very
good about and it's something that we absolutely see as being a partnership
with Microsoft."

BBC World will air the two-part documentary at the following times:

Episode One

Wednesday 10 May 19:30 GMT
Thursday 11 May 09:30 GMT
Friday 12 May 16:30 GMT
Monday 15 May 01:30 and 07:30 GMT

Episode Two

Wednesday 17 May 19:30 GMT
Thursday 18 May 09:30 GMT
Friday 19 May 16:30 GMT
Monday 22 May 01:30 and 07:30 GMT

For local times, please lookup your country in the TV Listings on BBC
World's website
http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_tvlistings.asp?pageid=668.

The International Open Source Network (IOSN), UNDP Asia-Pacific Development
Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP), International Development Research
Centre of Canada and UNESCO have participated in the production of this
documentary.


==============================================
Bellanet-l est une liste de distribution réservée à l’échange
d’informations et à la publication d’annonces et d’événements qui
intéressent tous les aspects liés aux technologies de l’information et des
communications. Bellanet ne peut en aucune façon être tenue pour
responsable des informations et des opinions diffusées sur ces liste de
distribution. Pour vous joindre à cette liste, veuillez aller à
http://home.bellanet.org

Bellanet-l is a distribution list to share news, announcements,
opportunities and events related to Information and Communications
Technology issues. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do
not necessarily state or reflect those of Bellanet.
To join this list, please go to http://home.bellanet.org

Bellanet-l es una lista para la distribución de noticias, anuncios,
oportunidades y eventos relacionados con asuntos de Ias tecnologías de
información y las comunicaciones. Las opiniones aquí expresadas no reflejan
necesariamente la posición de Bellanet. Para abonarse a esta lista, visite
http://home.bellanet.org


---
You are currently subscribed to bellanet-l as: [bkankuzi@...]
To unsubscribe, forward this message to
leave-bellanet-l-277422I@...

COMING SOON!

"The Code Breakers"
A BBC World Documentary on Free/Open Source Software and Development

http://www.apdip.net/news/fossdoc

==========================================================================

The famous digital divide is getting wider. A two-part documentary, "The
Code Breakers," to be aired on BBC World starting 10 May 2006 examines
whether free/open source software (FOSS) might be the bridge?

FOSS contains 'source code' that can be used, copied, studied, modified
and redistributed without restriction. It has been around for over 20
years but most PC owners are not aware that the Internet search engines
and many computer applications run on FOSS.

"It's not that FOSS has had a bad press, it has had no press because there
is no company that 'owns' it," says executive producer Robert Lamb. "But
we found that in the computer industry and among the afficionados, it is
well known and its virtues well understood."

The crew of the independent producers who made the film went to nearly a
dozen countries around the world to see how the adoption of FOSS presents
opportunities for industry and capacity development, software piracy
reduction, and localization and customization for diverse cultural and
development needs.

Stories from "The Code Breakers" include computer and Internet access for
school children in Africa, reaching the poor in Brazil, tortoise breeding
programmes in the Galapagos, connecting villages in Spain, and disaster
management in Sri Lanka. The documentary also includes interviews from key
figures around the world.

Intel, IBM, Sun and Microsoft all seem to agree that FOSS is a welcome
presence in computer software.

According to Jonathan Murray of Microsoft "The Open Source community
stimulates innovation in software, it's something that frankly we feel
very good about and it's something that we absolutely see as being a
partnership with Microsoft."

BBC World will air the two-part documentary at the following times:

Episode One

Wednesday 10 May 19:30 GMT
Thursday 11 May 09:30 GMT
Friday 12 May 16:30 GMT
Monday 15 May 01:30 and 07:30 GMT

Episode Two

Wednesday 17 May 19:30 GMT
Thursday 18 May 09:30 GMT
Friday 19 May 16:30 GMT
Monday 22 May 01:30 and 07:30 GMT

For local times, please lookup your country in the TV Listings on BBC
World's website
http://www.bbcworld.com/content/template_tvlistings.asp?pageid=668.

The International Open Source Network (IOSN), UNDP Asia-Pacific
Development Information Programme (UNDP-APDIP), International Development
Research Centre of Canada and UNESCO have participated in the production
of this documentary.


==============================================
Bellanet-l est une liste de distribution réservée à l’échange
d’informations et à la publication d’annonces et d’événements qui
intéressent tous les aspects liés aux technologies de l’information et des
communications. Bellanet ne peut en aucune façon être tenue pour
responsable des informations et des opinions diffusées sur ces liste de
distribution. Pour vous joindre à cette liste, veuillez aller à
http://home.bellanet.org

Bellanet-l is a distribution list to share news, announcements,
opportunities and events related to Information and Communications
Technology issues. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do
not necessarily state or reflect those of Bellanet.
To join this list, please go to http://home.bellanet.org

Bellanet-l es una lista para la distribución de noticias, anuncios,
oportunidades y eventos relacionados con asuntos de Ias tecnologías de
información y las comunicaciones. Las opiniones aquí expresadas no
reflejan necesariamente la posición de Bellanet. Para abonarse a esta
lista, visite http://home.bellanet.org


---
You are currently subscribed to bellanet-l as: [bkankuzi@...] To
unsubscribe, forward this message to
leave-bellanet-l-277422I@...

List  your biz  for  FREE
http://greenbusinessdirectory.com/links.php?ax=add

Good morning to all,

I'm a development worker for Progessio in Lima, Peru (South America).
For the last 3 years we've been implementing an Agrarian Information
System for poor farmers of a desert valley called Huaral (www.huaral.org).

I know that all of you work on ICT projects implementation around the
world and I'd like to get in touch with you to share our different
experiences.

I'm doing a quick research on economic impacts of telecommunications on
rural areas. If you know of the existence of any information in this
subject please let me know.

Thanks for your attention.

Best regards,
JT

Hi Kamrul,

>  My organization wants to use a mobile V-SAT on the roof of a vehicle
> .when we traveling over the rural area. I want a perfect solution for
> implementing mobile V-sat in my company. Could any one provide me a
> solution how I implement mobile V-SAT that would be used in rural area
> of Bangladesh.

Don't you think a VSAT dish is a bit big to mount on the roof of a
vehicle? Maybe a TV-style broadcast van, where the dish can be retracted
inside in harsh weather, might be able to handle it. But I think there are
more appropriate solutions than VSAT in this case. For example:

2-way DVB (like DirecWay/StarBand) uses a much smaller dish and is often
used for mobile applications.

Inmarsat BGAN terminals are often used for hand-portable connectivity.

I also found these with a quick Google search (they are the top links for
"mobile vsat"):

http://www.lamit.ro/mobile-two-way-satellite-internet.htm
http://www.manage.gov.in/managelib/NewEvents/mobile%20VSAT.htm
http://www.satphonestore.com/InternetSea/vehicle_vsat.htm

Cheers, Chris.
--
(aidworld) chris wilson | chief engineer (http://www.aidworld.org)

You're Exposing Your Data EVERY Time You Connect To A Wireless Network!
It's critical that you batten down the proverbial hatches on your
laptop right now, while you're thinking about it. But here's the good
news: fixing all your security holes and risks is easy with the right
guide.
http://wirelesskcbj.blogspot.com/

Dear All,

We will be having an ICT Fair here in Malawi from 26th to 28th April 2006
under the theme: "ICT: Accelerating Development". The organizer of the
fair is the Malawi Confederation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry.
What has interested most of us in the Open Source movement is the fact
that the organizers have announced through our local newspapers that this
year we will have a special stand for Free and Open Source Software!!!

This is really good news to us and I thought it is worth sharing.

Wishing a nice weekend to everyone.

Cheers,

Bennett Kankuzi
University of Malawi(Polytechnic)
Malawi

===============
Blog: http://bkankuzi.blogspot.com

I'm forwarding this email I received (below), hoping it can be of
interest for someone.
I strongly apologize for the attached .doc files.
Never send .doc files! Read Stallmans's "We can put an end to Word
attachments" if you want to know why.
http://www.newsforge.com/article.pl?sid=02/01/10/1711238&mode=thread

P.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Francisco Gutierrez <XXXXXXXXXXX>
Date: Apr 7, 2006 10:47 PM
Subject: Concurso de Proyectos/ Research Project Competition

ENGLISH TO FOLLOW...


NOTA DE PRENSA - COMUNICADO

La red Diálogo Regional sobre Sociedad de la Información (DIRSI -
www.dirsi.net) hace el llamado a:

Concurso de Proyectos de Investigación para jóvenes investigadores:
Estrategias para el Desarrollo de la Sociedad de la Información entre
los Sectores de Bajos Recursos en América Latina y el Caribe.

La red Diálogo Regional sobre Sociedad de la Información –DIRSI— está
compuesta por investigadores académicos de varias disciplinas de
países de América Latina y el Caribe que se dedican a estudiar los
retos planteados por el desarrollo de la Sociedad de la Información y
los problemas y soluciones de política pública y de la regulación. Uno
de los principales objetivos de DIRSI es promover la investigación
entre jóvenes académicos interesados en los retos regulatorios que
plantea el desarrollo de la Sociedad de la Información y el
conocimiento entre los pobres y excluidos en los países de la región.
Con ese fin, DIRSI convoca a este concurso de becas de investigación
dirigido a jóvenes investigadores (menores de 35 años) para llevar a
cabo proyectos dentro de los siguientes grandes temas que ocupan la
agenda de investigación de DIRSI:

1. Análisis de la demanda. ¿Qué es y cómo medir la pobreza digital?
2. Análisis de la oferta. Nuevos modelos de propiedad y gestión de redes.
3. El reto del servicio universal
4. Herramientas regulatorias para promover el acceso, la participación
y el empoderamiento de los pobres

Se otorgarán tres becas de US $5.000 (dólares americanos) cada una.
Los ganadores de las becas también recibirán fondos adicionales para
financiar su participación en una conferencia internacional para
presentar los resultados del trabajo. Las propuestas serán recibidas
solamente por vía electrónica a la siguiente dirección:
fjgutierr@.... La fecha límite es el lunes 30 de abril 2006,
antes de las 17 horas, hora de Chile (GMT – 4). Mayor información
puede econtrar en el documento adjunto.


ENGLISH:




Research Project Competition for young researchers
Strategies for the Development of the Information Society among
Low-Income Sectors in Latin America and the Caribbean

The Regional Dialogue on the Information Society – DIRSI in Spanish–
is a network composed of academic researchers from various disciplines
in LAC countries who study the challenges posed by the development of
the Information Society and public policy and regulation problems and
solutions. The focus of the members of the network is on the
generation of knowledge that will facilitate reflection, and the
design of policies that will promote the inclusion of all sectors of
society in the benefits of the Information Society. At present, DIRSI
is financially supported by Canada's IDRC, within the PanAmericas
initiative.
One of the main objectives of DIRSI is to promote research among young
academics interested in the regulatory challenges posed by the
development of the Information Society and knowledge among the poor
and marginalised in countries in the region. For that purpose, DIRSI
is holding this research grants competition geared to young
researchers (under 35 years of age) for the execution of projects
within the following broad topics included on the DIRSI research
agenda.

1.    Analysis of demand. What is and how to measure digital poverty?
2.    Analysis of supply. New ownership and network management models.
3.    The challenge of universal service
4.    Regulatory tools for promoting access, participation and
empowerment of the poor

The proposals are to be submitted only via E-mail to the following
address: fjgutierr@.... The deadline is Monday 30th April 2006,
before 17 hours, Chilean standard time (GMT – 4). The E-mail
submissions are to be accompanied by the file with the proposal, the
applicant's curriculum vitae (attached to this email), and two letters
of support from senior researchers in the region. For further
information, please visit www.dirsi.net

Hie all,

I really agree with what Chris has said. It might be true that in the past
Linux used to be stuff for 'technocrats'. But right now the open source
movement has realised that the only way linux can have a fair share of the
desktop market is by improving on its user friendliness.

Indeed it is quite encouraging to see very friendly user interfaces like
in Ubuntu and Mandrake. I for one have been using a Mandrake for over a
year now. I use the KDE interface and its very user friendly. Some people
even fail to distinguish the fact that I am using Linux. They usually
think I use Windows.

The user friendliness of Linux flavours like Ubuntu and Mandrake has had a
positive impact here in Malawi. And no wonder here in Malawi, the 'Linux
Movement' is gathering pace.

Therefore once again I really agree with Chris on some concerns raised but
I think the open source community is making strides in improving the  user
friedliness (interface, configuration etc) of the Linux OS.

Cheers,

Bennett Kankuzi
University of Malawi(Polytechnic)
Malawi

===============
Web: http://bkankuzi.blogspot.com

> The ideas of Chris will be help a lot in our region
> too.
>
> Best Wishes,
>
> Prashant.
>
> --- Chris Wilson <chris@...> wrote:
>
>> Hi Temitope,
>>
>> On Mon, 2006-04-03 at 09:02 +0100, OAT Aladesanmi
>> wrote:
>>
>> > Still on [...] the possibility of  worm choking up
>> the entire
>> > organisation bandwidth, particularly when the
>> workstations are
>> > predominantly windows,  one of the way of
>> mitigating this is through
>> > the encouragement and use of unix based OS such as
>> Mandrake (I
>> > understand Ubuntu is even more GUI friendly) which
>> are less virus
>> > prone. This may take time to materialise
>> considering ease of use and
>> > installation of windows over Unix but it is a
>> possibility. One problem
>> > - that of virus - would (at least) have been
>> resolved.
>>
>> Unfortunately I don't think this is a good solution.
>> Unix-based systems
>> have always been harder to administer than Windows.
>> This is one reason
>> why Windows has become so popular. Microsoft can
>> afford to invest
>> $millions in usability, and it's in their interests
>> to do so. The open
>> source community cannot afford to, and mostly
>> doesn't seem to care.
>>
>> Here in Africa, we have seen "network
>> administrators" who had not
>> installed any service packs on their XP machines and
>> were not using
>> Windows Update. This is why they were vulnerable to
>> worms. I would hate
>> to see what they would do with a Linux box of any
>> flavour. Linux can be
>> faster and more convenient than Windows to manage,
>> but it takes a lot of
>> skill and practice from the administrator to get
>> there.
>>
>> If not properly configured and updated, I'd say a
>> Linux box is almost as
>> vulnerable as a Windows one.
>>
>> We are considering writing some general guidelines,
>> like a "network
>> administration for dummies" guide, that we could put
>> on our website and
>> disseminate to institutions far and wide, to help
>> them get their
>> networks into shape. And also the "man with a
>> suitcase and a
>> screwdriver" idea.
>>
>> Cheers, Chris.
>> --
>> (aidworld) chris wilson | chief engineer
>> (chris@...)
>>
>>
>
>
> __________________________________________________
> Do You Yahoo!?
> Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
> http://mail.yahoo.com
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>

The ideas of Chris will be help a lot in our region
too.

Best Wishes,

Prashant.

--- Chris Wilson <chris@...> wrote:

> Hi Temitope,
>
> On Mon, 2006-04-03 at 09:02 +0100, OAT Aladesanmi
> wrote:
>
> > Still on [...] the possibility of  worm choking up
> the entire
> > organisation bandwidth, particularly when the
> workstations are
> > predominantly windows,  one of the way of
> mitigating this is through
> > the encouragement and use of unix based OS such as
> Mandrake (I
> > understand Ubuntu is even more GUI friendly) which
> are less virus
> > prone. This may take time to materialise
> considering ease of use and
> > installation of windows over Unix but it is a
> possibility. One problem
> > - that of virus - would (at least) have been
> resolved.
>
> Unfortunately I don't think this is a good solution.
> Unix-based systems
> have always been harder to administer than Windows.
> This is one reason
> why Windows has become so popular. Microsoft can
> afford to invest
> $millions in usability, and it's in their interests
> to do so. The open
> source community cannot afford to, and mostly
> doesn't seem to care.
>
> Here in Africa, we have seen "network
> administrators" who had not
> installed any service packs on their XP machines and
> were not using
> Windows Update. This is why they were vulnerable to
> worms. I would hate
> to see what they would do with a Linux box of any
> flavour. Linux can be
> faster and more convenient than Windows to manage,
> but it takes a lot of
> skill and practice from the administrator to get
> there.
>
> If not properly configured and updated, I'd say a
> Linux box is almost as
> vulnerable as a Windows one.
>
> We are considering writing some general guidelines,
> like a "network
> administration for dummies" guide, that we could put
> on our website and
> disseminate to institutions far and wide, to help
> them get their
> networks into shape. And also the "man with a
> suitcase and a
> screwdriver" idea.
>
> Cheers, Chris.
> --
> (aidworld) chris wilson | chief engineer
> (chris@...)
>
>


__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam?  Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around
http://mail.yahoo.com

Hi Temitope,

On Mon, 2006-04-03 at 09:02 +0100, OAT Aladesanmi wrote:

> Still on [...] the possibility of  worm choking up the entire
> organisation bandwidth, particularly when the workstations are
> predominantly windows,  one of the way of mitigating this is through
> the encouragement and use of unix based OS such as Mandrake (I
> understand Ubuntu is even more GUI friendly) which are less virus
> prone. This may take time to materialise considering ease of use and
> installation of windows over Unix but it is a possibility. One problem
> - that of virus - would (at least) have been resolved.

Unfortunately I don't think this is a good solution. Unix-based systems
have always been harder to administer than Windows. This is one reason
why Windows has become so popular. Microsoft can afford to invest
$millions in usability, and it's in their interests to do so. The open
source community cannot afford to, and mostly doesn't seem to care.

Here in Africa, we have seen "network administrators" who had not
installed any service packs on their XP machines and were not using
Windows Update. This is why they were vulnerable to worms. I would hate
to see what they would do with a Linux box of any flavour. Linux can be
faster and more convenient than Windows to manage, but it takes a lot of
skill and practice from the administrator to get there.

If not properly configured and updated, I'd say a Linux box is almost as
vulnerable as a Windows one.

We are considering writing some general guidelines, like a "network
administration for dummies" guide, that we could put on our website and
disseminate to institutions far and wide, to help them get their
networks into shape. And also the "man with a suitcase and a
screwdriver" idea.

Cheers, Chris.
--
(aidworld) chris wilson | chief engineer (chris@...)

Dear Mr Aladesanmi,

On Tue, 2006-03-28 at 09:23 +0100, OAT Aladesanmi wrote:

> One of the gravest challenges facing academic network in Africa is low
> bandwidth availability and high cost of bandwidth acquisition. [1]In
> African universities life is being squeezed from research and higher
> education by the high cost of bandwidth which inhibits communication
> and collaboration noted a report.
>
>  I agreed with Benneth that the immediate solution to this is not
> through continual bandwidth upgrade but rather through the development
> of optimisation scheme to aid in web traffic prioritization.

That is indeed the case. We are working with African institutes right
now to solve this problem. Yesterday we were at the Institute of
Scientific and Technical Information, an information resource
(librarians) used by other research institutes in Ghana. Their broadband
connection was down, because the number of Windows worms on their
network was crashing their DSL router.

More bandwidth would not have helped them - the worms would have soaked
it all up, they would be no better off, and meanwhile they would be
spewing out twice as much crap onto the Internet.

> The needed expertise, technical exposure and knowledge of design
> considerations for such intelligent networks are very scarce in most
> developing nations.

Absolutely. We are considering the idea of training or fundraising for
roving network administrators, "men with screwdrivers and suitcases", to
go around visiting all these schools and institutions (the ones that
want them) once every few weeks, to help them solve their computer and
network problems.

> That is why kudos must go to those who have contributed to the
> development of the simulator.

Thanks! And thanks to Marco Zennaro and ICTP as well for publicising it.

Cheers, Chris.
--
(aidworld) chris wilson | chief engineer (chris@...)