Frederick Noronha on Sun, 26 Dec 1999 02:05:44 +0100 (CET)


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<nettime> bYtES For aLL Issue # 5 , January 2000


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01010101  bYtES For aLL * bYtES For aLL * bYtES For aLL  10101010
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n e w t e c h n o l o g i e s w i l l m e a n h a v i n g m o r e
i n t h e h a v e-n o t c a m p i f w e a r e n o t c a r e f u l
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0101010101                                             1010101010
0101010101            Issue No 5 * Jan 2000            1010101010
1010101010      AN OCCASIONAL NEWSLETTER TO MAKE       0101010101
0101010101          COMPUTING AND TECHNOLOGY           1010101010
1010101010    FRIENDLY TO THE NEEDS OF THE MILLIONS    0101010101
1010101010   Editor: Frederick Noronha fred@vsnl.com   0101010101
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INTERNET IN SOUTH ASIA: VARIED VIEWS IN PROMINENT ACADEMIC JOURNAL
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: EPW <epw@vsnl.com>

The Economic and Political Weekly of Bombay (Nov 20, 1999 issue) 
carries a range of articles on the Internet in South Asia. 
* The Internet offers some hope to the people of the region who 
live in widely disparate living environments and particularly in 
remote communities. But in order to take full advantage of this 
new technology, there is a need to evolve regional and region-
specific norms and practices. A recent conference on the subject 
has thrown up several relevant issues.
* A review of telecommunication networks in India, Pakistan, 
Bangladesh and Nepal reveals that they are in uniformly poor 
shape. There is an emerging scope for rationalising telecom 
policies with a view to convergence of communication technologies 
across the region.
* The regulatory climate in South Asia has only recently welcomed 
private Internet service providers. The challenge lies in 
creating a level playing field so that the digital divide between 
rural and urban, non-English and English-speaking South Asia can 
be minimised and eliminated. 
* A review of online content in South Asian countries with a 
special focus on the number of websites, local relevance, 
community involvement, directories, search engines, advertisement 
revenue and third party audits. Also policy suggestions for 
content development.
http://www.epw.org.in or http://www.south-asian-initiative.org/epw

MAKING TELECOM AND I.T. AFFORDABLE FOR THE THIRD WORLD
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Vickram Crishna <vvcrishna@india.com>

COMMSPHERE 2000 is an international conference on 'Affordable 
Telecom and IT Solutions for Developing Countries'. It is to be 
held from February 28 to March 2, 2000 at the IIT-Chennai 
(Madras) in India. Accessibility to  telecom and  Internet 
network  is fast becoming a major factor  determining the  
competitiveness  of  an  individual, group or society. This 
conference will focus on  the needs  of, and  affordable 
solutions  for, developing countries.
Details: commsphere@tenet.res.in
http://www.tenet.res.in/commsphere/commsphere.html
Also contact: Prof. Ashok Jhunjhunwala, Convener, COMMSPHERE 
2000, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Indian Institute of 
Technology, Chennai - 600 036, INDIA Telefax: +91-44 235-2120 Ph: 
+91-44 235-2120/445 8414/445 8366/4909048.

NEPAL COMMUNITY RADIO STATION GOES ONLINE
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Media reports

RADIO SAGARMATHA is South Asia's first community radio station, 
and it has launched its website. Having already celebrated its 
second birthday with an increase in broadcast time and the 
development of new programmes, the station is now online at 
http://www.sagarmatha.org.np. The site includes a profile of the 
organisation, a schedule of programming, information about public 
access, a new programme to solicit financial support ("Friends of 
Radio Sagarmatha") as well as information about the media 
environment in Nepal and the story of Radio Sagarmatha's long 
battle for a license. An online audio service, weekly summaries 
of news from Nepal as well as an online resource center to 
support the development of public and community radio in South 
Asia are in the pipeline.
Contact: GPO Box 6958- Kathmandu Nepal. Tel +977 1 528 091 Fax 
+977 1 530 227 email: ipringle@radiosag.wlink.com.np
http://www.sagarmatha.org.np

FREE OPERATING SYSTEMS: HAVE YOUR PICK 
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: .NET, India's first Internet magazine

An India-based group has launched a new Web site that offers 
users 11 different operating systems, including Linux, and their 
accompanying documentation. The FreeOS.com site is based in 
Mumbai, India, and it staunchly opposes the lucrative practice of 
charging for operating systems. Besides the increasingly popular 
Linux, other operating systems supported by FreeOS.com include 
FreeBSD, BPMK, Cynus, FreeDos, Freedows, GNU Hurd, Minix, NetBSD, 
OpenBSD, and VSTa. While the site offers support for all 11 free 
operating systems, FreeOS.com says that the vast majority of 
activity in the market revolves around Linux and will probably 
remain that way for the forseeable future. Details from Prakash 
Advani, prakash@freeos.com
http://www.freeos.com

SOME INTERESTING SITES FROM PAKISTAN
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: SPIDER, Pakistan's Internet magazine 
http://www.spider.tm

Urdu e-mail         ...       http://www.pakdata..com
Contact Pakistan    ...       http://www.contactpakistan.com
National Bank       ...       http://www.nbp.com.pk
Links to edn sites  ...       http://www.khs.edu.pk
Tech Inst (for women)..       http://www.tipd.org
Islam, travel, Pakstn..       http://www.chopal.click2site.com
Asian Mgt Institute ...       http://www.ami.edu.pk
Pak Picture Gallery ...       www.grove.ufl.edu/~emran/pakpics.htm
Guide to Pak Internet..       http://www.pakpowerpage.com
Mera Pakistan       ...       http://www.merapakistan.com
Institute of Bankers...       http://www.ibp.cib.net
Islamic Art         ...       http://www.islamicart.com
Online magazine Saher..       http://www.saher.com
E-commerce site     ...       http://www.giftdukan.com

BANGLADESH: A MODEM CAN COST MORE THAN A COW!
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Shahidul Alam, shahidul@drik.net

Language forms the biggest barrier to computer literacy in 
Bangladesh, and when less than 15% of the popular has access to 
electricity, and a far smaller fraction owns computers, it is 
clear that only the wealthy will have access to this technology. 
Here, a modem costs more than a cow. Yet this technology and this 
associated language both exist. To find creative routes to turn 
this technology to our benefit is our greatest challenge.

ON-LINE DEBATE ON GLOBAL POVERTY, SOCIAL EXCLUSION, INEQUALITY
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: New Policy Institute info@npi.org.uk

Sign up for an e-conference on the first draft of the World 
Bank's 2000 World Development Report on Poverty. In Sept 2000, 
the World Bank will publish its once-in-a-decade 'Poverty World 
Development Report'. During February and March 2000, there will 
be a global online discussion of the draft. Its conclusions will 
be fed to the report's authors. The World Bank's research reports 
and journals are highly influential on development thinking and 
programmes. They achieve wide distribution, major press coverage 
and are frequently cited. The WDR is the Bank's flagship 
publication, with over 150,000 copies printed and many 
distributed free. This is the first time the World Bank is widely 
circulating a draft WDR. In January, the draft WDR will be posted 
on the web at http://www.worldbank.org/poverty/wdrpoverty/ WDR 
lead author is Ravi Kanbur. NPI is a progressive think tank, 
founded in 1996, and wholly independent. 
To sign up for this e-consultation, send email to 
wdrconf@gn.apc.org to get more info and an electronic sign-up 
form. Or visit either of the two web sites
http://www.brettonwoodsproject.org/reports  or
http://www.npi.org.uk/

ProPOOR, REPOSITORY OF SOUTH ASIAN NON-PROFITS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Jayesh A. Parekh <jayesh@propoor.org>

ProPoor is a web repository of south asian NGO, their leaders, 
projects, success cases, events, publications, donors, jobs, and 
links.  propoor gives free webpage/link to NGOs.
Contact details: ProPoor InfoTech Centre, 12 Prince Edward Road, 
04-09 Podium B Bestway Building, Singapore 079212. Phone: 227-
1184 Fax: (65) 227-1180. e-mail: jayesh@propoor.org 
http://www.propoor.org

BIGGEST LINUX CONFERENCE PLANNED IN INDIA IN FEB 2000
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Express Computer, http://www.expresscomputerindia.com

BANG!LINUX is "the biggest Linux conference that India has every 
witnessed". It is definitely meant for those who are Linux 
programmers, or want to become one. Others would gain from coming 
too. It is to be held in the South Indian city of Bangalore from 
February 25 to 27, 2000.
speakers are to be a combination of several important local 
personalities, and some of the biggest names in the Linux 
community. Including Richard Stallman, Alan Cox and Atul Chitnis. 
There will be over 20 sessions covering a broad range of exciting 
technical areas. You could meet, learn from and exchange ideas 
with over 2500 progammers, developers, industry professionals, 
and all the big players from the Linux community including SuSE 
and Red Hat, according to the organisers.
Register at http://www.linux-conferences.com
Details: Vijay Tase, vstase@hotmail.com

INFO ON SOME PAKISTANI ISPs
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: SPIDER, Pakistan's Internet mag http://www.spider.tm

GEM NET is a new player to the Internet service provider market. 
It is expanding its services to all major cities of Pakistan for 
a broader customer base. The ISP setup is based on ISDN PRI 
lines, which will enable customers to connect upto 56 Kbps. 
http://www.gem.net.pk
ROBONET is the first Internet service provider in the market to 
offer a 15% discount to students and embark on an educational 
programme for young sufers. 
http://www.robonets.com
AKNET was established with the express vision of providing a 
premium quality Internet service.
http://www.ak.net.pk
ORBIT NET is a nationwide backbone for Internet dial-up 
connectivity with high speeds of Internet applications with one 
of the largest multi-home TCP/IP backbone in Pakistan. Orbit 
provides prepaid service packages for individuals with variable 
rates at no registration or monthly rent. You can purchase any 
number of hours, irrespective of consuming it within a limited 
span of time. 
http://www.obit.net.pk

DEVELOPMENT TOOLS FOR INDIAN LANGUAGES
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Centre for Dvpt of Advanced Computing, CDAC India

ISM API Software Development Kit contains fonts, keyboard driver, 
API library and DDE server that enables application development 
for data entry, storage, retrieval and printing in Indian scripts 
using Windows-based front end development tools (VB 5.0 or 6.0, 
Visual FoxPro, MS Access, Power Builder, etc). It facilitates 
processing of Indian language strings in alphabetic characters, 
allowing sorting, indexising and searching.

NTrans is a software that undertakes transliteration from English 
to Indian languages and vice versa. Ideal for applications like 
preparation of telephone directories, pay roll, invoicing, custom 
application, etc. Available for both South and North Indian 
languages. Available as an utility for conversion of Text and DBF 
files, and as a library which can be integrated into one's 
application. 

GistSDK (Software Development Kit) uses Microsoft's advanced 
ActiveX technology and provides a seamless, transparent and self-
contained Indian language layer for data entry, storage, 
retrieval and printing in Indian scripts for your MS Windows 9X 
or NT applications. It can be used with any of the latest 
application development tools providing 'OLE Container' support 
like Visual Basic 5.0 or 6.0, Visual C 4.2 or later, PowerBuilder 
5.0 or later, Delphi 3, etc.  GistSDK consists of a set of DLLs 
(Dynamic Link Libraries) with necessary APIs, a set of ActiveX 
controls and true type fonts. One can develop a completely self-
contained Indian language enabled application rapidly with ease 
using standard front-end development tools. 

Also available are the GIST Card and GIST Shell Library for 
application development under the DOS platform.
Details from: gist@cdac.ernet.in or cdacd@bol.net.in or 
gist@cdacb.ernet.in or cdacm@vsnl.com

MEXICAN WEBSITE TO HELP LOCAL FARMERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Margaret Wertheim / Sunday Age, Australia 

As a symbol of the Internet's power to assist local communities, 
it would be hard to beat the Mexicali-based website of the Rio 
Colorado Irrigation District in the north-west corner of Mexico. 
Created to assist the local community of some farmers' 
organisations, the site, with its attendant Internet services, 
has become a focal point for the region's small-scale indigenous 
agricultural producers. Through Internet connections, the farmers  
can send email, submit reports on irrigation quotas and planting 
activities  and access important information on weather and 
market conditions and a host  of other relevant data. Moreover, 
via the Internet, they can let the world know  about themselves. 
Their homepage charmingly describes their work "in this dry but 
fertile land full of changes and illusions".
http://cucapah.mxl.cetys.mx/indexe.html

STUDY SHOWS POVERTY BLOCKS SPREAD OF CYBER-BENEFITS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Margaret Wertheim / Sunday Age, Australia 

It is becoming clear that opening up the net to everyone will be 
a good deal more problematic than much of the rhetoric would have 
us believe. A report in June by the prestigious Association for 
Computing Machinery (ACM), entitled The Internet in Developing 
Countries, stresses that, for most of the world, Internet access 
remains a rare and costly thing. In Ghana, for example, the cost 
of  an account with Africa Online is $US50 a month, almost twice 
the average monthly income - and more than twice what it costs 
for unlimited access in the US. The ACM report notes that in many 
countries there is a crippling lack of low-cost regional IP 
(internet provider) backbones. Moreover, in many regions of the 
world telephone services are still extremely limited; and for 
billions of people poverty remains an enormous barrier.
That point is reinforced by Indian net activist Venkatesh 
Hariharan, an associate professor at the Indian Institute of 
Information Technology. Forget logging onto the Internet, he says 
because two-thirds of the world's people have never made a phone call.

IT NEPAL AND UNIV. DEGREE PROGRAMME AT KATHMANDU
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Padam Sharma <psharma@outtech.com>

The Kathmandu Campus of Purbanchal University is planning to 
start a three-year degree program in Computer Applications and 
they are looking for an IT buff, preferably, with an academic-
administration background.  The job is worthy of challenge to 
advance the cause of IT in Nepal. 
IT Nepal is a mailing-list to discuss information technology 
issues in Nepal. To subscribe, write to 
it_nepal-subscribe@listbot.com
http://www.caninfo.org/itnepal.htm

AFRICA IN THE INFO & COMMUNICATION AGE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Albertina 'Tina' Almeida <alal@goa1.dot.net.in>

GhaCLAD was founded as an international all volunteer 
organization to ensure that countries throughout Africa, 
particularly Ghana, take their rightful place in the Information 
& Communication Age. 
GhaCLAD is the Ghana Computer Literacy and Distance Education 
conference. Its next conference will be held in Accra, Ghana, 
from July 27-30, 2000.
GhaCLAD:  http://www.ghaclad.org 

UN's W.I.D.E. TO FOSTER TECH COOPERATION AMONG THIRD WORLD
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Yzette Terreblanche <YzetteT@beauty.hsrc.ac.za>

The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) - Special  Unit 
for Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries (TCDC) is in 
the process of launching an Initiative known as Web of 
Information for Development (WIDE), designed to foster technical 
cooperation among developing countries (TCDC).
WIDE Online is a public access database containing user- 
maintained data on experts, institutions and "best" practices.  
WIDE Online is up and running and will be launched globally  very 
shortly.
Under a UNDP agreement with the Brazilian government  WIDE Online 
now provides access to the bio-data of 38,000  Brazilian experts' 
and to over 300,000 Brazilian publications. This data is 
available under a collaboration agreement with  the Brazilian 
Ministry of Science and Technology.
ENQUIRIES:  Atsede Worede Kal, Information Services Officer 
of the UNDP - TCDC
E-mail:  atsede.worede-kal@undp.org
WWW:  http://www.undp.org/tcdc or http://www.wide.org.br

BETTER STATISTICS CAN FIGHT POVERTY BETTER...
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Yzette Terreblanche <YzetteT@beauty.hsrc.ac.za>

Development experts forum calls for better statistics to fight 
poverty in the 21st century. Better statistics can make efforts 
to fight poverty more effective both at the national level, by 
improving the ability of governments to formulate appropriate 
policies, manage economic and social development, and monitor 
improvements in living standards, and at the global level, by 
providing data to monitor the International Development Goals 
which have been set for the 21st century.  In order to ensure 
adequate funding and support for national statistical systems, 
development experts from donors agencies and developing 
countries agreed to launch a shared international strategy, 
PARIS 21, the Partnership in Statistics for Development in the 
21st Century.  
http://www.worldbank.org/html/extdr/extme/105.htm

COMMONWEALTH'S ROUNDTABLE INFO ON THE INTERNET
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: The Commonwealth of Learning <Info@col.org>

Outcomes from The Commonwealth of Learning's Knowledge Management 
Roundtable (November 1999) have now been posted on the Internet.  
Experts in distance education libraries and information databases 
discussed the changing nature of knowledge management and 
available technologies and examined how COL and its Information 
Resource Centre can best meet the needs of stakeholders around 
the Commonwealth.  The group drafted a mission statement for a 
Commonwealth Open Learning Interactive Network for Knowledge 
Sharing (COLINKS).
http://www.col.org/KMR  

USING E-COMMERCE FOR MICRO AND SMALL ENTERPRISES
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Nidhi Tandon <ntnp@interlog.com>

In a recent meeting of an association of women entrepreneurs in 
Cameroon called ASAFE, there were just under 100 entrepreneurs 
from the region and from some English-speaking African countries 
gather to explore e-commerce and its applicability in the 
contexts of micro and small enterprises.
Nidhi Tandon is from the Networked Intelligence for Development, 
210 Indian Road Crescent, Toronto, Ontario, M6P 2G3 Phone: 1416 
763 0371 Fax: 1416 763 0372
Email: ntnp@interlog.com

PACT FOR RURAL E-MAIL IN THE THIRD WORLD
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Gary Garriott <garyg@vita.org>

On December 10, Henry Norman, President of the nonprofit 
Volunteers in Technical Assistance (VITA) announced the signing 
of an innovative agreement that will permit it and its 
collaborators to bring low cost email services to rural and 
isolated areas of developing countries. The other signatories to 
the unique agreement are commercial companies, Wavix, Inc. of 
Maryland (Wavix), and the Surrey Satellite Technology, Ltd., of 
Guildford England (SSTL).
VITA is dedicated to bringing technical assistance to the 
developing world. In 1993, VITA received a "Pioneer's Preference" 
license from the Federal Communications Commission for its early 
work in non-military applications of low earth orbiting 
satellites. A three party agreement has been worked out under 
which, SSTL will lease a transponder on UoSAT-12 to VITA, and 
VITA will operate the transponder in accordance with the terms of 
its FCC authorization for a low earth orbit satellite system. 
VITA will sub-lease capacity to Wavix, which will make financing 
available for the arrangement with SSTL. VITA is entitled to use 
50 percent of the capacity to serve rural populations in the 
developing countries and Wavix, Inc. will use the balance except 
for a small amount reserved to SSTL. This complex arrangement 
took a year to negotiate. However, the parties feel they have 
achieved a win-win situation in which the interests of all three 
organizations, particularly VITA's commitment to bring 
communications to rural populations, are dramatically advanced.
More info: Gary Garriott (VITA), garyg@vita.org 
John Borden (Wavix), john.borden@wavix.com
Holly Ladd (SatelLife), hladd@usa.healthnet.org
Jeff Ward (SSTL), j.w.ward@eim.surrey.ac.uk 

I.T. IN ASIA, A GREAT DEAL OF INFORMATION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Roger Harris <roger@mailhost.fit.unimas.my>

Copies of the proceedings of CITA'99 (520 pages), Conference on 
IT in Asia, the Asian regional conference of the IFIP 9.4 Working 
Group on the social implications of computers in developing 
countries, held in Kuching, Malaysia in September 1999, are 
available at US$25 plus post and packing. The conference featured 
40 papers from 10 countries organized into six tracks: national 
perspectives; applications; IT in education; organisational 
responses; adoption of IT; and cultural aspects.
Contact Hadijah Morni, at mhadijah@fit.unimas.my

SECOND GKII MEET IN MALAYSIA IN MARCH
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Rinalia Abdul Rahim <rinalia@mimos.my>

The Second Global Knowledge Conference (GKII) begins on March 7, 
2000 in Malaysia. Some of the themes to be taken up include 
building knowledge societies; addressing the information divide; 
transforming governance and empowering people; knowledge and 
innovation for sustainable development; enabling effective 
participation in decision making; empowering people through the 
knowledge-based economy; building virtual communities and 
cultural diversity in the 21st century; promoting life-long 
learning; shaping collaborative ICT development and initiatives 
for global prosperity; balancing economic development and 
environmental protection. 
The Knowledge Fair runs from March 7 to 10, 2000. 

NEWS AND VIEWS FROM THE GLOBAL KNOWLEDGE PARTNERSHIP
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Lesley Anne Simmons <lsimmons@worldbank.org>

PARTNERS is the newsletter of the Global Knowledge Partnership, 
and brings you news and views from GKP, via mail and the 
Internet, monthly. Submissions are welcome.
Partners is issued monthly, if you wish to receive this regular 
briefing, or if you know of others who ought to receive it, 
please send mailing details or e-mail address to 
lsimmons@worldbank.org Comments and suggestions? Items for 
inclusion?  Send them to the same address. 
Partners is the  newsletter of the Global Knowledge Partnership, 
a growing partnership of public, private and not-for-profit 
organizations working together to help people access knowledge 
and harness information and communications technologies that will 
help them live meaningful and fruitful lives.
Editor:  Lesley Anne Simmons, The Global Knowledge Partnership
Secretariat, c/o  The World Bank Institute, The World Bank, 1818 H
Street NW, Washington D.C. 20433 
Tel: 1 202 473-1785 Fax: 1 202 522-1492
e-mail: globalknowledge@worldbank.org
website: www.globalknowledge.org

THE HOW-TOs FOR WRITING EFFECTIVE GRANT PROPOSALS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Firoze Manji <firoze@fahamu.org.uk>

Does the thought of writing a proposal fill you with dread? A new 
CD-ROM offers a learning module, designed for not-for-profit 
organisations, which could help you to write effective proposals 
that make a difference. By following the steps, you could write 
your proposal clearly and easily, and without the stress that 
most people associate with this task. There's information on what 
is a proposal; writing proposals; the project document; and a 
resource centre (offering useful links and recommended reading). 
Contact: Firoze Manji <firoze@fahamu.org.uk> or 38 Western Road 
Oxford OX1 4LG UK. Tel/Fax: +44-1865-436446
http://www.fahamu.org.uk

'HEALTH TRAINING' NOW AVAILABLE ONLINE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Thomas Schwarz MedicusMundi <tschwarz@medicusmundi.ch>

The new "Health Training" website is an internet-based inventory 
providing comprehensive information on postgraduate training and 
further education opportunities in the field of International 
Health. International Health focuses on poverty-related health 
problems in low and middle income countries. It includes the 
promotion of health, prevention and treatment of diseases, 
palliative care and rehabilitation. 
http://www.healthtraining.org

INTERNET RATES IN PAKISTAN
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: M. A. Hameed <mah@brain.net.pk>

The rates for Internet access in Pakistan are, in comparison, 
much lower than in other parts of South Asia. BrainNet 
(http://www.brain.net.pk), a pioneer in providing email and 
Internet services and one of the largest ISPs in the country, 
charges Rs 25 per hour as the standard basic rate. The rate comes 
down to Rs 18 for 50 hours used in a month, and only Rs 16 for 
100 hours. Another private ISP, ZoooomNet (http://www.zoooom.net) 
has pioneered the introduction of a prepaid card, charging Rs 
1000 for 50 hours, which can be used at any time, not necessarily 
within a month. (There are no other charges of any kind.) In 
Pakistan there is no surcharge for phone calls. Just one local 
call is charged, irrespective of the time one remains connected 
with Internet.

NEPAL CENTRE FOR MOUNTAIN DEVELOPMENT'S WEBSITE
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: Sangeeta Pandey <sangeeta@icimod.org.np>

In Nepal, the International Centre for Integrated Mountain 
Development (ICIMOD) has its website at the address below. It can 
also be contacted through Sangeeta Pandey, Documentation 
Officer/Web Person E-mail: sangeeta@icimod.org.np
http://www.icimod.org.sg

SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT WEBWORKS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy:  Scott Anderson <sanderson@iisd.ca>

Are you a communications professional working on sustainable 
development? Do you use the Internet in your work? If so, visit 
the SD Webworks [Sustainable Development Webworks], a new online 
community sharing knowledge about using the Internet more 
effectively for sustainable development.
To SUBSCRIBE to the sd-webworks mailing list, send a message to 
<lyris@lists.iisd.ca> with the following command in the body of 
your email message:
subscribe sd-webworks [your name]
SD Gateway: http://sdgateway.net/
Email contacts: rcdd@iisd.ca, rcds@iisd.ca

GIVING SCHOOLS EFFECTIVE ACCESS TO INTERNET RESOURCES
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Schools Online recently released a new version of their web site.  
It helps to ensure that all schools have effective access to the 
communication and information resources of the Internet.  As part 
of the Alliance for Global Learning, WorLD and Schools Online are 
working together to bring the Internet and computer technology to 
schools in nine countries. 
http://www.schoolsonline.org

GLOBALED, EDUCATIONAL RESOURCE FOR STUDENTS AND TEACHERS
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

"GlobalEd", a great educational resource for students and 
teachers sponsored by the Australian Agency for International 
Development (AusAID), features information about various Global 
Issues such as Health, or the Environment, as well as many 
country profiles. 
http://globaled.ausaid.gov.au/

NEW SITE THAT EXPLORES THE USE OF I.T. IN EDUCATION
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Info courtesy: The Commonwealth of Learning  http://www.col.org

TechKnowLogis is a new on-line resource for exploring the use of 
information technology in education.  Free subscriptions 
available on the web-site. 
http://www.techknowlogia.org

WANTED: COLLABORATORS FOR BYTESFORALL
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Comment by Frederick Noronha

BytesForAll, a not-for-profit network meant to focus on how 
computers and the Internet can be used to address the human needs 
of South Asia, earnestly seeks collaboration from volunteers. In 
particular we seek inputs and information from those keeping 
track of developments taking place in other areas of South Asia. 
Any volunteers? Please contact fred@vsnl.com and partha@drik.net 
that is Frederick Noronha (Goa-India) and Partha Sarker (Dhaka-
Bangladesh). 
Meanwhile, a big thank you to Zubair Faisal Abbasi 
<zubair@sdnpk.undp.org> for offering to send in updates for 
BytesForAll from Pakistan. Abbasi is Information Manager of the 
Sustainable Development Networking Programme in Islamabad. More 
about it on the site http://www.sdnp.org.pk
We are also more than grateful for all the kind words and offers 
of support for this young project. You can help us greatly by (i) 
spreading the BytesForAll message by circulating this issue among 
relevant mailing-lists and individuals (ii) sending us news-clips 
from your region that fits into the BytesForAll agenda (iii) 
putting us in touch with people doing similar work worldwide (iv) 
building up regional BytesForAll initiatives in areas not 
currently adequately supported (v) in any other way you deem fit.
Further details about BytesForAll from http://www.bytesforall.org

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bYtES For aLL * Compiled jointly by 
Frederick Noronha, Journalist 403511 Goa India fred@vsnl.com and
Partha Pratim Sarker, Drik Multimedia, Dhaka 1209 partha@drik.net
Compiled in public interest * CopyLeft
May be freely circulated provided entire message is left intact. 
Please draw our attention to any incorrect links noticed above.
Updates, earlier issues and more at http://www.bytesforall.org
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

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