[eccr] ICT, Social Enterprise and Sustainable Development Virtual Conference Multimedia Archives

FYI, NC

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>The broadband multimedia archives from the virtual conference on ICT,
>Social Enterprise and Sustainable Development are now available for
>viewing at http://www.hcln.net/socent/ppt/archives.htm.
>
>
>
>If you have broadband access, please take a look at these presentations,
>especially Simon Stevens remarkable presentation on disability and
>social entrepreneurs.
>
>
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>
>1.      IMPACT OF THE INTERNET ON SOCIETY, COMMERCE AND SUSTAINABILITY
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>
>Three of the presentations examined the global impact of the internet on
>society and sustainability. All 3 presentations identified the fact that
>we are at a very critical time in the history of mankind. My
>presentation on the theme of Societal fission or fusion drew an analogy
>with the processes involved in nuclear reaction to make the point that
>with ICT we have unleashed a powerful force on society which we need to
>understand how to harness for the benefit of mankind, otherwise we may
>not be able to control its potential for destruction.
>
>
>
>Earl Mardle of Technology Empowerment Network (TEN) spoke of similar
>potent forces and draw an analogy between the early stages of the life
>of the internet and the birth of the universe - powerful energy and
>great unpredictability. He went on to describe how TEN is creating a
>network to help harness these forces to the benefit of mankind.
>
>
>
>Thomas Schauer's presentation focused on how ICT may have opened a
>Pandora's box of increasing consumption in a world of finite resources.
>He has done some excellent research on the impact of technology on
>bio-diversity and it seems clear that further research is necessary if
>we are to understand how to control the forces we have unleashed.
>
>
>
>It is interesting to note that all 3 presenters developed a common
>strand but come from different backgrounds - commercial, NGO and
>academic.
>
>
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>2.      COMMUNITY LEARNING NETWORKS
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>
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>The presentations from Brian Beaton of K-Net in Canada and Leone Wheeler
>in Australia were on the theme of community networks.
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>
>The K-Net project for the First Nations in Canada is a wonderful example
>of how a community can shape their future through the creative use of
>ICT. In particular, they have a very good model for bringing access to
>remote rural communities through a mixture of broadband, wireless and
>satellite technologies.
>
>
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>The Victoria Regional Learning Network is a more traditional community
>ICT program built around lifelong learning and community ICT centres.
>The project highlighted the sustainability problems projects of this
>type across the world seem to encounter when revenue funding runs out.
>
>
>
>3.      USE OF ICT FOR EMPOWERMENT OF DISADVANTAGED GROUPS
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>
>
>The digital divide is a frequently used term which was at the heart of
>five of the presentations. Sue Webb of Women Connect perhaps expressed
>the true nature of the digital divide when she talked about the social
>divide between men and women and it seemed clear from all of these four
>presentations that ICT can empower disadvantaged groups, provided
>society has a commitment to tackle these social divides.
>
>
>
>Sue Webb's presentation was on Women and ICT and it drew attention to
>the role that women can play in shaping a better society through their
>application of ICT. Sue stressed the need to develop ICT applications
>that are "women friendly" if we are to harness the true potential of
>women.
>
>
>
>Barbara Fillip's presentation covered her model for e-learning in
>developing nations. She describes its success in bringing education in a
>practical way to these countries, but also draws attention to the need
>to make these facilities sustainable. Like many social entrepreneurs
>(myself included) she currently subsidises her social enterprise with
>commercial work. More research is needed into the phenomena of social
>enterprise and the need to connect risks to rewards if these activities
>are to be sustained.
>
>
>
>Marc Cowgill's presentation was on ICT and Mental Health Empowerment. He
>describes the value of ICT to people with mental health issues with his
>mental health empowerment project. When the full multimedia version of
>the presentation is available, you must listen to the professional way
>in which Marc makes his presentation.
>
>
>
>Richard Blows of Quest-Net described their model for making information
>more accessible to disadvantaged groups. The commercial sector is very
>familiar with "information overload" and Quest-Net is a portal site and
>services portfolio designed for "information-underload"
>
>
>
>Simon Stevens is a social entrepreneur who happens be disabled. He spoke
>about Disability and Wealth Creation - the Interdependency model.
>Simon's presentation was a shining example of good communication
>practice. His presentation slides delivered his message with the
>greatest eloquence and he made the point that disabled people should
>have more control within the industries that depend on them. It made me
>even more aware of the need to harness the potential in every human
>being, whatever their background or ability.
>
>
>
>My thanks go out to all the presenters for their efforts - please watch
>out for the full multimedia versions of the presentations over the next
>few days.
>
>
>
>FORTHCOMING EVENTS
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>
>
>You may be interested in some forthcoming events over the next few
>weeks, and I would like to endorse a couple of virtual events planned
>for September/October
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>
>
>A.     Civicnet '02 - Sept 18th to Oct 2nd
>
>
>
>This is a virtual conference over a two week period featuring some of
>the best known and most knowledgeable people in community informatics -
>see http://www.civicnet02.net/program.shtml
>
>
>
>I highly recommend this to anyone interested in community ICT
>
>
>
>B.     Global Learn Day VI - October 13th
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>
>
>It is a remarkable tribute to John Hibbs, the originator of the Global
>Learn Day program that we are now on the sixth year of his voyages of
>discovery around the world. This is a remarkable event not to be missed.
>
>
>
>See :- http://www.bfranklin.edu/gld6catalog/
>
>
>
>C.     Managing Competitive Advantage - Online Forum - 16 -27 September
>
>
>
>Managing Competitive Advantage:
>
>The Values of National Strategy
>
>(16 * 27 September 2002)
>
>  Dear Colleague
>
>  We invite you to join in a global e-discussion from Monday 16 to
>Friday, 27 September 2002, being hosted by the International Trade
>Centre (ITC). The discussion takes place via e-mail and the topic will
>be:  Managing Competitive Advantage: The Values of National Strategy
>The e-discussion will be held in conjunction with this year's Executive
>Forum on National Export Strategies. The Executive Forum is a moderated
>debate on "best practice" held annually in Montreux, Switzerland among
>public and private sector strategy-makers. It is co-hosted by ITC and
>the Swiss Secretariat for Economic Affairs (seco) and is designed to
>generate practical ideas on strengthening international competitiveness
>and improving national export performance. More information on our
>approach and Executive Forum 2002 is available on the web site
>www.intracen.org/execforum.  At Executive Forum 2002, we will table five
>"best practice" propositions relating to the theme "Managing Competitive
>Advantage": Specifically
>
>  *         Establishing Value: Moving from Comparative to Competitive
>
>Advantage - How?
>
>*         Adding Value: Building In-Country, Value-Addition Alliances -
>What
>
>Works?
>
>*         Projecting Value: Is There a Case for National Branding?
>
>*         Capturing Value: Why the Value Chain Approach Works
>
>*         Confirming Value: Measuring Performance
>
>  This e-discussion is designed to reinforce the Montreux debate and to
>bring the results of the debate to a wider audience. The e-discussion
>will be conducted in three languages (English, French and Spanish).
>Daily summaries of the e-discussion and the Montreux debate will be
>provided by e-mail to all registered participants in the three
>languages. Summaries will also be posted on the Executive Forum web
>site, www.intracen.org/execforum and the TPONet site, www.tpo-net.com
>TO REGISTER Please send an email with your details to:
>(infoexecforum /at/ ecie.org)  or you can register using any of the following
>URL: http://www.e-connexions.net/mailman/listinfo/execforum/
>
>Please forward this e-mail to any of your colleagues whom you think
>might be interested.  We very much look forward to your contributions
>and are confident that it will be a valuable experience for all who
>participate.  Yours sincerely Discussion Moderators:  Brian Barclay,
>Coordinator Executive Forum and  Philip Williams, Senior Adviser on
>Institutional Aspects of Trade Promotion ABOUT ITC ITC is the technical
>co-operation agency of the United Nations Conference on Trade and
>Development and the World Trade Organization for operational,
>entreprise-oriented aspects of trade development. Comments? Suggestions?
>Announcements?  We want to hear from you, please send them to:
>(execforum /at/ intracen.org) or (tponet /at/ tpo-net.com)
>
>
>
>
>
>Regards
>
>
>
>David Wortley
>
>Mass Mitec
>
>Creative Collaborative Communications
>
>Tel: +44(0)1858 410366
>
>EMail: (dwortley /at/ massmitec.co.uk)
>
>
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>WHO CARES WINS
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>This message is being sent to you in the belief that you have an
>interest in community ICT and sustainable development. If you do not
>wish to receive these updates, please accept my apologies and reply to
>this message with the word UNSUBSCRIBE in the message title or body, and
>I will immediately remove your name from our lists.
>
>
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>


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