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UN Secretary-General Asks for Help

Posted by ryuzaki0 on from the unicef-taking-bandwidth-donations-and-pennies dept.

knownsense writes "News.com.com is carrying a feature by Kofi Annan talking of the digital divide. He says, "But bridging the digital divide is not going to be easy. Too often, state monopolies charge exorbitant prices for the use of bandwidth." and of bringing WiFi to the developing world. This at a time when places like Panama ban cheaper means of communication and places like India instead of combating absolute illiteracy and hunger, run out to make PDAs. Is the digital divide a purely western concept?"

2 of 239 comments (clear)

  1. Read also this Slashdot Article by jukal · · Score: 4, Informative
    about Donating Time To Goodwill projects - which discussed possible future co-operation between UNITeS and Openchallenge.

    Hopefully this will provide you all with a chance to contribute and help tackle the problems/tasks Kofi Annan stated:
    If all countries are to benefit, we need more and better strategic public-private partnerships. That is one of the primary functions of the United Nations Information and Communication Technologies Task Force, which brings together CEOs, government officials, nongovernmental organizations, technical experts and other information industry leaders.

  2. Re:Same old, same old. by sql*kitten · · Score: 4, Informative
    The power of large companies, forcing customers in inferior products, stupid EULAS and contracts that are detrimental to their (customer) interests. Think Microsoft here.

    From an article in today's NY Times:

    The charitable group that Mr. Gates started with his wife, the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, is now giving away $1.2 billion a year. Mr. Gates said he was pleased that its first major philanthropic effort, the library project, had helped to narrow the digital divide.

    Say what you like about Gates and Microsoft, but the fact remains that in dollar terms, he's done far more for worthy causes than the typical Open Source advocate:

    I'm not going to minimize my attachments by giving it all away, though, so you evangelists for a zillion worthy causes can just calm down out there and forget about hitting me up for megabucks. I am *not* going to be a soft touch, and will rudely refuse all importunities.