Estonia: Where the Internet is a Human Right

securitas writes "The Christian Science Monitor reports on technological change in Estonia, where an enlightened post-Soviet era government believes the Internet is essential for life in the 21st century and backs that up with legislation declaring Internet access is a human right. Estonia is a country where hot, running water was a luxury a decade ago. It's now a place where farmers have broadband Internet, 80% of the people use online banking, Internet usage and broadband penetration rates are comparable to Western Europe, and the government conducts most business (meetings, votes, document reviews, etc.) virtually through a system of networked computers. Not bad for a country that only 10 years ago was a crumbling, bankrupt mess with a network infrastructure to match."

Comments

obligatory stuff

[ramzak2k]

are you sure it is not ELBONIA ?

yes but

[Anonymous Coward]

Ask the Russians in Estonia about human rights

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[Anonymous Coward]

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Heh... the circle is complete.

[Anonymous Coward]

Yugoslavia: From hosting the Olympics, to a complete crap-hole in 10 years.

Estonia: From complete crap-hole, to "hosting" the Olympics [of website hacking] in 10 years.

Somebody cue up that Elton John song from The Lion King, will ya?

In soviet estonia...

[Anonymous Coward]

phat pipe owns you!

props FEU

This must be stopped!

[Duncan3]

If all of these 3rd world countries keep leapfrogging 1st world countries to become 0th world countries, then soon America is just gonna be another 2nd rater.

Betcha their national pastime isn't driving around in a circle or fake combat either (Nascar and wrestling for the international reader).

What do you expect

[CausticWindow]

from a publication calling itself Christian Science Monitor?

Re:personal impressions

[Anonymous Coward]

So, you met some Estonian, she let you play naked with her, and you're following her home? Aww. How cute.

Re:an Estonians viewpoint

[sheldon]

often you have to wait for over 2 months for a dentist's appointment, for example

Hmm, sounds like America. That is, if you can find a dentist willing to accept new patients from the particular medical plan you have.

So consider yourself fortunate, because America has the best damn health care industry in the world!

Re:A further comment

[arivanov]

You meant fashist aparteid whores. Right?

After all this is a country that has a racial purity law and fines its cittizens the equivalent of 1000 dollars for merrying unsuitable foreigners (russian or other ex-soviet block).

Before deciding that this is flamebait check their legal code. I know what I am talking about.

So invention of new human rights in estonia - give me a brak. Let them first give their cittizens back the most basic right - the right to chose a partner in life without government intervention.