"Prior to establishing the website, the special circumstances under which we functioned had restricted our activity and limited the access to our work by others in related fields (see http://www.uthr.org/history.htm ). Setting up the website was a liberating experience and proved to be significantly a more popular medium than the print media. Thanks to Marilyn's efforts, we get 150- 250 hits every day when we release new reports and about 100 hits per day otherwise. What I found innovative and more meaningful in Virtual Activism's vision of "closing the digital divide" is that it is managed by people who have experience in activism in the developing countries and know the pitfalls and limitations of the organizations which function in those parts. Hence they have a clear perspective in providing all the support including training to make those local organizations independent and efficient in using the tools for their benefit. It not only provides resources just to host a site but makes available all the tools on the web which are useful for campaign purposes, thus opening up new frontiers to the local organizations." |
M. Tadros - member of
An initiative of the UN Alliance of Civilizations
Open Letter to G8 meeting
Update: May 26, 2011 Text of the communique G8 DECLARATION : RENEWED COMMITMENT FOR FREEDOM AND DEMOCRACY [link]
ICT for Development Partnerships and Poverty Reduction?
Dr. David J. Grimshaw, Head of International Programme, New Technologies, Practical Action, Technology Challenging Poverty reviewed the ICTAD report to UNESCO during last week's WSIS 2011 on May 17th. The presentation and the participants gave excellent input into the issue of poverty reduction through ICT and to add to Gimshaw's presentations, here are two issues we need to take into consideration:
- We need to think about resources available that are not necessarily tangible such as psychological resources
- How to motivate people by LISTENING to them and spending time listening to their needs not what we think are their needs
WSIS 2011 launched in Geneva
 May 16- May 20th, 2011: The WSIS Forum has a multi-stakeholder character. The WSIS Stakeholders include governments, civil society, private sector and international organizations from all parts of the world. Today, information and communication technologies (ICTs) provide the opportunity for representation and inclusion of all stakeholders in the
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World Press Freedom Day 2011
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May 3rd is a date which celebrates the fundamental principles of press freedom; to evaluate press freedom around the world, to defend the media from attacks on their independence and to pay tribute to journalists who have lost their lives in the exercise of their profession. This year the theme is 21st C Media: New Frontiers, New Barriers. 
Middle East NGOs website is our Middle East and North Africa-focused initiative. Please click to visit site
