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Economic Development, Internet Technology, and Volunteers

Submitted on 6Jan2004 by Mark Takefman, Community Service Advisor, New World Foundation, New York
Susan, I use the Internet as my main tool for much of my service work. As a member of the International Association for National Youth Service (IANYS) I contact and discuss issues and programs with many of the members and funders associated with this cause to promote national community service.

I also use various list-servs to keep in touch with other local agencies, including the Energize site.

Unfortunately, there is no real political will to put funding into the expansion of this kind of technology so that many more could use it and be connected.

Submitted on 4Jan2004 by Prof. Arnaldo Coro Antich, Chair: New Information and Communications Technologies Instituto Internacional de Periodismo "Jose Marti ", Consultant: Cuban National Commission for Cooperation with UNESCO, La Habana, Cuba
My first reading of your thoughtful comments have reminded me once again about the importance of developing better communications links between peoples of different cultures. I will certainly read your comments in detail later today and will then post some reflections about them. In the meantime, please DO KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK YOU ARE DOING !!!

Have a happy and fruitful year 2004, hopefully with peace and better access to the ICT's for the peoples of less wealthy countries, and those less wealthy living in highly developed societies with their own "built in" DIGITAL DIVIDE...

Submitted on 4Jan2004 by Jayne Cravens, Online Volunteering Specialist, UN Volunteers, Bonn, Germany
I, too, was at the WSIS, and am floored by how well Susan has absolutely *nailed*, in such straight-forward and in such a no-nonsense/jargon-laden way, both the causes of the Digital Divide as well as the vital role volunteers are playing to address such. I hope to see many replies to the questions she has posted at the end of her most-interesting reflections about the WSIS.

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