🚀 go-pugleaf

This was forwarded by Sean O'Siochru.  Please respond to his email
address and not mine.
Don Richardson
____________________________________________________________________
from: Sean O'Siochru, Dublin.  siochru@toppsi.gn.apc.org


The UN Non-Governmental Liaison Service (NGLS) and the Friedrich Ebert
Foundation (FES: New York Office) in July 1995 published a handbook entitled _
@t ease with e-mail: A handbook on using electronic mail for NGOs in developing
countries_.

It seems pretty good and easy to use, and includes an extensive directory of
networks in Africa, Asia/Pacific, and Latin America and the Caribbean (contact
names, users, services available etc.)

For more information contact:

ngls@igc.apc.org   or   ngls@nywork2.undp.org

fesny@igc.apc.org  or fesny@undp.org.





from: Sean O'Siochru, Dublin.  siochru@toppsi.gn.apc.org

re: The International Telecommunication Union and Non-Governmental
Organisations: The Case for Mutual Support

In August I posted a request for ideas on a report I was preparing for the ITU
(International Telecommunication Union) on how they might develop relations
with NGOs, bringing them into line with other UN organisations such as UNESCO,
UNDP and ECOSOC.

I received an excellent response, and I would like to express my gratitude to
all involved.  The report simply could not have been written without that
assistance.  (Indeed, had the response not been good, the rationale for
pursuing the issue would be questionable.)

I presented the report to the Secretary General of the ITU, Dr Pekka Tarjanne
on October 10th in Geneva (during TELECOM 95), and also had an extended meeting
with Don MacLean, the head of strategy.  The fact that they would both meet
during this very busy time (about 60 government ministers and heads of state
are there, amongst others, all wanting time with him) is some measure of the
importance they attach to the idea.

But, of course, this does not mean it will translate into action.  Yet apart
from their affirmation, I do believe there are two good reasons why they will
take the issue a step further.

First, Tarjanne seems to want to move a little closer into the mainstream of UN
Specialised Agencies, and hence to bring their policies more in line with them.
This is clear, for instance, in a speech he gave in San Francisco to mark the
50th Anniversary of the UN (Symposium at the University of San Francisco, 29th
September 1995), a copy of which he gave me as evidence of the fact.

Second, and more important, as the report itself points out, the ITU is trying
to reposition itself as the focal point for all matters relating to the
Information Society (GII etc.) as it relates to telecommunications, and to do
so must broader out its sphere of influence considerably.  NGOs may contribute
to that.


The meeting with MacLean (the chief adviser on these matters) ended with an
agreement that he would contact me as soon as they have had time to give the
issue serious consideration.  At the very least, the report will be forwarded
for consideration to an ITU Committee that is currently reviewing the whole
area of membership (although it did not include the NGO question in its terms
of reference).  I believe they must do more than this, as this Committee is not
well equipped to deal with an issue of this nature.

I will keep you posted on progress.

If those who responded to my earlier call would like a copy of the final
report, or anyone else interested in the issues, please contact me.  I would
prefer to send by post (yes, snail mail), but can e-mail.

I can also make available copies of a paper I prepared for TELECOM 95 entitled:
Universal Service in the Global Information Society: Problems and Prospects.


Sean O'Siochru,
NEXUS Research Cooperative,
14 Eaton Brae
Shankill
Co. Dublin
Ireland (home address)
tel: +353 1 4730599 (w); +353 1 2821003 (home office)
fax: +353 1 473 0597 (w) +353 1 2720034 (home office)
internet: siochru@toppsi.gn.apc.org  Compuserve: 100325,3566