🚀 go-pugleaf

As most of us are aware, the World Bank/Government of Canada Global
Knowledge 97 Conference will bring 1,500 leaders from 180 countries to
Toronto June 20-25. The official conference Website is
http://www.globalknowledge.org and there are at least two
opportunities for direct input, to the UNDP virtual conference, at
http://globalknowledge.org/graphics/mailing list.html which is not yet
in place and http://www.villagewell.gk97.gc.ca/ which is a very
interesting chat place organized by CIDA. A quick perusal of the draft
conference agenda shows a strong emphasis on technological fixes as
the solution to the dissemination and expansion of global knowledge so
I would encourage your contributions to the virtual conference and
"village well" to help put the emphasis where it should be.  Some
emphasis now is being placed on organizing discussion groups on
alternative and participatory media but a bit as an afterthought.
Issues of gender have also been neglected, although again this is
being corrected through recent efforts.  The technological spin is
repeated in the exhibition, as the minimum fee  of US$3,000 excludes
everyone but UN and governmental organizations and deep-pocket IT
firms. There is a table made available to NGOs in a corridor off the
main exhibition, at $US1,000 for a spot.  One wonders why very few
NGOs have expressed interest. The exhibit is being handled by
Convention Management Inc., of Fairfax, VA, email
lfeeley@conventionmanagement.com if anyone wishes to follow up.