Workshop/conference for UNAMAZ

<<November 20, 1999>>

Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP <daj@utk.edu>

Dr. Marco Antonio R. Dias <mardias@club-internet.fr>

Alexandre Rivas, Ph.D. <alex_mau@argo.com.br>

Dr. Josｫ Seixas Lourenｷo <bioamazonia@tba.com.br>

Robert J. Rodrigues, M.D. <rrodrigues@paho.org>

Bruce P. Chadwick <bruce@chadwick.org>

Dear David:
===========

(1) RE: ATTACHMENT I, and II:

Many thanks for your effort of soliciting interest of your UTK people.

(2) RE: ATTACHMENT III and IV:

Under this circumstance, we need to call off our planned mtg at the
UNAMAZ conference in Florencia, Colombia.

Yes, the town is very close to guerrilla zone. While I was in
Bogota, Colombia last July, I heard that the guerrilla gives large
sum of drug money (almost equivalent to the US university
professors' annual revenue) and rifle to teenagers to join in
their force!! It is simply horrendous!!

Even in Bogota, our escort (a US army personnel) had to wear
civilian cloth in the town and change to his uniform only in the
compound of the Defence Ministry. The van which transported us
had bullet-proof windows, and its driver had to have a pistol on
his lap ready to shoot back -- I sat next to him in the front seat
and was very scared!!

Dear Alex and Marco:
====================

(3) When you attend it (ATTACHMENT V), pls introduce our Global University
System project to UNAMAZ people, and solicit their interest in attending
our next workshop -- see below.

Dear Alex, David and Bob Rodrigues:
===================================

(4) Now, we are back to a drawing board! Let's start planning a
workshop/conference (in the same scale as our Tampere event).

Dear Alex:
==========

(5) Bob Rodrigues originally offered the conference rooms at his PAHO which
has T1 (1.5 Mbps) Internet and ISDN/PictureTel lines.

Referring to your msg of 11/7th, do you have any alternatives? Pls
consult with Dr. Seixa and let us know ASAP, since David is ready to
submit his travel grant application to NSF for Americans attending it if
it will be held in the outside of the US.

The purpose of this event is to configure how to implement electronic
distance learning and telemedicine between the Amazon region and the
North America, -- firstly with the use of currently available delivery
system as much as possible, and secondly with the use of our proposed
broadband satellite Internet.

Therefore, to find out the need of UNAMAZ people is the top priority of
this event, and hence the location of this event has to be convenient to
them.

(6) Pls also let us know the date of this event ASAP.

(7) As soon as we hear from you, we will start working our next step, i.e.,
organization, administration and funding, etc.

Dear Bruce:
===========

(8) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT VI).

I visited Winrock International's web site with great interest.

I think that the Winrock Initiative may go along well with UTK's
environmental program, especially for Amazon people.

I would expect your great contribution to our Amazon region operation.
Let's have a talk in D.C. when I get there next time.

Best, Tak
****************************************
ATTACHMENT I

Date: Mon, 15 Nov 1999 16:14:49 -0500
From: djohnutk <djohnutk@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
To: utsumi@columbia.edu
Subject: UT and Bogota Conference

Tak:

I am pleased to report good reception at the Univ. of Tennessee administration
regarding initial support for our submission to NSF for attendance at the
Bogota Conference. I will draft a short proposal in the next few days. UT
will be willing to act as conduit for this request. I will next contact Ric
Lichtwardt and his new boss Bob Leiter to see about link-up possibilities.

Regards,

Dave Johnson
****************************************
ATTACHMENT II

Date: Tue, 16 Nov 1999 15:22:56 -0500
From: djohnutk <djohnutk@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
To: alexandr@ibrati.com.br
Cc: utsumi@columbia.edu
Subject: UNAMAZ meeting participation

Hello Alex:

I hope this finds you well and prospering. I wanted to touch base with you on
my progress on pursuing a possible participation in the UNAMAZ meeting in
Colombia. Dr. Utsumi has contacted you with a list of Global University
System desired participants, some of whom would be funded, we hope, by NSF. I
am now preparing a draft proposal to NSF through University of Tennessee
Research Office to provide travel and per diem support for these attendees.
(PAHO people will be able to travel on their own funds.) The University will
be able to provide a modest travel match for UT personnel and will act as
pass-through for NSF funds for non-UT participants, under the grant
application.

I will need to include one additional UT person in the project, who will act
as observer, and follow-up resource. He would be Richard Davis of the Office
of International Agricultural Programs. I wish to include Mr. Davis as it is
our hope that his office will direct the creation of a distance learning
module Environmental Management course based on the courses we have offered
here for many years. My hope is that such a course might of interest to the
UNAMAZ group. I would participate in the development of such a course, as a
learning vehicle for doing more such courses, based on what we learn in
Colombia.

I am delighted that you are working with Dr. Utsumi, Dr. Dias, and others on
this exciting project. We will need your help in coordinating and working
with colleagues in the UNAMAZ region. If I can provide you with any needed
information or further details, please let me know. I hope I can ask for your
help in return.

All the best,

Dave Johnson
****************************************
ATTACHMENT III

Date: Wed, 17 Nov 1999 14:36:38 -0500 (EST)
From: David A Johnson <djohnutk@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
To: "Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D." <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Subject: Re: Pls add Ric

Tak:

I have just returned from doing some research on Florencia, site of the
UNAMAZ conference, at our map library. This city is nearly 500 miles by
road from Bogota. Road travel is through some of the most dangerous areas
of Colombia. Travel by air may be possible, though this is a small city
and may not have much service. Our US State Department has issued a
warning against travel by Americans to Colombia. To go to Florencia would
involve serious risk to US citizens. It is inappropriate under the
circumstances to request NSF (federal) support for travel in
contradiction to State Dept. warnings. I would not want to arrange a trip
that would be hazardous to my colleagues and associates.

I think what we might wish to do is to rely on our friends in the region,
Marcantonio Dias, and Alex Rivas, to represent our interests and ask them
to report back to us.

As a substitute, I would suggest the following alternatives: organize a
meeting with Jose Brenes' group in Central America; or, develop a second
Pacific initiative-- in Thailand. I can provide to you more details on
what is sought in Thailand (exactly what we can assist with), excellent
contacts, institutional and governmental support-- and it is a safe venue.
Let me know if these are alternatives we might wish to consider.

I am sorry we cannot go ahead on the Colombia initiative involvement. I
do hope we can continue to pursue this possibility, though indirectly.

Regards,

Dave

David A. Johnson, Ph.D., AICP
Professor Emeritus, School of Planning
College of Arts and Sciences
The University of Tennessee, Knoxville
108-I Hoskins Library
Knoxville, TN 37996-4015
e-mail daj@utk.edu or davidj@buncombe.main.nc.us
tel 423 974-5227
fax 423 974-5229
tel home: 828 277-5792
home address: 8 Hilltop Road, Asheville, NC 28803
home mail address: PO Box 1647 Knoxville, TN 37901-1647

http://web.utk.edu/~djohnutk/
****************************************
ATTACHMENT IV

Date: Fri, 19 Nov 1999 20:34:34 -0500
From: djohnutk <djohnutk@utkux.utcc.utk.edu>
To: utsumi@columbia.edu
Subject: RE: Travel grant application to NSF

Tak:

This will confirm that I cannot submit a travel grant application to NSF for
travel to Colombia in light of the serious State Dept. warnings to US citizens
not to travel in the region. I doubt that it will be safe for Tapio or others
to go to Florencia, either. Perhaps Latin Americans are more secure though I
worry about Marco Dias and Alex Rivas going to the region. Please advise what
you suggest we do under the circumstances.

Thank you,
****************************************
ATTACHMENT V

Date: Tue, 05 Oct 1999 10:01:58 +0200
From: Marco Antonio Dias <mardias@club-internet.fr>
To: utsumi@www.friends-partners.org, Tapio Varis <tapio.varis@uta.fi>
Subject: AMAZONIA

Dear Dr. Utsumi and Tapio Varis,

Attached, you can find a copy of my "plan of action" for this year. It is
written in French, but there is no problem of understanding.

You will understand why I had doubts in Tampere about the kind and generous
proposal you adressed to me during the Tampere meeting. I just came back olnce
again from Brazil and tomorrow I am going to Cincinatti to open another
international conference, in which there will be representatives from more
than 30 countries. Today, I am invited for discussion with experts in charge
of an external evaluation of UNESCO's UNITWIN programme.

During my trip to Brazil, I benefited from a journey travel and read the
majority of long messages from Dr. Utsumi. Next week, when I come back I
intend to adress you a note with some comments and proposals. I intend also to
discuss with you what real contribution I can give to your extraordinary
project. Please, be patient until next week.

For the moment, I would like to tell you that during my permanence in Brasilia
last week where I opened a forum of Brazilian Rectors Conference, I had
important and useful contacts to the project in Latin America and in
particular in Amazonia. Alex Rivas with whom I had two long discussions by
telephone will probably tell you about this.

In synthesis, the main discussions took place with Professor Seixas Lourenｷo,
emmeritus president of UNAMAZ, withe one of the vgice-presidents of this
organization and with his secretary-general. Concrete measures are being taken
and were reinforced to restructure UNAMAZ, a general conference will take
p;lace in Columbia next February, a new president will be elected and the
plans of the organization rfevised. There is a great motivation amongt the
participants in the eight Amazonian countries. I am invited to make one of the
key speeches in this meeting. I decided to reduce my participations in
meetings next year, but I did accept this invitation for evident reasons.

Dr. Seixas Lourenｷo and others are very interested in the proposed Global
University System Structure, he is directly linked with the minister in charge
of Science and Technology in Brazil and he will meet Alex Rivas in Manaus very
soon to discuss this subject and the participation of UNAMAZ in it. I don't
think there is need of more details at this moment, but I am convinced that
there are good prospects. Conceptually, UNAMAZ projects are always based in
principles I exposed in my paper presented in Tampere.

One detail, Tapio, is that Nokia established a strong partnership with
Gradiente, one traditional and powerfull Brazilian company in the field of
production of equipements for telecommunications. Its legal basis is S o
Paulo, I think, but the most important factory is in Manaus. Normally, Nokia
should be inerested in a concrete action (with clear multiplier effect) in the
eight Amazonian countries.
Best wishes and we will discuss next week.

Marco Antonio
****************************************
ATTACHMENT VI

Date: Mon, 1 Nov 1999 12:03:00 -0500
To: Tak Utsumi <utsumi@columbia.edu>
From: "Bruce P. Chadwick" <bruce@chadwick.org>
Subject: Now in DC; Udate

Hi Tak-

Just a note to give you an update on my whereabouts and whatathings. I
believe I told you that I defended my Ph.D. dissertation in April and was
then involved at a visiting scholar position at ISER in Brazil. That
position ended in September and am now located in Washington DC.

I have to wait a day or two, but it looks highly likely (90% chance) that
I will be starting to work next week at Winrock International
(www.winrock.org) in Washington DC as their program associate for a
Sustainable Development Knowledge Portal. This is a new Winrock initiative
which will have a heavy component of Distributed Learning/Distance
Education.

I am still on your listserver and have up to this point been involved as a
lurker, but I wanted to alert you that I hope to develop a more active
involvement in the next year, since our work seems to involve
progressively greater areas of overlap. I noticed that there is something
happening in DC on 9th and 10th November. Can you tell me where to find
more information on this?

Hope all is well with you, and perhaps we will run into each other at the
Columbia Computers Seminar again.

Cheers,
Bruce
=====
Bruce P. Chadwick
bruce@chadwick.org
www.bruce.chadwick.org
****************************************
List of Distribution

Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP
Board member of GLOSAS/USA
Former President of Fulbright Association
Professor of School of Planning
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Tenneseee
108-I Hoskins Library
Knoxville, TN 37996-4051
USA
Tel: +1-423-974 5227
Fax: +1-423-974 5229
daj@utk.edu
http://web.utk.edu/~djohnutk/

Dr. Marco Antonio R. Dias
Vice President, Global University System
Consultant of United Nations University
Former Director, Division of Higher Education of UNESCO
36, Rue Ernest Renan
92.190 Meudon
FRANCE
Tel: +33-1-45 34 3509
Fax: +33-1-45 34 3509
mardias@club-internet.fr
m.dias@unesco.org

Alexandre Rivas, Ph.D.
Adjunct Professor
Director of the Center for Environmental Sciences
University of Amazonas - Brazil
C.P. 4208, Manaus 69053-140
BRAZIL
+55-92-635 32 33
+55-92-644 23 22
Fax: +55-92-644 23 84
alex_mau@argo.com.br
http://www.argo.com.br/~alex_mau/alex.htm

Dr. Josｫ Seixas Lourenｷo
Emmeritus President
Associa? o das Universidades da Amazﾏnia (UNAMAZ)
Campus Universitio, 3000
Manaus, AM, Brasil
69000
Tel: + 5592 644.2322
Fax: + 5592 644.2384
bioamazonia@tba.com.br

Robert J. Rodrigues, M.D.
Program Coordinator
Health Services Information System Program
Division of Health Systems and Services Development
Pan American Health Organization
Regional Office of the World Health Organization
525 Twenty-Third Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20037
202-974-3812
202-974-3826
Fax: 202-974-3614
rrodrigues@paho.org
NetMeeting Server: ils.paho.org
http://www.paho.org

Bruce P. Chadwick
Winrock International
bruce@chadwick.org
www.bruce.chadwick.org
www.winrock.org
**********************************************************************
* Takeshi Utsumi, Ph.D., P.E., Chairman, GLOSAS/USA *
* (GLObal Systems Analysis and Simulation Association in the U.S.A.) *
* Laureate of Lord Perry Award for Excellence in Distance Education *
* Founder of CAADE *
* (Consortium for Affordable and Accessible Distance Education) *
* President Emeritus and V.P. for Technology and Coordination of *
* Global University System (GUS) *
* 43-23 Colden Street, Flushing, NY 11355-3998, U.S.A. *
* Tel: 718-939-0928; Fax: 718-939-0656 (day time only--prefer email) *
* Email: utsumi@columbia.edu; Tax Exempt ID: 11-2999676 *
* http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/ *
**********************************************************************

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