South American mini-workshop in Manaus on May 27 and 28

<<December 22, 1999>>

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

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

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

Dr. Nelson Fraiji <fraiji@fua.br>

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

(1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I).

(2) I am very glad to learn that the UNAMAZ's conference in Manaus will
focus their discussions on our South American Region project.

(3) The duration of our mtg with UNAMAZ people depends on how you wish to
have the program, i.e.,

(a) if you want to have telemedicine demo (similar to the one we did
in Tampere, but between Manaus and UTK -- since David now wishes to have it), and

(b) if you want to have Roger Boston's demo.

     If you intend to have them at your lager workshop/conference and not at
     this mini-workshop as I mentioned before, we may be able to accomplish
     our discussions on Item (4) of my previous msg (ATTACHMENT I) in two days.

The most important subject is Item (4)-(c), i.e., to learn from
UNAMAZ people of their need.

          Pls let me know of this in preliminary format so that we can start
          selecting US scholars who can attend to explain their works --
          David has to include them in his travel grant application to the NSF.

Pls come up with a draft of hourly program so that we can work on it together.

(4) During our mtg at PAHO on 12/20th, Bob Rodrigues raised his concern
that, after he read your draft pilot proposal, he found nothing
mentioned about telemedicine in your draft.

     Pls consult on this with Bob and Nelson Fraiji -- his email address does
     not work any longer. You may also consult with the following people
     (who were introduce by Bob to me);

          Mr. Edison Keiji Yamamoto
          Secretaria de Assistencia a Saude
          Ministerio da Saude
          Esplanada dos Ministerios - Bloco G - sala 701
          Brasilia - D. F.
          BRASIL 70058-900
          +55-61-315-2626
          Fax: +55-61-225-0054
          keijiy@infolink.com.br
          keiji@saude.gov.br

          Paulo Coury
          Secretariate of Health
          Ministry of Health
          Brasilia, Brasil
          +55-61-315-2261
          pcoury@saude.gov.br

(5) During our mtg at PAHO on 12/20th, David Johnson indicated his
satisfaction with your intention to have a first experiment program (60
hours) on Environmental Sustainability some time in the second half of next year.

(6) May 27 and 28 would be better for this mini-workshop rather than March
31st, since we may have Manila mini-workshop in March (though not definite yet).

This will give you more time for your fund raising for this mini-workshop in Manaus.

(7) David's travel grant application to the NSF cannot include your side
costs for logistics and organization. The NSF program is strictly for
attending international conferences by US citizens and residents.

Looking forward to receiving your next msg,

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

From: "Alex Rivas" <alex_mau@argo.com.br>
To: <utsumi@columbia.edu>
Cc: "Carlinhos" <edwar@argo.com.br>,
"Marco Antonio Dias" <mardias@club-internet.fr>, <daj@utk.edu>
Subject: Re: Mini and large workshops for Amazon Region operation
Date: Sun, 19 Dec 1999 18:11:54 -0200

Dr. Utsumi,

My comments are between << >>

Alex
========================================

> Alexandre Rivas, Ph.D. <alex_mau@argo.com.br>
>
> Dr. Marco Antonio R. Dias <mardias@club-internet.fr>
>
> Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP <daj@utk.edu>

Dr. Carlos Edwar <edwar@argo.com.br>
>
> Dear Alex:
> ==========
>
> (1) Many thanks for your msg (ATTACHMENT I).

<<You are welcome.>>

> (3) I understand that the mini-workshop of the Amazon Region project will be
> held during the conference of UNAMAZ which is now to be held in Manaus,
> instead of in Colombia.

<<Unamaz is presently going through election. During our conference in Manaus
 there will be a meeting of UNAMAZ. Its secretariat is still deciding what kind
 of meeting it will be.

The important thing for us is that whatever meeting they have, it will be
related to our project.>>
>
> (4) This mini-workshop (for 2 to 3 days) is;

<<I am afraid that 3 days is too much. My guess is that one full day is going
 to be enough. I am also worried about funds for the event. UNAMAZ does not
 have it and I do not want a repeat of what happened in our 1988 conference in
 Manaus where FGV/ISAE and RAT/AMAZONSAT had to cover most of the expenses.

This is another resason why I think one day meeting is enough. >>
>
> (a) to introduce our GUS project to UNAMAZ people,

<<This should be done in one morning.>>
>
> (b) to discuss your pilot project proposal -- see
>
<http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Final_Report/Pilot_Project_Proposals/South_America/infoDev_Proposal_Form.html>,
>
 <<We are already working on this document. In the past Thursday and Friday, I
 spent the whole day with two of our parteners from UNAMAZ discussing, among
 other things, CONTENTS. We are going to have a final document at the latest by
 January 15.>>

> (c) to learn from UNAMAZ members about,
>
> 1. current status of distance learning and telemedicine
> (including the delivery infrastructure),
>
> 2. their need in the future, particularly when a broadband
> Internet will be available,
>
 <<The document mentioned above is taking care of part of (1) and (2) above.>>

>      (d) to present what can be (or will be) available from North America,
>
>           1.   via narrow-band Internet and ISDN, etc., i.e., through
>                currently available telecom infrastructure,
>
>           2.   via broad-band Internet when it is available,

<<That is a going point. I already suggested to bring Dr. Boston to Manaus to
 give a practical training from people from Brazil, Venezuela, Peru and
 Colombia. We are considering that.>>
>
> (e) to discuss and plan the theme and program of the larger
> workshop/conference (as to the follow-up to our Tampere event --
> for 3 to 4 or 5 days) where UNAMAZ people will jointly work;
>
> 1. to formalize the draft of your pilot project proposal at
>
<http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/Tampere_Conference/Final_Report/Pilot_Project_Proposals/South_America/infoDev_Proposal_Form.html>.
>
> 2. to make the feasibility study, action plan, etc. to realize
> your project of establishing domestic and international
> distance learning and telemedicine,

<<Number (2) above is a very important thing and does need more work on it.>>

> a. firstly, via the currently available narrow-band Internet,

<<We are considering to have a first experiment program (60 hours) on
 Environemntal Sustainability some time in the second half of next year.>>
>
> b. in the near future, via the proposed broad-band nternet,
>
> 3. to configure administrative and business schemes,

<<We are also thinking about it.>>
>
> 4. to construct joint funding proposals,
>
 <<This is really important.>>

> (f) to plan joint fund raising for the larger workshop/conference.

<<Agree!>>
>
> NOTE:
> If this much can be done at the mini-workshop on March 31st, it would be splendid.

<< I did not see in your e-mail any restriction about the proposed date for
 the seminar. Let me explain you. I though there was an especific reason why
 this mini-workshop had to be held early in the next year. Since this is not
 the case, it is better for me and UNAMAZ to have its realization on May the 27
 and 28. This can be politically better and give us more time for fund raising and organization.

Please, let me know if the May date is fine.>>

>           David:
>           ======
>
>           Pls start to contemplate on your composing the travel grant
>           application to the NSF. Thanks.
>
> (5) I am confused with your proposed date of this mini-workshop -- will it
>      be held on March 31st? -- or, in April or May?

<>
>
> (a) According to Marco's previous msg, he has committed to attend the
> UNAMAZ conference (though, now in Manaus instead of Colombia).

<<Yes.>>
>
> (b) David Johnson's previous msg said that he will approach to the
> US/NSF for travel grants for him, me and his UTK people.

<>
>
> (c) I hope Tapio can attend this mini-workshop, too.

<<Me too!>>
>
> (6) We have not received any definite dates of the mini-workshops from;
>
> (a) Asia/Pacific Regional Group (Lex Librero in Manila),
>
> (b) Native American community project (Kim Obbink in Bozeman),
>
> (c) Central America Regional Group (Jose Brenes in Costa Rica),
>
> (d) European Regional Group (Ihor Katernyak in Ukraine) -- to be held
> at Open University in UK,
>
> (e) Africa Regional Group (John Afele at Univ. of Guelph in Canada).
>
> Therefore, if you set yours, others will be adjusted accordingly.
>
 <<Okay. If it is all right for you let's stick with the May 27 and 28.>>

>      If the large workshop/conference is to be held in November (*), you
>      would better have the mini-workshop as early as possible, in order for
>      you and us to have ample time for your preparation and fund raising.
>
>           (*) The date of the large workshop/conference can be set at the mini-workshop.

<>
>
> (7) I would think that;
>
> (a) the mini-workshop will be held at the occasion of a mtg of a small
> board members of the UNAMAZ,

<<This is one of the things that UNAMAZ is still discussing. The problems in
 Colombia seem to have deeply affected the UNAMAZ's agenda.>>
>
> (b) the large workshop/conference may invite attendees of not only
> full members of UNAMAZ but also of other Latin American countries,

<<No problem.>>
>
> (c) hence, demonstrations would better be made during the large workshop/conference.

<>
>
> However, if my assumptions are not correct, you may configure to have
> demonstrations (similar to our GLH last October in Manaus and Roger
> Boston's in Tampere, and telemedicine by Dr. Takuma in Tampere, etc.).

<< This should be the ideal situation. I need to think about it.>>

>      In this case, we need to have ample time for their preparation and fund
>      raising. The point is that, since the GLH videoconferencing and
>      demonstration take large effort (time and money) for the preparation, it
>      would be effective to show them to larger audiences. Pls let me know your decision ASAP.

<>
>
> (8) By having mini- and large workshops, you may be able to manage funding raising well.
>
> (a) For the mini-workshop, you do not need to solicit travel funds for
> overseas attendees.
>
> I suppose that UNAMAZ people can finance their travel funds
> to come Manaus to attend their conference.

<<Yes.>>
>
> (b) For the large workshop/conference, we can have ample time and well
> prepared fund raising materials.

<<Right.>>

Alex
****************************************
List of Distribution

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. 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/

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

Dr. Nelson Fraiji
Av. Efigenio Sales Conj. Itaoca 12
Parque 10
Manaus, Amazonas
CEP 65057-050
Brazil
fraiji@fua.br
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* 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 *
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