<<July 23, 2000>>
Archived distributions can be retrieved
by clicking on the top lines of our home page
at <http://www.friends-partners.org/GLOSAS/>.
Dr. Joseph N. Pelton <ecjpelton@aol.com>
Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP <daj@utk.edu>
Dr. Louis Padulo <padulo@libertynet.org>
Peter T. Knight, Ph.D. <ptknight@attglobal.net>
Prof. Dr. Fredric Michael Litto <frmlitto@usp.br>
Dear Joe, David and Louis:
==========================
(1) Pls visit following official statements (in English) of Okinawa Summit last week:
(a) July 23, 2000
G8 Communique Okinawa 2000
<http://www.asahi.com/paper/okinawa/english/g8_communi.html>,
(b) July 22, 2000
Okinawa Charter on Global Information Society
<http://www.asahi.com/paper/okinawa/english/it_charter.html>
See also ATTACHMENT I below.
Dear Joe and Peter:
===================
This can be a good reference for your write-up of our Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) project.
Japanese translation at:
<http://www.asahi.com/paper/okinawa/summit/it_charter.html>.
(2) Today's Japanese newspaper reports that Japanese government
pledged $15
billion (in 5 years) (*) for the issue of closing the digital
divide,
particularly for human development in developing countries.
(*) one tenth of $150 billion/year philanthropic funds in the US.
This is the same as I urged to key personnel of the Japanese
parliament,
cabinet, and government about a year and a half ago in Tokyo.
I think that the time is getting ripe for our Global University
System (GUS)
and Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF) projects.
Dear Joe:
=========
(3) During our workshop on 6/20/00, you announced your plan
of holding a
Global Summit of world leaders to create the GSTF which is to
held in
Washington, D.C. in early December.
See;
GLOSAS Board, Rescue Iridium report & GSTF Summit plan - June
24, 2000" at
<http://www.friends-partners.org/~utsumi/gu-l/mid-2000/6-24-a.html>
Dear Joe, David and Louis:
==========================
(4) I would like to propose to have a mtg, say at Joe's office,
in a morning
how to formulate this Global Summit and GSTF project -- preferably
prior
to my attending the conference of the Brazilian Association of
Distance
Education and International Council of Distance Education (ICDE)
in Sao
Paulo, Brazil from August 13 to 18.
See;
Sao Paulo ICDE/ABED conference / possible August Roraima workshop
- July 1, 2000" at <http://www.friends-partners.org/~utsumi/gu-l/mid-2000/7-1-a.html>.
Pls let me know your availability ASAP -- with 2 alternative
dates.
Thanks.
BTW, Peter is now at his summer house in Maine, but he would
like
to participate in via audio/telephone conference.
Joe, you may bring some of your colleagues of your CITI, too.
In the afternoon of the mtg day, we may visit some of satellite
and
telecom companies in Virginia, to start soliciting their interest
in
the GSTF project.
I am approaching AT&T and BellAtlantic here in the NYC area.
(5) In order to meet with the goals of the Okinawa Charter
in ATTACHMENT I
below, the task of our GUS project is to line up partners in developing
countries -- e.g., in accord with with Professor Fred Litto's
enthusiastic
proposal in ATTACHMENT I in the above-mentioned previous distribution.
Dear Electronic Colleagues:
===========================
(6) I strongly suggest that you read through ATTACHMENT I below.
This
indicates that our GUS/GSTF projects are in right direction.
Best, Tak
****************************************
ATTACHMENT I
Excerpt from Asahi Shimbun <http://www.asahi.com/paper/okinawa/english/it_charter.html> on 7/23/00
July 22, 2000
Okinawa Charter on Global Information Society
1. Information and Communications Technology (IT) is one of
the most potent
forces in shaping the twenty-first century. Its revolutionary
impact affects
the way people live, learn and work and the way government interacts
with
civil society. IT is fast becoming a vital engine of growth for
the world
economy. It is also enabling many enterprising individuals, firms
and
communities, in all parts of the globe, to address economic and
social
challenges with greater efficiency and imagination. Enormous opportunities
are
there to be seized and shared by us all.
2. The essence of the IT-driven economic and social transformation
is its
power to help individuals and societies to use knowledge and ideas.
Our vision
of an information society is one that better enables people to
fulfil their
potential and realise their aspirations. To this end we must ensure
that IT
serves the mutually supportive goals of creating sustainable economic
growth,
enhancing the public welfare, and fostering social cohesion, and
work to fully
realise its potential to strengthen democracy, increase transparency
and
accountability in governance, promote human rights, enhance cultural
diversity, and to foster international peace and stability. Meeting
these
goals and addressing emerging challenges will require effective
national and
international strategies.
3. In pursuing these objectives, we renew our commitment to
the principle
of inclusion: everyone, everywhere should be enabled to participate
in and no
one should be excluded from the benefits of the global information
society.
The resilience of this society depends on democratic values that
foster human
development such as the free flow of information and knowledge,
mutual
tolerance, and respect for diversity.
4. We will exercise our leadership in advancing government
efforts to
foster an appropriate policy and regulatory environment to stimulate
competition and innovation, ensure economic and financial stability,
advance
stakeholder collaboration to optimise global networks, fight abuses
that
undermine the integrity of the network, bridge the digital divide,
invest in
people, and promote global access and participation.
5. Above all, this Charter represents a call to all, in both
the public and
private sectors to bridge the international information and knowledge
divide.
A solid framework of IT-related policies and action can change
the way in
which we interact, while promoting social and economic opportunities
worldwide. An effective partnership among stakeholders, including
through
joint policy co-operation, is also key to the sound development
of a truly
global information society.
Seizing Digital Opportunities
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6. The potential benefits of IT in spurring competition, promoting
enhanced
productivity, and creating and sustaining economic growth and
jobs hold
significant promise. Our task is not only to stimulate and facilitate
the
transition to an information society, but also to reap its full
economic,
social and cultural benefits. To achieve this, it is important
to build on the
following key foundations:
* Economic and structural reforms to foster an environment
of openness,
efficiency, competition and innovation, supported by policies
focusing on
adaptable labour markets, human resource development, and social
cohesion;
* Sound macroeconomic management to help businesses and consumers
plan
confidently for the future and exploit the advantages of new information
technologies;
* Development of information networks offering fast, reliable,
secure and
affordable access through competitive market conditions and through
related
innovation in network technology, services and applications;
* Development of human resources capable of responding to the
demands of
the information age through education and lifelong learning and
addressing the
rising demand for IT professionals in many sectors of our economy;
* Active utilisation of IT by the public sector and the promotion
of
online delivery of services, which are essential to ensure improved
accessibility to government by all citizens.
7. The private sector plays a leading role in the development
of
information and communications networks in the information society.
But it is
up to governments to create a predictable, transparent and non-discriminatory
policy and regulatory environment necessary for the information
society. It is
important to avoid undue regulatory interventions that would hinder
productive
private-sector initiatives in creating an IT-friendly environment.
We should
ensure that IT-related rules and practices are responsive to revolutionary
changes in economic transactions, while taking into account the
principles of
effective public-private sector partnership, transparency and
technological
neutrality. The rules must be predictable and inspire business
and consumer
confidence. In order to maximise the social and economic benefits
of the
Information Society, we agree on the following key principles
and approaches
and commend them to others:
- Continue to promote competition in and open markets for the
provision of
information technology and telecommunications products and services,
including
non-discriminatory and cost-oriented interconnection for basic
telecommunications;
- Protection of intellectual property rights for IT-related
technology is
vital to promoting IT-related innovations, competition and diffusion
of new
technology; we welcome the joint work already underway among intellectual
property authorities and further encourage our experts to discuss
future
direction in this area;
- Governments' renewed commitment to using software in full
compliance with
intellectual property rights protection is also important;
- A number of services, including telecommunications, transportation,
and
package delivery are critical to the information society and economy
and
improving their efficiency will maximise benefits; customs and
other trade-
related procedures are also important to foster an IT-friendly
environment;
- Facilitate cross-border e-commerce by promoting further liberalisation
and
improvement in networks and related services and procedures in
the context of
a strong World Trade Organisation (WTO) framework, continued work
on e-
commerce in the WTO and other international fora, and application
of existing
WTO trade disciplines to e-commerce;
- Consistent approaches to taxation of e-commerce based on
the conventional
principles, including neutrality, equity and simplicity, and other
key
elements agreed in the work of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation
and
Development (OECD);
- Continuing the practice of not imposing customs duties on
electronic
transmissions, pending the review at the next WTO Ministerial
Conference;
- Promotion of market-driven standards including, for example,
interoperable
technical standards;
- Promote consumer trust in the electronic marketplace consistent
with OECD
guidelines and provide equivalent consumer protection in the online
world as
in the offline world, including through effective self-regulatory
initiatives
such as online codes of conduct, trustmarks and other reliability
programmes,
and explore options to alleviate the difficulties faced by consumers
in cross-
border disputes, including use of alternative dispute resolution
mechanisms;
- Development of effective and meaningful privacy protection
for consumers, as
well as protection of privacy in processing personal data, while
safeguarding
the free flow of information, and;
- Further development and effective functioning of electronic
authentication,
electronic signature, cryptography, and other means to ensure
security and
certainty of transactions.
8. International efforts to develop a global information society
must be
accompanied by co-ordinated action to foster a crime-free and
secure
cyberspace. We must ensure that effective measures, as set out
in the OECD
Guidelines for Security of Information Systems, are put in place
to fight
cyber-crime. G8 co-operation within the framework of the Lyon
Group on
Transnational Organised Crime will be enhanced. We will further
promote
dialogue with industry, building on the success of the recent
G8 Paris
Conference "A Government/Industry Dialogue on Safety and
Confidence in
Cyberspace". Urgent security issues such as hacking and viruses
also require
effective policy responses. We will continue to engage industry
and other
stakeholders to protect critical information infrastructures.
Bridging the Digital Divide
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++
9. Bridging the digital divide in and among countries has assumed
a
critical importance on our respective national agendas. Everyone
should be
able to enjoy access to information and communications networks.
We reaffirm
our commitment to the efforts underway to formulate and implement
a coherent
strategy to address this issue. We also welcome the increasing
recognition on
the part of industry and civil society of the need to bridge the
divide.
Mobilising their expertise and resources is an indispensable element
of our
response to this challenge. We will continue to pursue an effective
partnership between government and civil societies responsive
to the rapid
pace of technological and market developments.
10. A key component of our strategy must be the continued drive
toward
universal and affordable access. We will continue to:
* Foster market conditions conducive to the provision of affordable
communications services;
* Explore other complementary means, including access through
publicly
available facilities;
* Give priority to improving network access, especially in
underserved
urban, rural and remote areas;
* Pay particular attention to the needs and constraints of
the socially
under-privileged, people with disabilities, and older persons
and actively
pursue measures to facilitate their access and use;
* Encourage further development of "user-friendly",
"barrier-free"
technologies, including mobile access to the Internet, as well
as greater
utilisation of free and publicly available contents in a way which
respects
intellectual property rights.
11. The policies for the advancement of the Information Society
must be
underpinned by the development of human resources capable of responding
to the
demands of the information age. We are committed to provide all
our citizens
with an opportunity to nurture IT literacy and skills through
education,
lifelong learning and training. We will continue to work toward
this ambitious
goal by getting schools, classrooms and libraries online and teachers
skilled
in IT and multimedia resources. Measures aiming to offer support
and
incentives for small-to-medium-sized enterprises and the self-employed
to get
online and use the Internet effectively will also be pursued.
We will also
encourage the use of IT to offer innovative lifelong learning
opportunities,
particularly to those who otherwise could not access education
and training.
Promoting Global Participation
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
12. IT represents a tremendous opportunity for emerging and
developing
economies. Countries that succeed in harnessing its potential
can look forward
to leapfrogging conventional obstacles of infrastructural development,
to
meeting more effectively their vital development goals, such as
poverty
reduction, health, sanitation, and education, and to benefiting
from the rapid
growth of global e-commerce. Some developing countries have already
made
significant progress in these areas.
13. The challenge of bridging the international information
and knowledge
divide cannot, however, be underestimated. We recognise the priority
being
given to this by many developing countries. Indeed, those developing
countries
which fail to keep up with the accelerating pace of IT innovation
may not have
the opportunity to participate fully in the information society
and economy.
This is particularly so where the existing gaps in terms of basic
economic and
social infrastructures, such as electricity, telecommunications
and education,
deter the diffusion of IT.
14. In responding to this challenge, we recognise that the
diverse
conditions and needs of the developing countries should be taken
into account.
There is no "one-size-fits-all" solution. It is critically
important for
developing countries to take ownership through the adoption of
coherent
national strategies to: build an IT-friendly, pro-competitive
policy and
regulatory environment; exploit IT in pursuit of development goals
and social
cohesion; develop human resources endowed with IT skills; and
encourage
community initiatives and indigenous entrepreneurship.
The Way Forward
+++++++++++++++
15. Efforts to bridge the international divide, as in our societies,
crucially depend on effective collaboration among all stakeholders.
Bilateral
and multilateral assistance will continue to play a significant
role in
building the framework conditions for IT development. International
Financial
Institutions (IFIs), including Multilateral Development Banks
(MDBs),
particularly the World Bank, are well placed to contribute in
this regard by
formulating and implementing programmes that foster growth, benefit
the poor,
as well as expand connectivity, access and training. The International
Telecommunications Union (ITU), the United Nations Conference
on Trade and
Development UNCTAD) and the United Nations Development Programme
(UNDP) and
other relevant international fora, also have an important role
to play. The
private sector remains a central actor driving IT forward in developing
countries and can contribute significantly to the international
efforts to
bridge the digital divide. NGOs, with their unique ability to
reach grassroots
areas, can usefully contribute to human resource and community
development.
IT, in short, is global in dimension, and thus requires a global
response.
16. We welcome efforts already underway to bridge the international
digital
divide through bilateral development aid and by international
organisations
and private groups. We also welcome contributions from the private
sector,
such as those of the Global Digital Divide Initiative of the World
Economic
Forum (WEF), the Global Business Dialogue on E-Commerce (GBDe),
and the Global
Forum.
17. As highlighted by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)
Ministerial Declaration on the role of IT in the context of a
knowledge-based
global economy, there is a need for greater international dialogue
and
collaboration to improve the effectiveness of IT-related programmes
and
projects with developing countries, and to bring together the
"best practices"
and mobilise the resources available from all stakeholders to
help close the
digital divide. The G8 will seek to promote the creation of a
stronger
partnership among developed and developing countries, civil society
including
private firms and NGOs, foundations and academic institutions,
and
international organisations. We will also work to see that developing
countries can, in partnership with other stakeholders, be provided
with
financial, technical and policy input in order to create a better
environment
for, and use of, IT.
18. We agree to establish a Digital Opportunity Taskforce (dot
force) with a
view to integrating our efforts into a broader international approach.
To this
end, the dot force will convene as soon as possible to explore
how best to
secure participation of stakeholders. This high-level Taskforce,
in close
consultation with other partners and in a manner responsive to
the needs of
developing countries, will:
* Actively facilitate discussions with developing countries,
international
organisations and other stakeholders to promote international
co-operation
with a view to fostering policy, regulatory and network readiness;
improving
connectivity, increasing access and lowering cost; building human
capacity;
and encouraging participation in global e-commerce networks;
* Encourage the G8's own efforts to co-operate on IT-related
pilot
programmes and projects;
* Promote closer policy dialogue among partners and work to
raise global
public awareness of the challenges and opportunities;
* Examine inputs from the private sector and other interested
groups such
as the Global Digital Divide Initiative's contributions;
* Report its findings and activities to our personal representatives
before our next meeting in Genoa.
19. In pursuit of these objectives, the dot force will look
for ways to take
concrete steps on the priorities identified below:
* Fostering policy, regulatory and network readiness
========================================================
- supporting policy advice and local capacity building, to
promote a pro-
competitive, flexible and socially inclusive policy and regulatory
environment;
- facilitating the sharing of experience between developing countries
and other partners;
- encouraging more effective and greater utilisation of IT in
development
efforts encompassing such broad areas as poverty reduction, education,
public
health, and culture;
- promoting good governance, including exploration of new methods
of inclusive
policy development;
- supporting efforts of MDBs and other international organisations
to pool
intellectual and financial resources in the context of co-operation
programmes
such as InfoDev;
* Improving connectivity, increasing access and lowering cost:
==================================================================
- mobilising resources to improve information and communications
infrastructure, with a particular emphasis on a "partnership"
approach
involving governments, international organisations, the private
sector, and NGOs;
- working on ways to reduce the cost of connectivity for developing
countries;
- supporting community access programmes;
- encouraging research and development on technology and applications
adapted
to specific requirements in developing countries;
- improving interoperability of networks, services, and applications;
- encouraging the production of locally relevant and informative
content
including in the development of the content in various mother
tongues.
* Building human capacity:
==============================
- focusing on basic education as well as increased opportunities
for life-long
learning, with a particular emphasis on development of IT skills;
- assisting the development of a pool of trained professionals
in IT and other
relevant policy areas and regulatory matters;
- developing innovative approaches to extend the traditional reach
of
technical assistance, including distance learning and community-based
training;
- networking of public institutions and communities, including
schools,
research centres and universities.
* Encouraging participation in global e-commerce networks:
==============================================================
- assessing and increasing e-commerce readiness and use, through
provision of
advice to start-up businesses in developing countries, and through
mobilisation of resources to help businesses to use IT to improve
their
efficiency and access to new markets.
- ensuring that the "rules of the game" as they are
emerging are consistent
with development efforts, and building developing country capacity
to play a
constructive role in determining these rules.
****************************************
ATTACHMENT II
Reference web sites (As of July 23, 2000)
1. GLOSAS/USA
2. Tampere conference (Finland, August 1999)
3. Global University System:
4. Global University System Asia-Pacific Framework
5. Global broadband Internet networks
6. Global Service Trust Fund (GSTF):
7. Manaus workshop
****************************************
List of Distribution
Dr. Joseph N. Pelton
Senior Research Scientist
Institute for Applied Space Research, Rm 340
George Washington University
2033 K Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20052
202-994-5507
Fax: 202-994-5505
ecjpelton@aol.com
jpelton@seas.gwu.edu
Or,
Acting Executive Director of CITI
Vice-Chair of the Arthur C. Clarke Foundation of the U.S. (ACCFUS)
Arthur C. Clark Institute for Telecommunication and Information
(CITI)
4025 40th Street North
Arlington, VA 22207
(703) 536-6985
ecjpelton@aol.com
http://www.informatics.org/clarke/index.html
http://www.informatics.org/clarke/projects.html
Dr. David A. Johnson, AICP
Board member of GLOSAS/USA
Former President of Fulbright Association
Professor Emeritus, School of Planning
College of Arts and Sciences
University of Tennessee
108-I Hoskins Library
Knoxville, TN 37996-4015
USA
Tel: +1-865-974 5227
Fax: +1-865-974 5229
daj@utk.edu
davidj@buncombe.main.nc.us
http://web.utk.edu/~djohnutk/
Dr. Louis Padulo
President Emeritus, University City Science Center
Vice Chairman, GLOSAS/USA
2020 Walnut Street, #32-A
Philadelphia, PA 19103-5645
215-564-6405
Fax: 215-564-3988
padulo@libertynet.org
Peter T. Knight, Ph.D.
Knight, Moore - Telematics for Education and Development
Communications Development Incorporated (CDI)
Strategy, Policy, Design, Implementation, Evaluation
1808 I Street, NW, 7th Floor
Washington, DC 20006, USA
Tel: 1-202-775-2132 (secretary), 1-202-721-0348 (direct)
Fax: 1-202-775-2135 (office), 1-202-362-8482 (home)
IP for CU-SeeMe: 198.77.80.46
ptknight@attglobal.net
peter@knight-moore.com
webmail: ptknight@netscape.net
http://www.knight-moore.com
http://www.cdinet.com
http://www.knight-moore.com/partners/partnerindex.htm -- bio
http://www.knight-moore.com/projects/GSTF.html -- about GSTF
Prof. Dr. Fredric Michael Litto
President, Brazilian Association of Distance Education
Professor and General Coordinator
Technologies as Applied to Education
Research Nucleus Investigating the New Communications
The School of the Future
University of Sao Paulo
Av. Prof. Lucio Martins Rodrigues, Trav. 4,
No. 33 - Bloco 18 - Cidade Universitaria
CEP - 05508-900 - Sao Paulo
BRAZIL
+55+11+818.6325
Fax: +55+11+815.3083
frmlitto@usp.br
www.futuro.usp.br
**********************************************************************
* 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/ *
**********************************************************************