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Start Date & Time
December 10, 2003
All day event.
End Date & Time
December 12, 2003
All day event.
Location
United Nations
Geneva, Geneve, Switzerland
Event Cost
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E-mail: wsis@itu.int
Webpage: http://www.wsis.org
Categories
Technology
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 The East African Telecentre Leaders Forum (EA-TLF) - Posted By: smith pascal
The East African Telecentre Leaders Forum (EA-TLF) is around the corner. This third of its kind will be co-hosted in Kenya by UgaBYTES and Kenya Network of Telecentres – KenTel in Kenya Siaya District. The event is planned to run in two phases; the online and face-to face sessions. The online sessions will be guided by subject matter specialists. Each of the session is important in fostering learning and sharing within the sub region and beyond about key telecentre issues
The EA-TLF is an East African telecentre event that occurs twice a year and with rotating venues within the sub region and focusing on different themes. It is part of the global framework of telecentre.org and partners’ gatherings that are focused at facilitating learning and sharing of ideas and solutions among telecentre practitioners. As such the EA-TLF uses open space facilitation methods – in which every participant is a learner and facilitator.
Telecentre practitioners in the sub region are encouraged to contact the following National network leaders who are charged with selecting national participants to the event, who will be facilitated by the organizers.
Sekiku Joseph – Tanzania sekiku@satconet.net
Paul Barera – Rwanda pbarera@yahoo.fr
Ken Chelimo – Kenya chelimoken@yahoo.com
Sulah Ndaula – UgaBYTES ndaulasula@ugabytes.org.
Participants from Burundi are advised to contact UgaBYTES’ Pamela Ogwal opamela@ugabytes.org. We encourage participants who can facilitate themselves to the event to also contact the respective national representatives. For details about the event see below;
Theme; PROMOTING ICT FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT; MEETING THE MOVEMENT CHALLENGES
Event Parts & Dates;
Online sessions: 14th ¬ 25th May 2007 (hosted on UgaBYTES mailing list)
Face-to-face session: 4th/5th June, 2007 Telecentre Visit: 6th June, 2007 Deadline for express of interest: 11th May 2007
Areas of discussion for the 3rd EA-TLF;
Connectivity improvement: The session will explore various connectivity options that are reliable and affordable to telecentres. Ideas such as bandwidth sharing, pay as you go connectivity… will be discussed
Management skills building; The session will cover skills development in the most important areas of management that affect telecentre performance. The areas will be identified by participants.
Knowledge sharing & Online support services: This will be an ongoing side event throughout the days of the event. It will focus on developing practical skills and understanding of how the telecentre community can access and use of the online tools (web 2.0 tools) and technology like blogging, podcasting, wikipidia etc The session will also explore the existing online support services that can be utilized by telecentre practitioners; online support centre, online training, online resources etc.
Partnerships for Content development: This session will focus on understanding how telecentre practitioners can develop content and services while taking advantage of various NGOs and Community development groups. Ideas such as involvement in HIV/AIDS and Malaria eradication campaign will be discussed. This discussion will help telecentre practitioners to develop practical skills in identifying key stakeholders in content development, key issues and challenges in identification and development of content. It will also be important in identifying ways of deepening socio-economic impact created by telecentres.
National networks enhancement: The session will examine issues concerning; Network funding and sustainability, practitioner and networks’ capacity building, promotion of CMC for rural development and enhancing e-business in telecentres.
Capturing & sharing our stories: The sessions will discuss how telecentre practitioners can effectively capture, assess and share their impact in the community using multiple tools. It will also discuss the importance of telling our stories and successes.
Strengthening the EA-TLF;
Fundraising for EA-TLF; Ways, means & approaches to source funds for an inclusive EA-TLF. How marketing of the event; locally, regionally nationally & internationally - the role of the media. Identification of the next host country and setting the core strategy.
Exhibition: The forum will have an information point; where all participating organizations will display their showcases, information leaflets and materials. This point will be kept accessible throughout the forum’s period.
Hope to read from you online and see you in the face-to-face to event...
| April 25, 2007 | 10:37:26 |
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  Youth and Internet Governance - Posted By: TT
What is Internet Governance? And why should Youth care?
From November 26th to December 16th, join us as we demystify the terms of Internet governance, decode acronyms like IGF, and discuss a proposal for meaningful participation of young people in the next IGF meeting in Rio de Janeiro in November 2007.
Background
Young people were active contributors to the two phases of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS) process – raising awareness of important issues; mobilizing at the national, regional and international levels to provide policy input; and creating networks to support local Information and Communications Technology (ICT) projects.
The WSIS process gave birth to a multitude of action lines, one of which is the Internet Governance Forum. In particular, the Tunis Agenda for the Information Society invited the Secretary-General to convene a new forum for multi-stakeholder policy dialogue (Para 67). The Internet Governance Forum (www.intgovforum.org) was convened October 30th – November 2nd in an open and inclusive process as indicated in Para72 of the Tunis Agenda.
Why?
1. To build on the past activities of the World Summit on the Information Society youth caucus while empowering a new generation of young leaders interested in follow-up activities around the Internet Governance Forum
2. To provide an opportunity to learn more about Internet governance in an informal, online environment.
3. To identify areas of interest and importance to young people within the context of Internet governance
4. To help plan for youth leadership at the Internet Governance Forum 2007
When?
From November 26th to December 16th 2006 a three week moderated discussion will take place.
What?
Week 1: Demystifying Internet Governance
Week 2: Decoding the Internet Governance Forum
Week 3: Progressive Involvement: Youth @ Rio - IGF 2007
There will be a moderator for each week to help guide and shape discussions including an overall expert who is a respected voice in the realm of Internet Governance.
Who?
§ Young people passionate about the potential of Internet technologies who want to get involved in a global debate about its governance;
§ Youth working in the area of the Information Society/ICT4D
§ Youth-oriented organizations
§ Networks/Community of Practice on IG
§ Youth issue supporters
§ You!
Where?
To subscribe, please send a blank email to YouthandIG-subscribe@groups.takingitglobal.org For enquiries, please email titi@mindset.co.za
| November 21, 2006 | 02:21:25 |
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LDV’s Mentorship Roundtables for 20 youths on ICT. - Posted By: smith pascal
On Mentorship…
From 10:30am yesterday — until about 4pm — twenty young people had the opportunity of experiencing the first in the series of Lagos Digital Village Mentorship Roundtables. Supported by Heinrich Boll Foundation, the selected applicants had the chance of listening to the diverse experiences of those who’ve been there and done that within the ICT industry.
One of the mentors a CEO of an IT firm came in from the UK.He talk about how the particpants could provide IT solutions and create Entrepreneurship Opportunities and services, one is an IT executive based in Nigeria and the third from Action Aid Nigeria arrived from Kenya that same morning and facillitated a personal profile analysis of each of the particpants(it was almost like a SWOT analysis but more on personality,morals,expectations and individual relationship with people at work,home and society at large).
Now, talk about willingness to reproduce their success stories in others! As speak from a participant view of the Mentorship roundtable that the process will move online and bring thousands of Nigerians face to face on the same issue of mentorship within the ICT sector.
The online platform will soon be announced, Watch Out…
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  TIG In Tunis 2005 - Posted By: Tarek
Hi All,
Tonight, November 17th,2005 we had the TIG 5 years old birthday ! I am really glad having all those TIG members here having fun and activity during the second phase of WSIS Tunis 2005!
Finally, I can reach that we reached the target of our first plan : The Road To Tunis, and this road meant definetely to Tunis!!
Then, I hope this road is willing to take us to some more and more cities after Tunis, and this way, we will play that important role to reach youth development, and to make our organization TakingITGlobal effectively "Take the IT Globally within Youth!".
Cheers, Tarek.
| November 17, 2005 | 19:14:45 |
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  Tunisia - Serious concerns for World Summit on the Information Society - Posted By: A K Zaman
Tunisia - Serious concerns for World Summit on the Information Society
A joint monitoring visit to Tunisia undertaken by members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) has found serious cause for continuing concern about the current state of freedom of expression and of civil liberties in Tunisia, including gross restrictions on freedom of the press, media, publishing and the Internet.
The visit, which took place from 14 to 19 January 2005, was the first of the IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group and was organised in preparation for the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), a United Nations intergovernmental conference to be held in Tunis in November 2005. The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the state of freedom of expression in Tunisia and to assess the conditions for participation in the Summit.
The delegation, consisting of representatives of Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights, International PEN Writers in Prison Committee, International Publishers Association, Norwegian PEN, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters and the World Press Freedom Committee, met with Tunisian writers, publishers and human rights organisations as well as government officials and government-sponsored agencies.
The delegation found serious cause for continuing concern in the following areas:
1. Blocking of websites, including news and information websites.
2. Blocking of the distribution of books and publications.
3. Restrictions on the freedom of association, including the right of organisations to be legally established and to hold meetings.
4. Restrictions on movement of human rights activists together with police surveillance, intimidation and interception of communications.
5. Lack of pluralism in broadcast ownership, with only one private broadcaster.
6. Press censorship and lack of diversity of content in newspapers.
7. Imprisonment of individuals for their opinions and media activities.
8. Use of torture by the security services with impunity.
The IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group is preparing a full report on the current state of freedom of expression in Tunisia with recommendations for improvement. The report, to be published at the next preparatory committee meeting of the WSIS, will provide indicators for monitoring freedom of expression in Tunisia in the run up to the World Summit. The WSIS Preparatory Committee is to meet in Geneva 17-25 February 2005.
MORE INFORMATION:
For further information, contact EOHR, tel: +20 2 363 6811/362 0467; Norwegian PEN, tel: + 47 22479220; WiPC, tel: +44 207 253 3226; IPA, tel: +41 22 346 30 18; AMARC, tel: +1 514 982 0351; WPFC, tel: +1 703 715 9811
[The IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group consists of Article 19, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE), Centre for Human Rights and Democratic Studies (CEHURDES), Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), Index on Censorship, International PEN Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), International Publishers Association (IPA), Journaliste en Danger (JED), Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Norwegian PEN, World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters (AMARC), World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the World Press Freedom Committee (WPFC).]
**For further information on WSIS, see IFEX alerts of 30 and 25 November, 21 June, 18 and 7 May and 1 April 2004, 30 September, 25 July, 12 June, 27, 24, 13 and 5 February 2003**
| January 25, 2005 | 06:57:49 |
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::The Working Group on WGIG:: Member List - Posted By: A K Zaman
Just published.........
" But I am very surprised to see that they don't include any youth representative for WGIG..."
Members of the Working Group on Internet Governance have been nominated by the Secretary-General of the United Nations.
Chairman
- Nitin Desai, Special Adviser to the Secretary-General for the World Summit on the Information Society
Members
- Abdullah Al-Darrab, Deputy Governor of Technical Affairs, ICT Commission of Saudi Arabia, Riyadh
- Carlos Alfonso, Technical Director, RIT, Rio de Janeiro
- Peng Hwa Ang, Dean, School of Communication, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore
- Karen Banks, Director, GreenNet, Association for Progressive Communications, London
- Faryel Beji, President and CEO, Tunisian Internet Agency, Tunis
- Vittorio Bertola, ICANN At-large Advisory Committee, Turin
- José Alexandre Bicalho, Member, Brazilian Internet Steering Committee; Advisor to the Board of Directors of the National Telecommunications Agency (Anatel)
- Kangsik Cheon, Chief Operating Officer, International Business Development,Netpia, Seoul
- Trevor Clarke, Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations in Geneva
- Avri Doria, Technical Consultant, Providence, Rhode Island
- William Drake, Senior Associate, International Centre for Trade and Sustainable Development, Geneva; Chairman, Computer Professionals for Social Responsibility
- Raúl Echeberría, Executive Director, LACNIC, Montevideo
- Dev Erriah, Chairman, ICT Authority of Mauritius, Port Louis, Mauritius
- Baher Esmat, Telecom Planning Manager, Ministry of Communications and Information Technology of Egypt, Cairo
- Mark Esseboom, Director of Strategy and International Affairs, Directorate General for Telecom and Post, Ministry of Economic Affairs of the Netherlands, The Hague
- Juan Fernandez, Coordinator of the Commission of Electronic Commerce of Cuba, Havana
- Ayesha Hassan, Senior Policy Manager for E-Business, IT and Telecoms, International Chamber of Commerce, Paris
- Qiheng Hu, Adviser to the Science and Technology Commission of the Ministry of Information Industry of China; Former Vice-President of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing
- Willy Jensen, Director, Norwegian Post and Telecom Authority, Oslo
- Wolfgang Kleinwächter, Professor, International Communication Policy and Regulation, University of Aarhus
- Jovan Kurbalija, Director, DiploFoundation, Geneva
- Iosif Charles Legrand, Researcher, California Institute of Technology and CERN, Geneva
- Donald MacLean, Director, MacLean Consulting, Ottawa
- Allen Miller, Executive Director, World Information Technology and Services Alliance, Arlington, Virginia
- Juan Carlos Moreno Solines, Executive Director, Gobierno Digital, Quito
- Jacqueline A. Morris, Consultant, Port of Spain
- Olivier Nana Nzépa, Coordinator, Africa Civil Society, Yaoundé
- Alejandro Pisanty, Director of Computing Academic Services, Universidad Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico-City
- Khalilullah Qazi, Counselor, Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations in Geneva
- Rajashekar Ramaraj, Managing Director, Sify Limited, Chennai (formerly Madras)
- Masaaki Sakamaki, Director, Computer Communications Division, Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, Tokyo
- Joseph Sarr, President, NTIC Commission, Dakar Regional Council, Dakar
- Peimann Seadat, Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Iran to the United Nations in Geneva
- Charles Sha’ban, IT Manager, Talal Abu- Ghazaleh International, Amman
- Lyndall Shope-Mafole, Chairperson, Presidential National Commission on Information Society and Development, South Africa, Pretoria
- Waudo Siganga, Chairman, Computer Society of Kenya, Nairobi
- Mikhail Vladimirovich Yakushev, Director of the legal support department, Ministry of Information Technology and Communications, Russian Federation, Moscow
- Peter Zangl, Deputy Director-General, Information Society Directorate General, European Commission, Brussels
- Jean-Paul Zens, First Counsellor, Director of the Media and Telecom Department, Ministry of State of Luxembourg
| November 12, 2004 | 00:50:56 |
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Charles Geiger named Executive Director of WSIS II - Posted By: A K Zaman
A Swiss national, Mr. Charles Geiger, has been named the leader of the new team to organise the second phase of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS).
Secretary-General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), Mr. Yoshio Utusumi, the agency charged with organizing the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), has announced the appointment of a team to organize the second phase of WSIS, slated to hold in Tunis next year.
Champion Infotel recalls that the second phase would be held in Tunis between November 16 and 18 November 2005, while the first phase was held in Geneva last December.
Making the announcement, Mr. Utsumi, who also is the Secretary General of WSIS, said that Mr. Charles Geiger has been appointed Executive Director (ED) of the WSIS Executive Secretariat, which is based at ITU Headquarters in Geneva, Switzerland.
In cooperation with the intergovernmental WSIS Bureau, the new ED is charged with the overall planning and implementation of the organization of the summit including its preparatory process.
Mr. Geiger, who was seconded by his government to the Executive Secretariat in 2001 has been serving as Assistant Executive Director since January 2004. He has assumed duty since November 1, 2004 in his new office.
Before now, Mr. Geiger held senior positions in the Swiss Ministry of Foreign Affairs and at the Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation (SDC).
Other members of the team include three senior officials of ITU, namely Mr. Art Levin, chief of the ITU coordination, External Relations and Communication Units, Dr. Tim Kelly, Chief of ITU Strategy and Policy Unit, and Mr. Fernando Lagrana, Executive of ITU Telecom.
Charged with the development of ITU's overall strategy for the summit and coordinating its participation, Mr. Levin will be in charge of strategic relations with the High-Level Summit Organizing Committee (HLSOC) and will lead the negotiations for the host country agreement.
For Dr. Kelly, who has been saddled with the preparation of all input documents and provision of support to the Group of Friends of the Chair, he is also responsible for stocktaking of activities undertaken at national, regional and international levels to implement the Plan of Action adopted at the Geneva phase.
Responsibility for preparation and coordination of the necessary logistics to be deployed for such a large-scale, high profile summit will be under the care of Mr. Lagrana.
A press statement from WSIS secretariat, said that Working with Member States and Information Society partners, the organizing team will help build on the momentum gained in Geneva to create the framework for an equitable Information Society.
Based on the principles crafted and agreed in Geneva and the Plan of Action that define the top-level objectives to create an all-inclusive and equitables Information Society, the task of the second phase of the summit will be to refine some of the broader goals and come out with specifics needed to translate them into measurable results.
WSIS phase two is expected to provide solutions on how to implement and follow up the Geneva decisions by stakeholders at the national, regional and international levels and complete the unfinished business in Geneva on Internet Governance and Information and Communications Technology (ICT) Financing.
| November 7, 2004 | 01:21:47 |
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ITU survey on WSIS - Posted By: A K Zaman
World Telecommunication Day celebrates the founding of the International Telecommunication Union in 1865.
As one of the activities in support of the theme of 'ICTs: Leading the way to sustainable development' we are conducting a survey to obtain views on the perceived importance of the targets for improving connectivity and access in the use of ICTs as determined by the World Summit on the Information Society.
The survey will remain open for responses until 10 May 2004. The results of the survey will be posted in the newsroom of the ITU website as of 17 May 2004.
More & Survey Page: http://www.itu.int/newsroom/wtd/2004/survey/
Email Message:
From: WSIS Executive Secretariat
To: WSIS Stakeholders
Message:
The International Telecommunication Union, the organizing entity of the World Summit on the Information Society (WSIS), is conducting a survey to obtain views on the perceived importance of agreed upon targets for improving connectivity and access in the use of information and communication technologies (ICTs).
The targets outlined in the WSIS Plan of Action were agreed to by 176 countries represented at the first phase of the Summit in Geneva, 10 - 12 December 2003. The survey is available for your input.
We welcome the input of all those interested in Information Society issues.
_______________________________________________
Md. Akteruzzaman, Bangladesh Youth Forum on ICT
http://projects.takingitglobal.org/byf
_______________________________________________
| April 15, 2004 | 09:32:32 |
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  Tracking the Traces of WSIS - Posted By: Terri Willard
A friend just forwarded me a great BBC article on WSIS that came out in December. It put things in a very different perspective:
"If we want to appreciate WSIS, I think we need to look at the interactions between people, and the traces the events of these three days in Geneva will leave in the organisations and individuals that are attending....
It is perhaps somewhat ironic that the real benefits of WSIS should come almost entirely from the fact that it has enabled thousands of people to meet face to face without email.
Its importance over the next two years is not going to be in terms of government agendas and increased spending - the politics of the summit have effectively ruled that out - but in new projects, new collaborations and new ideas on the ground."
Sounds very similar to the strategy we were aiming at with YCDO and the Youth Caucus all along :-)
| February 6, 2004 | 11:15:26 |
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Bangladesh WSIS-II Youth - Posted By: A K Zaman
Our country missed to focus youth at wsis. So for second phase we like to start work now. Nick, plz update us regarding our responsibility(Meeting with you at WSIS inspired us much to start our job quickly). We are working under "Bangladesh Youth Forum" and already start campaign for youth og Bangladesh. Everyone can visit our project page and advice us. Our project link http://projects.takingitglobal.org/projectview.html?ProjectID=1545
| January 16, 2004 | 22:17:19 |
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Hello From Bangladesh - Posted By: A K Zaman
Hello Friends,
I was happy to introduce TIG heros(!) Michel, Albert, Nick, Alex, Sonali.
I was attending WSIS as Govy Delegate under ICT Ministry. And as a memeber of Grad jury of World SUmmit Award (www.wsis-award.org), I invited my Prime Minister and She attend WSA event and that was an excellent experience of my life.
In Bangladesh, now I am organising Bangladesh Youth Forum to speed up Bangladesh representaion on next phase.
I am very happy to be a part of TIG.
Md. Akteruzzaman
Bangladesh
| January 3, 2004 | 11:02:21 |
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 NEW Photos - Posted By: Maitreyi Doshi
Hey people,
I have added 33 more photographs... hope you like them.
| December 26, 2003 | 03:13:52 |
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  New Pics - Posted By: Marouen
New Pics also today !
Others for tonight .... to be continued :)
| December 19, 2003 | 12:45:50 |
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Geneva was a Dream!!! - Posted By: Maitreyi Doshi
Arriving at Geneva:
Finally I am writing the update, which I wanted to since I came back form Geneva. I feel Geneva was like a dream. I almost did not make it to Geneva. Gosh that would have been so terrible. I would have missed so much!!!!!
Monday: I remember stepping out of the plane with directions in my hand on how to reach the city hostel. I took the Bus 10 to Cornivan (train station) from the airport with this HUGE!!! Bag…. Oh how I wish I did not have to carry this HUGE Bag… (I had to coz my dorms were closed for the break and had to take all the stuff I needed for the break)… anyways in the Bus this old lady gets so mad at me for brining such a big bag in the bus, and she scolded me in French and I had no idea what she said, I could only figure out that she was really mad. All I did was smile. Anyways I got down at Cornivan and had no clue where to go. I asked so many people about the City Hostel no one seemed to know. So finally I went to another bus stop and the driver said he would help me. I jumped into Bus 4 (not literally with the HUGE Bag) and almost certainly knew I was not going in the right direction. The Bus left me in the middle of Geneva and I had no idea where to go. I started walking with my BAG and then after half an hour of asking people and lugging my bag I went into a small shop almost certain that I would have to call Alex or Nick and find out where the place was. But The shopkeeper knew the Hostel and God Bless his soul. I finally reached the Hostel, tired, stinky, and hot.
I checked in and found the whole Tunisian delegation. I was sharing the room with RIM and Sonali. I was dying to meet Sonali my best friend from India who also got the fellowship to come there. It was 5 in the evening and I decied to take a shower and then called Alex and with the Tunisian delegation decided to go to Paloplex the conference venue which was apparently at the airport where I came from. Once we reached there we were not allowed to go in. I had not registered besides it was the end of the day and so we could not go in. I was dying to see the youth hub, meet everyone there, especially sonali and Jennifer whom I had never met in my life. I was also very keen to meet Alex, Adam and Maja. Obviously wanted to meet Titi, and Leopold. After waiting for half an hour out side I saw Sonali coming out and ran to her and gave her a BIG HUG we were so happy to meet each other. It had been almost 4 months since I saw her.
Then I met Jen, Leopold, Abdalla, Alex, Adam and may others. We went to Manora to eat (the fav. place for the youth caucus not mine though) At manora I met Nick, Alberto and Diogo. It was so good to meet old friends again. We decided to call it a day early as all of were really exhausted and went off to our hostel. I don’t remember what we did that nite, I think some of us talked in the nite.
Day 1
Tuesday: was the official opening of the Youth Hub it was so good to finally get to see the youth hub. I tagged along most of the day with Maja (I think I gave her a headache) in the morning to help her make the mural. (I am so sorry Maja) I just wanted to help. Finally after a lot of effort trying to figure out who we will put the mural on the wall on the hub we decided we would just tie it to the wall. I remember we also brought those two huge big boards from the ITU into the car but never used them, which was good or else the stall wall would have fallen with their weight. I met Mike for the first time just when all of them were going to the youth hub in the rented car. Finally Maja and I came back to the Hub in the afternoon and then I hung out there for the rest of the evening. I went off to the Open session, which was chaired by Jen. It was a lot of fun. I think I met Luke and Federico for the first time that day. My first impression of Luke, very quite and reserved person, wrapped up in his own thoughts, as if thinking of sometime really important. I had no idea he was going to become one of my best friends by the end of the week J Federico is a really nice person, very interesting and fun to be with. I remember that evening all of us Federico, Luke, Sonali, Ashwin and me all of us walked down to the Fondue place. It was a lot of fun walking together in the cold. We kind of acted very crazy but finally reached the fondue place. The Fondue Party was a lot of fun, though Sonali and Ashwin did not enjoy it, (I wish they would have) I love fondue one of my favourite western food. It was a fun evening, I think Alex stole the evening by singing on his guitar the amazing Youth Caucus song… cannot wait until Jarra makes the film (Buck up Jarra everyone is eagerly waiting for the film)
That nite sonali me and ashwin walked back with Franziska to the hostel.
Day 3
Wednesday: Official opening of the Summit. I reached the Hub very early and then Nick pulled me to meet Kofi Annan. Though I could not meet him, I did see him inches form me. Which was once in a lifetime opportunity how I wish I had taken pictures. Oh well… I was to in awe then to think of taking pictures. Sonali and I had worn our Indian national dress a sari, it took us like an hour to get ready in them. We had never ever worn them before in our life, without our moms help. Anyways I was so scared the whole day that I would fall and trip over the sari or that the sari. Sonali was supposed to give a presentation on the Indian National Campaign. All the youth sessions were delayed by almost two hours and by the time we reached the National campaign session it was like 1 in the afternoon. It went of pretty well. After the session I remember our saris attracted a lot of attention and we had to pose of pictures and with many people.
It was a very tiring evening by the time we reached back, to our hostel. We went out to a Thai restaurant that evening with Titi and part of the gang. For the first time after coming to Geneva Sonali and Ashwin ate properly.
I don’t quite remember what we did that evening I think we had some High tea in the middle of the nite with all the Tunisians, Abdalla and Omar with a lot of Tunisian biscuits, which were very tasty.
Day 4
Thursday: Practically forced my self to get out of the bed feeling very tired, exhausted and sleepy. The day started with all these tiny tots coming up to the youth hub to paint on the mural. They were from the International School of Geneva and it was fun painting with them. Jen and I were around the mural making sure the colour went on in the right place and no anyone.
In the afternoon, Adrian pulled me, Jen, Mathews, into a video link up with the school kids and kids from Uganda and Turkey. It was such a boring session. All the people on the panel ( they were head of states) would not take any effort in answering the questions put forth by the kids, and all the kids were I think personally forced by the teachers to ask questions which they had no idea of. Meaning they were basically reciting with their teachers told them to say. It was I guess a huge publicity event. Anyways the panel threw back a question to the audience and Jen pushed me to answer it. I did and brought some excitement to the whole session. Thanks Jen for believing in me J apparent the Romanian President was on the panel and I had no idea about it, so after the session was over I pulled Adrian to meet him. Then I was swamped with radio interviews, by the end of it one of the journalists come down with me to the Youth Hub. That was amazing coz she was really interested with youth activities and she interviewed Jen after me about TIG.
When I reached the youth hub, I met Burak one of my really good friends whom I met in Prep com 2 in Geneva early this year. We had spent a lot of time during Prep com 2 and had become really good friends. I was sooooooooo glad to see him; I thought I would never see him again after PC2.
In the evening I went off for dinner again to the Thai restaurant with a bunch of people. In the nite after that some of us went of to a nite club. Normally I never go to one coz its disgusting with smoke and people drinking but this one was really good, it was pretty clean. I am glad I went there, coz I got a chance to talk to Nick at leisure and I also got to talk to Alex, and get to know his life story which was fun and very interesting.
One of my other good friends Leopold left that nite and I was so sad. I wish he could have stayed some more. I really hope I get to see him soon. As he said “Maitreyi organise a conference for me so that I can come and meet you”. J I wish I can do that I would call all my friends…
Day 4
Friday: Last day of the summit, could not believe it that it was going to end that day. Burak and I decided that we would meet up early coz I had some really cool Indian Percussion music with me which both of us enjoy, so we exchanged some music in the morning. I was so sad that he had to leave. I really hope I get to see him soon, which I doubt it. Sigh!!! That was Sonalis last day in Geneva too. Oh!!! People were already leaving and it was so sad.
The day went of really fast, I had to take a few pictures for my college magazine in my college T Shirt, which was very painful. Well not really but yeah I was not to interesting in doing so….
Anyways I had a presentation that day on Girls Movement on the Gender panel, which went of very well. Thank YOU Maja for everything right from helping me get the fellowship to giving me a chance to speak on the panel.
That nite most of us went of to the old town. It was quite a lot of walk, we did not stay to much at the bar, coz sonali and I did not really fancy it, so Haseeb, sonali, ashwin, Emily and myself and some other people walked back to the hostel. On the way Haseeb told me he knows a lot of Indian (Hindi songs) I really did not believe it. How could he know them staying in Afghanistan, BUT I was so wrong…. We started playing Antakshri which is the song game very popular in India, and he knew more songs then me. I was so amazed, the whole way in the middle of the nite on the streets of Geneva Haseeb, Sonali Ashwin and I we all were singing Hindi songs on the top of our voice. J It was amazing. By the time we reached the hostel our throats were sore. That nite we did not sleep much coz Sonali was leaving the next day, so in the nite a caught up with sonali and her life back in India. Haseeb showed me some of the pictures from Afghanistan, I think that nite Luke, abdalla and some others we sat and looked at a lot of pictures. I caught up with an hours sleep.
Day 5:
The last day in Geneva:
It was so sad coz sonali had left, I felt very tired, lonely and suddenly it hit me that it was the last day in Geneva and I had to leave the next day. I really did not want to go back. I think on one did.
We went to the Youth hub early in the morning to help pack stuff, but realised that we could not do so, so we went off shopping and spent the whole day shopping and had lunch at an Ethiopian restaurant, got Indian food there to eat. We went back to the youth hub decide that all of us would be going out to the old town. Went off to the hostel to pack my stuff, it was an effort closing the bag.
In the evening I had a great time. I had a nice chat with Jarra, and found him to be very interesting. He is in his own world, very artistic and his certain firm opinions, which go against the crowd. It was fun talking to him. I also got to catch up with Maja, which was so good. Our huge group split in two, as some of the others lost us. We headed to the old town, where people were dancing away it was fun, some of us joined into the dance. I had Hot wine for the first time in my life and found it very strange. But It felt nice and hot in the cold. I was very tired and decided that I would head back to the hostel, so Nick Jarra and I went back. It was really really sad to say the final good byes. I know that I will never every meet all these people again in my life. Sigh!!!
Going Back to US L –
Did not sleep much the nite before, woke up really early, Luke, Haseeb Ashwin and I our flights at nearly the same time. Actually I was so happy that Luke and I were going back on the same flight. Frankly I had not known luke to well during the whole week and was kind of really apprehensive if we would have a good conversation on our way back or try hard to find some topic to talk about.
It was fun travelling with Luke, we had so much to talk about, and in fact I feel that I have never every in my life talked to some one like this. We were talking non-stop during the whole flight, that one hour was the best part of my flight back to DC. I never realised when we reached London and then it suddenly struck me that we had to part ways, it was so sad and depressing now I was all alone on my own, only sweet memories of the summit which I brought along. I guess Luke and I become best friends after the flight and I will always remember this journey. Thanks Luke for all the help with my HUGE Bag… you are a true gentleman.
I had a really long journey back to Boston, had to take a train for 12 hours after a 16 hrs flight to reach the place where I was going to spend my winter break.
Some other titbits the whole summit –
It was so good to finally meet Jen and Mike. I knew them for more than four years but had never met them before. In many ways I felt I was very similar as Jen, who is very passionate, has a lot of zest in life, who keeps running around every where, likes to make lists of everything that need to be talked about. I spent quite a lot of time with Jen in the evenings chatting about TIG. That was really good. Just that I guess we overwhelmed her by the end. I am so sorry for that.
Mike is real fun, I was actually very scared to meet him, coz I had heard so much about him, but when I met him I did not feel scared any more. He is as human as any one else. J I guess I was in awe of everything he has done in life so far.
Though out the whole week I guess our middle names were “Hungry” and last name was “Tired”. I guess it did not matter to much as all of us were so excited. Thought we all complained about it.
That should be it. I have like written 5 pages and now I think both your eyes and my hands will be tired of reading and tying…. More updates coming up tomorrow.
| December 18, 2003 | 17:30:53 |
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New Pics - Posted By: Marouen
Hello All
I added a lot of new pics to the WSIS pics page
And I still have a lot to add :)
Good view and "bons souvenirs"
| December 18, 2003 | 00:34:04 |
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 Wonderfull Applause to all ;-p - Posted By: Laouini Amel
The WSIS is over but it will remain a great memory for it was my firt international event which i attended, i've got a good experience and i hope to do better next times.
The Youth Caucus Team is so wonderfull: Jen, Alex, Nick, Mike, Alberto, Jarra : i appreciate you kidness, your help for all of us!my nice friends: Abdullah, Hasseb, Omar, Ashwin, Laeticia, Maytrai,... Thank you for all the good time we had ;-p I miss u
Hope to see you soon! Take care and bye
| December 16, 2003 | 04:48:18 |
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 WSIS Phase I - Complete - Posted By: Luke Cholerton-Bozier
I have had such an amazing time here in Geneva this week.
So much has happened, so much has changed. Now us youth disperse to our home countries to make action and stick to our manifesto.
I am proud and feel empowered to be young.
| December 13, 2003 | 13:01:28 |
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  Conselho Infanto-Juvenil para a Cupula - Posted By: Mateus Fernandes
Será que essa idéia pega?
A Cupula Mundial sobre a Sociedade da Informacão acabou e algumas coisas ficaram no ar. Fora os Documentos aprovados (que nos trazem poucos compromissos reais com a transformacao social), percebo que algumas coisas poderiam ser diferentes no Caucus de Juventude.
Sera que uma nova metodologia pode ser pensada e criada para 2005?
No Brasil ja fizemos algumas experiencias que deram certo, trouxeram resultados e empolgaram os participantes. Sera que algo assim pode acontecer no proximo Caucus, na Tunisia? Sera que vai rolar um caucus na Tunisia? Sera que vai rolar Tunisia??? hehehehe
Pergunto isso porque nao sei se a palavra EMPOLGACAO pode definir o processo desse ano...
E, pra ir mais alem e colocar lenha na fogueira, sera que conseguimos trabalhar com, alem de jovens liderancas do mundo, criancas do mundo? Criancas e Jovens conseguirao fazer um conselho util, efetivo e ativo para a proxima fase da Cupula?
Muitas perguntas...Vamos agir?
Mateus
| December 13, 2003 | 07:54:04 |
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 WSIS Youth Speech Rocks Plenary! - Posted By: Alex
Following is the speech delivered to the plenary in the WSIS Multi-Stakeholder Event on Friday, December 12, 2003
by myself. It had a great reception and is circulating around the Summit.
Your excellencies, Secretary General of the ITU, President of the Summit, delegatges, ladies and gentlemen,
I’d like to begin by asking you all to please stand up for just a moment. Now, if the middle section of the hall could be seated and the rest of you remain standing.
Take a good look around you.
If this hall were the population of the world, those now standing are young people.
Yes it is true. Young people are a majority of the world’s population. The Net generation. A driving force behind technological entrepreneurship and innovation. Teaching our peers, teaching our parents, even teaching our teachers about ICTs. Leaders of the information revolution. We all know this.
However, the paradox is that despite this technological expertise, youth remain one of the most vulnerable and marginalized demographic groups.
• Youth unemployment rates are typically two to three times higher than the rates for adults
• Youth are often the first victims in conflict areas, whether it be civilians or child soldiers
• By the time I have finished this speech, five young people between the ages of 10-24 will have been infected with HIV/AIDS
We lack mainstream recognition, mainstream support and voice in the decisions that affect us each day.
Youth Day, December 10, organized by the WSIS Youth Caucus, highlighted these needs and answered the question of “Why Youth?” Vibrant workshops discussed Human Rights and Peacebuilding, E-learning, Youth Empowerment, Labour issues and National Information Society Youth Campaigns. The common thread was the focus on concrete, grassroots actions using ICTs for development.
Youth Day also demonstrated how young people can be, and are, catalysts for social change. The National Information Society Youth Campaigns, conceived and implemented by youth, have engaged tens of thousands of young people world-wide in action around the World Summit on the Information Society.
From Nigeria to Brazil, India to Romania, young people have coordinated a vibrant series of workshops, prime-time interactive radio programs, media outreach, video conferences, websites, surveys and more.
We have been meeting in community halls, going into schools, sending out local email newsletters, training others at inernet cafes, drafting national WSIS youth declarations, talking with decision-makers, and implementing concrete local projects.
These campaigns were made possible by the Governments of Canada and Switzerland and we would like to take this opportunity to thank them now for their commitment to youth activities in preparation for the Summit.
We’re pleased that all our bottom-up consultations and input have resulted into the most powerful youth-related language ever in a UN Summit document. We now call on all stakeholders to implement this common vision for youth as stated in the Declaration of Principles, “empowering youth as learners, developers, contributors, entrepreneurs and decision-makers.”
We have taken up the challenge to act ourselves today, by forging a coalition of organizations called Youth Creating Digital Opportunities (or YCDO). Our mission is to realize the potential of young people to use ICTs for more sustainable development in their communities. The Summit featured the launch of the YCDO Action Plan, which offers a strategic framework for WSIS Phase II. We encourage you to join and support us in this significant new initiative.
I’d like to echo the words of the Secretary General of the United Nations, Kofi Annan:
“Young people should be at the forefront of global change and innovation. Empowered, they can be key agents for development and peace. If however, they are left on society’s margins, all of us will be impoverished. Let us ensure that all young people have every opportunity to participate fully in the lives of their societies.”
Now let us all walk together to create an equitable, empowering and participatory Information Society for all.
Thank you very much.
| December 13, 2003 | 06:26:39 |
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 Au revoir et Bon Voyage - Posted By: alberto
The first phase of WSIS has finished a few minutes ago. The governments adopted a final version (in English. To be revised the wording of the Spanish, Chinese and French versions) Declaration of Principles and a Plan of Action. Alex spoke to the plenary, giving an amazing speech and personally I believe it was of the strongest moments of the whole process.His words where really outstanding. I felt them resonate inside. I'm sure they had a potent impact on all delegates. I felt proud and excited to be part of this process. The people from every angle of the world that I have met within this one year journey are by far the most amazing group of boys and girls that I have had the chance to work with. Each and everyone of them, both those here and those that in some way have contributed to this process, they have all thought me something, have had knowledge and value to share, and something that I will bring along with me for many years to come.
I don't like making names, but in this occasion I feel like saying a special, small, big, thank you to Nick and Alex for their endless commitment.
I am truly and deeply convinced that all together this group of young people has contributed in some way to the growth of their local reality and to this place and home that we all call earth. I believe that we still have many challenges infront of us and so much is still to be done. We have yet to begin. We're at the first sentence yet I know that thanks to the energy, commitment, passion and genuine ideals of this group of people something will change. My hope is that others, governments. organizations and individuals will walk on our same path. A path that we will discover as we walk, but a path that we will find. We all have a great opportunity thanks to our times and spirit, if united we all stand, young and old, we will make change. If divided we stand, united we will fall.
It's matter of will. We have a dream and we believe that gaps can be bridged, conflict prevented, lives saved, children learn and rights and possibilities become universal. In the years to come we will open our eyes and discover if we have realized it. Bon Voyage!
| December 12, 2003 | 12:58:30 |
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Viva l'Italia - Posted By: alberto
Just came back from dinner and as it often happens, when I say I'm from Italy people say "Berlusconi"...
Today I found out that thanks to the Italian Government's (and rest of the EU) strong position and it's firmness in not acceppting any form of compromise with China and Iran around human rights, a reference to the Universal Declaration is back in the declaration of principles that world leaders will sign in a few hours.
A surprise. I thought I never would have such positive words for this Italian Government. Wow. I really felt proud and it's not about the land of the free and home of the brave kind of thing but I was truly happy that someone stood up in the name of something that is universally right and against something that is universally wrong. We may (luckly as it's at the base of freedom) all have different ideas of what is the "absolute good" or superior morality, but all human's have, I believe, a common feeling around what brings sufferance, fear and pain. I am happy that a governement (finally) stood up and said this admitting no compromise. Good Night. p.s. I feel much better today.
Buonanotte.
| December 11, 2003 | 19:09:26 |
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Long Live the Youth Caucus! - Posted By: Alex
Yeeee ha!
Great day today with great people. We spoke in the high level roundtable with heads of state, I was an "advisor" for Lionelle Samnick (Cameroon) who actually spoke. Youth Hub has been the place to be today, with meetings with Ministers (Sierra Leone, Philippines...), private sector bigwigs and civil society.
It's inspiring to see the tangible results of months of work, to see people's faces after numerous emails, to see an exhibition space come to life, to see workshops take off and to see the celebration, the long awaited celebration.
Whether it be youth representatives on government delegations, speakers on panels, interviewees (is that a word?) for the media, and projects to discover, it's been quite a ride.
Speaking tomorrow in the Multi-Stakeholder Event, looking forward to finishing with a bang!
Alex
| December 11, 2003 | 12:24:08 |
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  WSIS - Posted By: Adrian Pintilie
Hi, second day of the wsis went quicklier than yesterday. I had the chance to take part with Jennifer, Maytrei and several other Youth Caucus members at the Interractive meeting organised between H.E Mr. Iliescu and an UNESCO representative, and several school childrens connected via Internet. Interesting questions were addressed. In rest, meetings and meetings and a lot of opportunities to setup contacts and partnerships for AEGEE-Europe and other institutions. That's IT for now!
| December 11, 2003 | 12:01:52 |
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 Meetings @ WSIS - Posted By: Ashwin Gopinath
The event at WSIS related to youths are widely gaining appreciation from all the visitors, exhibitors and the media. I have met a number of new peoples, thinktanks, brains behind the intiatives and many others from diversified fields of the information society.Every one i meet shows interest to work with the youths had really given me a new cinfidence to do do more in the arena.Lets see how it works.
| December 11, 2003 | 11:59:48 |
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  Le sommet mondial sur la solidarite entre les peuples - Posted By: Keyvan Sayar
Bonjour du SMSI ! Malgre toutes les critiques qui ont pu etre faites a propos du SMSI, nous sommes ici au coeur Les grd'un evenement fantastique. La grande premiere de ce sommet, c'est que la societe civile est vraiment pleinement associee. Elle a ete motrice durant les prepcom et demeure tres presente ici a geneve. Toutes les critiques formulees par les opposants au sommet trouvent un echo dans les ateliers organises ici.
Comme le disait hier Adama Sessekou, c'est une nouvelle ere de gogestion des problemes globaux qui s'ouvre ici. Gouvernements, organisations internationales, entreprises et ONG travaillent ensemble, les jeunes sont des participants a part entiere... tout ceci est tres enthousiasmant. C'est en apprenant a se respecter et a dialoguer ensemble que tous les acteurs pourront construire un monde de meilleur. :-)
| December 11, 2003 | 11:53:34 |
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  - Posted By: Abdallah Diwan
heyyyy i forgot something very important thing , i wanted to tell you guys about my incredible freineds , they did me one of my best breakfasttes ever ;) today , Specially Rim , she is my best ;) and mariam and Amel , iman , tarek , marwan , Heythem from Tunisia , and i hope to see them again alll in Egypt Africa Telecome 2004 , and in there country in all the coming prepcomes, and seconed phase also a thnx for Mona
| December 11, 2003 | 11:50:01 |
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  New Friends @ WSIS - Posted By: Ansari, Omar Mansoor
Along with its many benefits WSIS has provided us a chance to meet new people and make friends. Meet our e-pals, share ideas, and make new plans and strategies.
TakingITGlobal people are really wonderful, all young people with lots of experience and courage. You will enjoy meeting them.
As I been sick since this morning-- have sore throat with light fever, headache, can’t write many things however heart is full of experiences, thanks to Jarra, he give me medicine. Catch you latter.
| December 11, 2003 | 11:22:01 |
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 Too much craziness happening!!! - Posted By: Robert Sagun
There's just a ton of cool things going on here. You'll learn a lot from all the wonderful projects showcased ..from e-learning to community media, from NGO-initiated ICT4D projects to government-sponsored ones, ohhhh yes, the Youth Hub Space!!!! People just keeps on coming...and talking!!! Really look forward to doing post-WSIS work when I get back to Manila.
Else, I just miss my ....... and ...... :-)
Robert/Bob/ whatever
| December 11, 2003 | 10:47:44 |
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WSIS - Posted By: Maitreyi Doshi
Today is the second day of the summit, and things are going on pretty good. It crazy though coz there is so much going on and its hard to keep a track of what and where you what to be. The Youth hub is really cool and everyone is busy showing people around. Its prety clolourful. We created a youth and Gender Mural. Today a lot of kids came and drew on the mural which was so nice.
There are lots of stalls put up by a lot of people who are doing various projects in the Field of ICT, Its pretty colourful and crazy.
There is a lot of security which is horrible coz we have to walk so much to get anywhere.
All of us a so tired but really excited to meet so many new people.
Sonali presented the National Campign which went of well.
It was soooooooooooooo good to meet all my friends. I have also met so man interesting people.
It was an amazging day coz I got to meet the President from Romania in a press interview.
Will keep you posted on whats going on.... have to run
Bye
| December 11, 2003 | 10:47:12 |
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- Posted By: Abdallah Diwan
hey , how are you guyes, we are really having very busy days over here :) but its going great , we had a meeting tody in the african youth in the Egypt's tent for the ITU Africa Telecome wich will be held in Cairo, we had lots of youth from different parts in Africa and we were thinking of creating an African youth platform for the event , but every thing is great , and expensiveeeeeeeeeee :) ,
i wanted to thank every one here about all the great , specially Robert from philippines he is beside me now , and nick , mick , Alex , titi , terii, jarra, Adam , Alberto , Diogo and the guys from Tunisia :) and of course my best freined Dimitriiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii
he left today to Italy :(
cheeeeeeeeeers ,
Abdallah Diwan
| December 11, 2003 | 10:37:32 |
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Brazil at the Summit - Posted By: Mateus Fernandes
It`s amazing to think that I`m at Geneva. Five months ago I was working for the national campaing and it was so hard...Now, I`m very fine, enjoying geneva and the new friends from all over the world! As a member of national delegation, I have some commitments and it`s a good thing, coz we can improve the bridge that we built between gov. and youth! See you around!
| December 11, 2003 | 07:48:53 |
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  YOUTH MAKING A DIFFERENCE AT WSIS - Posted By: Andy
I have seen a whirlpool of information flow at the WSIS Youth events yesterday that never cease to amaze me. There are two of us from the Taking it Global Team in Sierra Leone, and we are already making a difference.
Yesterday, Sylvanus Murray, the TIG Coordinator in Sierra Leone, showcased the Interactive Forum Activities that was a major local event in Sierra Leone, prior to the WSIS event in December. In his powerpoit presentation, participants, which include over 50 different country Youth Representatives had a clear understanding of the commitment of our young people in their quest to rebuild Sierra Leone with the relevant ICT tools. He highlighted the constrains faced my young people to access this resources in our country. With the Summit there is a new glimmer of of hope.
My presentation came much earlier in the day. I was part of a well-choosen panel, that was pre-allotted the role of addressing the topic: 'Human Rights, Youth and the Information Soiety'. The dialogue centred around 'Introducing and Strengthening Human Rights within Post-conflict Peace Building processes.
The session attracted over 50 participants, who were moved by the innovative way the speakers have all been working on human rights issues with ICT at the core of such efforts.
My hard -earned experience using ICT for peace building and Human Rights, and using ICT with youths in Sierra leone to heal from the trauma of war, with the power of the internet, also helped to open the eyes of participants
| December 11, 2003 | 07:23:57 |
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Live from the WSIS - Posted By: Marouen
Hello Every body
I now I promised to put online pictures of the WSIS and the Youth hub space but the lack of free time and where to plug my usb disk is the major reasons why i haven't done it !
But As Alberto said, just wait some time and everyone will do his best to give you an idea aboutthe atmosphere here !
It's really cold ... but really fantastic to meet a lot of interresting young people from all over the world !
keep on touch
| December 10, 2003 | 15:38:47 |
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  Some disappointments - Posted By: Franziska Seel
Hey everybody! I just escaped from the plenary for a couple of minutes and I'm using this time now to write a quick update about my day @ WSIS. Although the day was in general not bad (on the contrary, I listened to a couple of very interesting speeches), I'm a bit angry about two things.
First of all, I was very disappointed today when I tried to enter the plenary for the opening ceremony. Actually, I HAD one of the very few passes that were given out to Civil Society and that allowed entrance to the plenary room. But because of the security checks here (which are really ridicoulus) I came half an hour later and so the guy told me, that I can't enter anymore... I was really mad, especially after he told me that I should come on time tomorrow. I can only laugh about that. There are 3 security checks to enter the conference site - and this for all the participants. So how am I supposed to come on time when I'm on a panel discussion and then have to queue for 30 mins?!
Anyway, the second thing I feel disappointed about is the fact that Titi is going to speek in a couple of mins on behalf of the youth caucus in the plenary - but probably nobody will be there anymore by then! All the delegates have already left, so what is the point of giving civil society representatives the opportunity to speak in the penal??
Well, I hope I didn't give you a too negative impression about the summit here. But I just wanted to share these critics with you.
| December 10, 2003 | 14:27:18 |
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Hi from the plenary! - Posted By: alberto
Hi everyone!
I'm sitting in the plenary listening to a parade of heads of state (France, Tunisia, Finland, Capo Verde, Rwanda, Egypt etc...) saying all more or less the same speech or better there seem to be "categorized" talks. Yet it's of course for some reason very exciting to be in this room and here in Geneva. Today we're holding Youth Day (pocket.ycdo.net) and there have been a whole range of really great workshops. We started with a forum on Human Rights and Peace Building. Due to the massive security controls I arrived 30 minutes late and as moderator the whole agenda of the day slipped forwards (sorry to everyone!) but the stories from Afghanistan, Sierra Leone and China shared during the panel where really amazing and their genuity was truly touching. Nick then moderated a great panel that showcased the national youth campaigns from all over the world and once again some truly amazing stories.
On the personal side of things, I'm feeling quite sick. I have a cold, I sneeze every three words, on medecines (lots) to keep temperature down. It's a little ironic (like the song), like having a thousand spoons when all you need is a knife.
Iran is about to speak. I need to listen. Ciao.
| December 10, 2003 | 10:37:09 |
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WSIS Update - Posted By: Luke Cholerton-Bozier
Here I am standing at the Cyber Cafe in Palexpo with Abdullah (abdallahdiwan), fresh out of the National Campaign Workshop which was intriguing. Everybody is super busy here, but things are really happening in regards to future projects and youth recognition. The Youth Caucus had dinner last night at a restaurant reserved just for us - we all ate Fondue (which was my first time) and had a good night.
I saw Kofi Annan this morning at the CERN stand at ICT4D. Unfortunately the Tunisian President has cancelled attendance to the Summit, due to something related to what a Human Rights body has said about Tunisia. The other bad thing is that the Youth Caucus has lost it's Plenary speaker due to Gbenga's not being able to obtain a transit visa to go through the UK.
Anyway, there are things to be done so I won't stay on any longer ... pictures will be soon.
Luke
| December 10, 2003 | 06:52:19 |
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 How long would you have to work? - Posted By: Michael Furdyk
There was an interesting e-mail I've had forwarded to me several times during the past week about how long you'd have to work in many countries to buy a copy of Windows & Office.
Here at WSIS, Internet Access in PalExpo is provided by SwissCom and is 9 Sfr per 30 minutes (about $9 Canadian dollars, or $6 US). How long do you have to work in developing countries to buy a day (8 hours) of Internet access at the WSIS, supposedly about the digital divide?
It would cost about $110 US dollars if you pay per hour, which is 110 days of work at $1 per day, or 55 days of work at $2 per day. Yikes!
| December 9, 2003 | 06:00:00 |
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WSIS Anytime... Anywhere - Posted By: Terri Willard
Hehehe – the classic WSIS moment this morning. Between jet lag and knowing that I hadn’t finished some of my PowerPoint presentations, I was wide awake at 2 AM this morning. Since Diane Trahan (Director, Netcorps Canada International) was nice enough to let me stay in her hotel room this week, I didn’t want to turn on the TV or lights in the room and wake her up. So I grabbed my laptop computer and the duvet off my bed and turned the hotel bathroom into my temporary office. I put my headphones on, cranked up some music, and ripped through preparing for the IS and SD presentation, the GKP Press Conference, and the Canadian youth presentation.
Somewhere around 5:30 AM, Diane woke up and came to use the bathroom. I don’t know who jumped higher when she opened the bathroom door. Then we both started laughing and couldn’t stop. She was threatening to take photos and put on captions like “The WSIS… anytime, anywhere.”. I’m quite glad she decided to go back to bed instead :-)
| December 9, 2003 | 04:12:51 |
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Preparing to leave... - Posted By: Luke Cholerton-Bozier
I finally can relax after preparing all that I need to prepare prior to the WSIS.
I have my laptop, luggage, tickets, passport and a few other bits and bobs. I have media interviews setup on behalf of the Youth Caucus and I'm fired up and ready to leave.
I am staying at my office tonight, which is quite close to London's Heathrow airport - as I'm flying early this was most convenient. There is a lot of space here and nobody else; it's pretty creepy actually.
Next time I update will be when I touch down and after I've registered.
Luke
| December 7, 2003 | 18:34:31 |
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 Many Friends ! - Posted By: Diogo Andre
Hey All ! It's so great to see all our friends arriving here in geneva ! so for we're around 15 and much more are arriving tomorrow and on tuesday ! can you wait to see them ! The stand is finished, we just need some furniture and people :)
we have no pictures , because I really lost my camera...
c ya !
| December 7, 2003 | 11:41:14 |
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Stand coming to life! - Posted By: alberto
Hi everyone! We started building the stand today. And an empty "L" slowly was filled with carpets, floor, aluminium support and came to life. We'll finish it tomorrow with lighting and final details. The conference organizers are slow and as flexible as stones. We spent our days on our knees and up ladders but it's looking really nice. We'll send some pictures in too soon! Thanks to Adam and Diogo!
| December 5, 2003 | 18:50:50 |
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Looking Forward... - Posted By: Luke Cholerton-Bozier
On Monday, I travel to Geneva to join the WSIS Youth Caucus. Naturally, I'm looking forward - to meeting the people that I know but I've never met, to being involved in something so important to our future, to helping my government achieve the things which I know it can.
On the other hand - this is a huge thing for me. This is my first international meeting, the first time I get to transform so many virtual friends into real physical friends. It's the first time I've worked for my country.
No doubt you will hear from me at the summit before it's out. I am doing various journalistic pieces on the summit, including one radio piece - watch this space for that. Also, I will try to maintain this blog daily to ensure that you all get my perspectives on what happens in Geneva.
Luke
| December 5, 2003 | 06:20:18 |
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  preparations bit frantic! - Posted By: Nick Moraitis
So much is happening to prepare for the WSIS today -- lots of people around the world are getting on flights, and I was up for a lot of the night writing letters and talking to embassies about visas... the visa situation is pretty horrible.. especially the transit visas. Anyway, hopefully people will get here! :)
Many people already have... a slow trickle is about to turn into a rush. Over the last few days we put the finishing touches to a youth program of events for the Summit, wrote some media releases and updated the website a little. Today Alberto and others are setting up the Youth Hub in the ICT4D Platform. See you all soon!
| December 5, 2003 | 06:05:47 |
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Staying Healthy at WSIS - Posted By: Terri Willard
OK - call me Mother Hen for the day, whatever... But, this is just a quick reminder to all travelling to WSIS to try to get enough sleep and stay healthy over the next week and a half. It's flu season in the northern hemisphere and these kinds of Summits are notorious as illness trading grounds from around the world.
I know that everyone is stretched to the limit trying to tie up last minute details and presentations, but I would urge you not to succumb to the siren-call of pulling "all-nighters" to finish the work. It just opens you up to getting sick and being miserable in Geneva next week. And there's nothing worse than being sick, far from home in a youth hostel.
And while Nick is multi-talented as the WSIS Youth Caucus facilitator, I've never tried his chicken soup cooking abilities :-P
See you all soon...
| December 3, 2003 | 16:14:34 |
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Getting the WSIS Youth Caucus onto US TV - Posted By: Terri Willard
With only a few weeks to go before WSIS, I'm increasingly concerned that most of my friends and relatives in the United States haven't heard about the Summit - other than through me. Michael Jackson is plastered all over the news and talk shows, but WSIS is nowhere to be seen. Granted that UN Summits are never the top of the news cycle in the US media, but I seem to recall more people at least knowing that the WSSD was coming up in S. Africa in 2002.
What would you all think of some more creative marketing techniques to raise awareness of the WSIS Youth Caucus? One idea I've been muddling over is to see if we can get the group mentioned on one of the talk shows in the US. Mike has already done the Oprah show a few years ago. Which got me thinking about the Ellen DeGeneres Show. Partly because I'm an addict and watch it every day. Partly becasue I've always liked her as a comedian. And partly because she has a segment every Monday on what people do while watching her show. People send in photos and short letters of what they do (e.g. at work, in the dentist office, at the bar, in prison) while watching her show.
I was thinking that it would be relatively easy/fast during the Summit to take a photo at the Youth Hub of a group of us with her Web site pulled up on the big plasma screen TV monitor... I could write a short note saying I usually watch her show every day, but couldn't that week since I was in Geneva at the WSIS w/ the Youth Caucus (plugging the YCDO.net URL) trying to figure out how to use TV, radio and the Internet to help solve world problems. But that we had pulled up some of the online clips at the Youth Hub in our few spare moments.
I bet she'd read it... what do you think? Too cheesy? Quirky enough to work?
| November 26, 2003 | 13:00:54 |
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News from Geneva - Posted By: Laouini Amel
Hi EveryBody
There's so much things going here! And i'm proud to be part of
the vents taking place @ the Youth Hub! I'm very pleased to meet the TIG Stuff and other members ;-)
I'm one of 7 young Tunisian who came to talk to you about
our involvement and our local actions. So don't miss the "Road to Tunis 2005" which will take place tomorrow at 13.30 in the room16 (hall 2).
See u soon ;-) bye!
| November 30, -1 | 00:00:00 |
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Host Organization
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International Telecommunications Union (ITU)
Over the last 135 years, the Union's mandate has expanded to cover the invention of voice telephony, the development of radiocommunications, the launch of the first communications satellites, and, most recently, the technological convergence that heralds the dawn of a new,...
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