[IP] F Africa seeks gadget lovers' cash
Begin forwarded message:
From: Dewayne Hendricks <dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: September 23, 2004 10:05:06 AM EDT
To: Dewayne-Net Technology List <dewayne-net@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [Dewayne-Net] Africa seeks gadget lovers' cash
Reply-To: dewayne@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Africa seeks gadget lovers' cash
A global fund designed to shrink the technology gap between rich and
poor nations is to be launched in November, said one of its key
advocates.
President Abdoulaye Wade of Senegal said it would seek voluntary
donations.
Technology is seen by many as a way of helping developing nations
educate their people, make them healthier and escape poverty.
But richer countries rejected the idea of compulsory donations at a UN
summit in Geneva in December 2003.
Hi-tech contributions
President Wade has been one of the chief proponents of a so-called
digital solidarity fund for developing nations.
He led efforts at the Geneva summit for firm financial commitments
from the industrialised nations.
But there were no pledges for cash to bankroll technology-related
projects at the meeting.
The fund announced by President Wade at a news conference in Geneva is
a far cry from the original idea.
It is due to be launched in Geneva on 17 November.
The Senegalese leader said it would be based on voluntary
contributions from the buyers of hi-tech goods in wealthy nations.
Exactly how this would work has yet to be explained.
But President Wade argued the fund would benefit industrialised
countries, as millions of dollars would be used to buy computers,
mobiles and other equipment from them.
2005 follow-up
Nations like Senegal see technology as a way of promoting economic
growth and improve the life of its people.
The World Summit on the Information Society held in December was the
first UN summit which looked at the impact of technologies like the
internet and mobile phones.
It brought together more than 10,000 politicians, business
representatives, development workers and technology experts for three
days in Geneva.
The summit ended with agreement on the great potential of technologies
like the internet and the need to extend its benefits to all, without
going into specifics.
A follow-up summit is due to be held in Tunisia in 2005.
Story from BBC NEWS:
<http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/technology/3683322.stm>
Published: 2004/09/23 11:48:05 GMT
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